View source for Sophia, Georgetown

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'''Sophia''' is a ward of [[Georgetown, Guyana|Georgetown]], the capital of [[Guyana]]. It's a predominantly [[Afro-Guyanese people|Afro-Guyanese]] community,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-05|title=PPP/C asks cops to probe alleged attack on campaigners in Sophia|url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2020/01/05/news/guyana/ppp-c-asks-cops-to-probe-alleged-attack-on-campaigners-in-sophia/|access-date=2021-02-01|website=Stabroek News|language=en-US}}</ref> and one of Georgetown's poorest neighborhoods.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-05-08|title=Will Guyana soon be the richest country in the world?|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-48185246|access-date=2021-02-01}}</ref>
Sophia was where [[Forbes Burnham]] presented "Declaration of Sophia" at a [[People's National Congress (Guyana)|People's National Congress]] meet in December 1974.<ref name="para">{{Cite web|date=2020-04-24|title=My old party's Paramountcy – Now a discredited joke?|url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2020/04/24/features/frankly-speaking/my-old-partys-paramountcy-now-a-discredited-joke/|access-date=2021-02-01|website=Stabroek News|language=en-US}}</ref> It outlined the plan for nationalization as a part of a "socialist revolution."<ref name="assessment">{{Cite journal|last=Chandisingh|first=Rajendra|date=1983|title=The State, the Economy, and Type of Rule in Guyana: An Assessment of Guyana's "Socialist Revolution"|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2633448|journal=Latin American Perspectives|volume=10|issue=4|pages=59–74|doi=10.1177/0094582X8301000405|jstor=2633448|s2cid=145724717|issn=0094-582X}}</ref>
== Location ==
Sophia is bounded by the [[Downer Street Canal]] in the East, the Eastern Highway and Ganges Street in the West, the Lamaha conservancy in the South and the railway embankment as the northern boundary. However, Lilliendaal (south), Pattensen (south), Turkeyen (south) and Cummings Park are areas east of Sophia that are all included for the sake of "common ground" whenever Sophia is thought of as a catchment area.
== Services ==
Sophia has a Multi-purpose Community Centre, a Youth Vocational Centre (established by the Catholic Church in 2002), and a small Youth Friendly space serves as recreation for youths. Other facilities are located in the community including a Care Centre for children removed from unsafe homes, a Juvenile Detention centre<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-04|title=Detention centre juvenile escapee still at large|url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2020/06/04/news/guyana/detention-centre-juvenile-escapee-still-at-large/|access-date=2021-02-01|website=Stabroek News|language=en-US}}</ref> and a youth Training Centre.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-03-22|title=Ministry Of Culture, Youth And Sport - Department Of Culture Home|url=https://mcys.gov.gy/sophia_training_centre.html|access-date=2021-02-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322195743/https://mcys.gov.gy/sophia_training_centre.html|archive-date=2012-03-22}}</ref>
Schools include Nursery, Primary,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-08|title='Everybody could do something' Activist seeks to expand Sophia feeding programme, inspire others|url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2020/11/08/sunday/everybody-could-do-something-activist-seeks-to-expand-sophia-feeding-programme-inspire-others/|access-date=2021-02-01|website=Stabroek News|language=en-US}}</ref> a [[Special School]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-26|title=Stabroek News publishes 116 Region Four Statements of Poll|url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2020/03/26/news/guyana/stabroek-news-publishes-116-region-four-statements-of-poll/|access-date=2021-02-01|website=Stabroek News|language=en-US}}</ref> and a centre for Children With [[Disabilities]]. A health clinic and a police station are also present to serve the community. As of 2017, there is a Major Road; completed under the APNU/AFC Government, that connects four of the aforementioned five Sections/'Fields' providing ease of transportation and reducing [[traffic congestion]] in the area.
== History ==
The area developed during 1986, when land previously used for the cultivation of rice and rearing of fish began to be occupied. The area was called "farmers field" since it was used mainly for farming. However, a few years later almost 400 persons had moved into the area. It was all swamp and mud when persons decided to use the area for housing.<ref>From a squatter settlement to a housing scheme {{cite web |url=http://www.gina.gov.gy/archive/features/f040903.html |title=Gina &#124; Government Information Agency &#124; Guyana |accessdate=2012-03-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010150137/http://www.gina.gov.gy/archive/features/f040903.html |archivedate=2008-10-10 }}</ref> Even though settling on the land was considered illegal at the time, persons continued to occupy the land and by 1985–1991, bridges creating linkages to other sections east, now known as Liliendaal and Pattensen (south) were constructed.
The area became known as one of the largest [[squatting]] settlements, which caught the attention of law enforcement officials who started a campaign to restrict persons from expanding. However, zeal for development and property ownership coupled with predominantly vulnerable, low income women and men who needed land and a place to call home resulted in mobilization and lobbying by "squatters" for the regularization of the area. Persistence and determination resulted in the area becoming one of the largest squatting settlements in the country to be converted into a housing scheme.
While Sophia has benefited from some infrastructural development&nbsp;— limited paved roads, limited electricity supply<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-06|title=GPL's generating capacity boosted by arrival of six generators|url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2020/12/06/news/guyana/gpls-generating-capacity-boosted-by-arrival-of-six-generators/|access-date=2021-02-01|website=Stabroek News|language=en-US}}</ref>&nbsp;— other basics public goods like potable water for households,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-29|title='A' Field water supply restored|url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2020/09/29/news/guyana/a-field-water-supply-restored/|access-date=2021-02-01|website=Stabroek News|language=en-US}}</ref> a community-wide sewage system and regulated [[sanitation]] have been slowly addressed. There is no private sector presence in the community other than small neighbourhood businesses to provide services as part of its social responsibility. Even though [[faith-based organization]]s have a heavy presence in the community only a limited number of social services are provided by the group to the community.
== Declaration of Sophia ==
{{anchor|Declaration of Sophia}}
On 14 December 1974, a [[People's National Congress (Guyana)|People's National Congress]] was held in Sophia where [[Forbes Burnham]] unveiled his plans for the future of Guyana.<ref name="para"/> The speech was later published as the Declaration of Sophia.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://roxburycc.bibliocommons.com/item/show/2116968075_declaration_of_sophia?active_tab=summarized_details |title=Declaration of Sophia |website=Roxbury Community College|date=1974 |access-date=6 December 2021}}</ref> In the speech, Burnham stated that "the [[People's National Congress (Guyana)|Party]] (PNC) should assume unapologetically its paramountcy over the government which is merely one of its executive arms."<ref name="times">{{cite web|url=https://www.guyanatimesinternational.com/the-state-under-burnham/ |title=The State under Burnham|website=Guyana Times International|date=4 March 2016|access-date=6 December 2021}}</ref><ref name="siege">{{cite web|url=http://guyanaundersiege.com/Leaders/Burnham1.htm |title=Forbes Burnham|author=Rakesh Rampertab|page=1|website=Guyana under Siege|access-date=6 December 2021}}</ref> This included all institutions of state including the judiciary, therefore the PNC flag was flown over the Court of Appeal as a reminder.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2018/03/10/is-the-pncr-trapped-in-the-past/ |title=Is the PNCR trapped in the past?|website=Kaieteur News Online|date=10 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2020/07/19/african-population-in-1974-31-percent-in-2020-29-percent/ |title=African population in 1974- 31 percent; in 2020 – 29 percent|author=Freddie Kissoon|date=19 July 2020|access-date=6 December 2021|website=Kaieteur News Online}}</ref>
Other key points of the Declaration were the ownership of the national resources by the people, the ending of exploitation by creating an egalitarian and classless society, and production for human need instead of profit.<ref name="assessment"/>
The Declaration resulted in a nationalisation of Guyana's industry,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://guyaneseonline.net/2021/10/19/guyana-sweet-drink-the-puma-presence-by-vibert-cambridge/ |title=Guyana: Sweet Drink – The Puma Presence|author=Vibert Cambridge|date=19 September 2020|website=Guyanese Online|access-date=6 December 2021}}</ref> the merger of Party and State.<ref name="times"/> Party membership became important to obtain contracts, permits and benefits,<ref name="siege"/> and the [[Guyana National Service]] was created as a way to mobilize the youth into a paramilitary organisation controlled by the party.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Guyana National Service|author=[[David A. Granger]]|url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2008/12/10/guyana-review/the-guyana-national-service/ |website=Stabroek News|access-date=6 December 2021|date=10 December 2008}}</ref>
== See also ==
* [[Squatting in Guyana]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Wards of Georgetown, Guyana]]
[[Category:Squatting in Guyana]]