By Barrington Braithwaite
The period beginning in the 1950’s was characterised by joblessness, and sub-standard living conditions. This despite some development in the urban housing sector in areas like East and West Ruimveldt and Laing Avenue. These areas were populated by residents from mainly the traditional South Georgetown areas (from Hadfield Street to now South Ruimveldt). The ward of Sophia would not be developed for another thirty years. The growth of the urban population also included some rural folk driven to the city by joblessness in their rural communities. The tail end of the global “Oil Crisis’ coupled with the 1977 destruction by fire of the Rice Marketing Board Complex, contributed to further decline in mass jobs.
