The photo above is a personal favorite. It shows the city lit up at dusk. To me it speaks volumes about how far the city of Port of Spain has come in terms of development.
I would like to thank those who visit and enjoyed my blog, I hope that you did learn a lot about the city of Port of Spain and Urban Livelihood. I hope that it was enjoyable for you as it was for me. Thank you.
Urban development has a lot to do with urban livelihood. It is urban development that influences the capabilities, assets, income and activities required to sustain the necessities of life within urban towns and cities. The link posted below will direct you to the blogs of a colleague of mine. His blog was done on Gasparillo; a town located in central Trinidad. Aspects of his work are similar to Port of Spain but on a different scale.
The town of Gasparillo previously consisted of a Plantation type society. Gasparillo now consists of an urban center where there is a high concentration of business activities and operates similar to that of a small scale city.
Development of the area has shaped it to what it has become today. In the process it has so influenced the activities by by which people partake in to earn a living. Due to the occurrence of urban development over the decades aspects such as traffic congestion in the 'heart' of the Gasparillo, pollution; make shift garbage dumps and the development of commercial centers has become part of the livelihood of persons who reside in the town of Gasparillo and its environs. The issues presented in the blog link above are quite similar to what was discussed in my urban livelihood blog.
Do have a look and tell me what you think....... Urban livelihood in Port of Spain vs Urban Livelihood in Gasparillo.
Reflection 2
‘Urbanization in Trinidad has fueled a new lifestyle, an urban lifestyle where trinis are no longer apart of the city, but rather the city has become the creation of our expression……With our fast pace lives evolving from urbanization, the way we eat has also altered with an increasing intake of fast food. We are seeing the emergence of "an urban diet".’
The excerpt above was taken from the blog of a colleague of mine. Her blog speaks about urban diet and its evolution in Trinidad and Tobago. Within recent times the culture of food has changed drastically. With urbanization taking its course, it is affecting the type of foods that we consume. It has been altered to accommodate an Urban Livelihood. In this little Caribbean island it’s no long what it used to be, it is now centered on convenience than taste.
In my opinion improved and resilient livelihoods needs to be promoted so that children, families and communities at large can experience fullness of life. Issues such as the production of food creating an ecological footprint should not be something that we take for granted. There should be sustainable strategies developed to improve the livelihood means involving food.
Based on you means of livelihood, do you think your consumption of food negatively impacts on the environment? Have you ever thought about that?
Click on the link to the blog to find out more about URBAN DIETS
Illusions of an Urban Paradise, the title for this blog is quite fitting as the blog brings forward the relevant issues concerning urban development in the city of Port of Spain. It informs the reader of the pros and cons; the negative and positive consequences of urban development. Similar to the first reflection done I think that urban livelihood has a lot to do with the development of the city. It goes hand in hand. The livelihoods of urban residents are dynamic and as it changes it influences urban development decisions.
Issues such as land reclamation and ecosystem destruction, flooding, marginalization of green spaces, traffic and degradation are all consequences of development which occurred due to changes and demands of livelihood. In most instances the environment pays the toll for human actions. How much longer can the environment be the victim of out action? This blog addresses such concerns.
It’s very interesting and worth taking a look at. Click below for more.
Throughout the world
most rural environment involves the exploitation and extraction of natural
resources within the primary sector of the economy, for example fishing and
agriculture. The primary economic sector plays a key role in developing the
activities to which rural communities are centered, and it influences the types
of jobs that are created and available. The urban environment on the other hand
is mainly related to activities associated with secondary and tertiary sector
of the economy, more so the tertiary sector than secondary in the city of Port
of Spain, Trinidad. The city is saturated with white collar type employment. There
is stark contrast between the activities of rural and urban areas. The urban
city of Port of Spain displays evidence of both the wealthy minority and the
lesser fortunate majority. Certain parts
of the city showcase material extravagance and are stigmatized as being upper-class,
for example St. Claire and West-moorings.
Over time lifestyle
expectations have changed drastically and alternately influenced the livelihood
of many persons. The dominance of the secondary and tertiary sectors has led to
the growth of urban gentrified communities. Within those communities what you
tend to find is a culture of exclusivity exist due the abundance of wealthy influences (Hall and Barrett 1998).
On the island, the
majority of companies have their headquarters based in Port of Spain with
smaller branches dispersed throughout the island. Consequently some of the highest
paying jobs are concentrated within the city. The advantage of this is that it
provides permanent well-paying jobs that persons can take advantage of. However
it creates exclusivity and only the wealthy are able to afford the more
extravagant things in life, the lesser fortunate doesn't get a slice of the
pie.
In an article by BBC on Trinidad and Tobago it states that:
Trinidad and Tobago is one of the wealthiest countries in the Caribbean, thanks to its large reserves of oil and gas, the exploitation of which dominates its economy.
The availability of oil and gas has paved the path for the great success and concentration of wealth that the country enjoys. Take a look at the photo below.
The
photo above shows a combination of different corporate companies that are located
within the city of Port of Spain and provides enticing employment opportunities
for the well-educated and advantaged population of the country. The Royal Bank of Canada, Tatil Insurance Co, UDECOTT, BHP Billiton, British Petroleum headquarters and Eric Williams Financial Complex. Employment with such or similar companies dispenses a more than satisfactory
salary that allows people to afford the luxurious things that life has to offer.
The photo above displays some of the material things that persons are able to obtain as a result of having high paying jobs. These material items have become part and parcel of the livelihood of rich urban dwellers. The photo illustrates a formal work outfit, an expensive executive range rover, the 12th floor of 'The Renaissance Tower' at Shorelands, Port of Spain, one of the most expensive but finest restaurants in Port of Spain 'Prime' and lastly a yacht sailing off the coast of Chaguaramas. Sadly they are available exclusively and not everyone are able to enjoy such luxuries. The urban life displays great disparity between the rich and poor.
Reference
Hall, Tim, and Heather Barrett. 1998.Urban geography. London: Routledge.
"Trinidad and Tobago profile. 2007. " BBC News. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-20072231 (accessed April 8, 2014).
Entertainment is
referred to as any activity that holds the attention or interest of an
audience.Over the years livelihood has evolved to include
entertainment as an important component. It also serves as a mode of livelihood
for worldwide. Just like the provision of any other service entertainment has
become a wide and booming industry. Whether you are working within the
entertainment industry or is a patron it has become part of the livelihood of
people.
Through entertainment the culture and arts of
Trinidad and Tobago is portrayed and accepted globally. Within the past decade
urban entertainment has become ever more prominent now than before. As Trinidad’s
cosmopolitan population has grown more nightlife and entertainment choices have
grown to meet its growing demand. The streets of the city of Port of Spain are
saturated with bars, nightclubs, lounges, multi-storey clubs, theaters, and ‘fetes’
as Trinidadians like to call it.
The photo below displays
one of Trinidad’s most prized performing theaters located within the city of
Port of Spain. The photo displays the recently built National Academy for the
Performing Arts (NAPA). The theater is equipped with state of the art
technology and hosts some of the most prestigious and diplomatic functions and
shows.
The architectural design of the building was done to replicate that of the national flower; the Chaconia. The photo clearly displays the vision for the promotion of arts and entertainment in Trinidad.
One of the most famous
entertainment places in Port of Spain is located along Ariapita Avenue dubbed ‘the
Avenue’. The avenue can be described as a microcosm of bar/lounge night life
experience in Trinidad.
The nightlife and entertainment
experience within the city of Port of Spain and Trinidad at large is being
promoted by the government and other local agencies to encourage urban tourism
and are thus far have been very successful. Within urban economies urban
tourism has been emerging as an important driver of urban development in cities
all over the world and Trinidad and Tobago is no exception. (Hall and Barrett 1998)
The photo above displays a combination of different hotspots located at Ariapita Avenue, Port of Spain. The photo to the top left hand corner shows the streets of the Avenue being saturated with people at night time, the photo to the right of it shows the famous Coco Lounge; a popular lounge for young adults. The two photos to the bottom are houses that were bought and converted into bars and restaurants, and are very successful to date. It is these places such as these that people choose to spend their time and money or some may even work here to earn a living. The links below refers you to commended activities in promotion of urban tourism taking place on the Avenue. The second of the two links is an online website dedicated to activities taking place on the Avenue. Take a look. http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Thousands-turn-out--for-Pan-on-D-Avenue-2-221109511.html http://www.weavenue.com/index.php Food for Thought
What do you think about gentrification of such places to promote entertainment and nightlife?
Reference
Hall, Tim, and Heather Barrett. 1998.Urban geography. London: Routledge.
Crime can be defined as an act committed or omitted in violation of a law forbidding or commanding it and for which punishment is imposed upon conviction. It is a phenomenon that exists within both rural and urban centers around the world, in some instances more frequently than others. According to Glaeser (1996) crime rates are much higher in big cities than in either small cities or rural areas and have been relatively pervasive for several centuries.
Why do people commit crime?
It is of the Marxist view that crimes are committed due to social class differences. Working class crime is the type of crime which is more common in the city of Port of Spain. The main reason for working class people attempt to commit crime is because they are not able to afford necessities or luxuries that they would like to have. Criminals then resort to violent crimes such as robbery and murder in an attempt to obtain money and material objects. To some it’s their way of livelihood and they chose the city to be its source of victims.
In Trinidad and Tobago within recent times there has been a spike in the amount of crime that takes place in the country. It is a problem that the state has been deal with since the drastic change. From the year 2000 crime had begun to increase and has continued in that trend until it peaked in 2008 with 550 murders, after which it showed a decline to date. The table in the link below can further enlighten you about crime statistic on the island.
A lot of the criminal activity recorded above occurs in the city of Port of Spain and its environs. East Port of Spain is stigmatized by the occurrence of high crime rates. Murders, robberies, and gang activity is heavily associated with East Port of Spain namely streets such as Duncan Street, Picadilly Street, Besson Street. The newspaper article below highlights two of many crime incidents that have made headline on news. Click on the links to have a read.
The photo above display what is known as Besson Street police stations. It is one of the most overwhelmed police stations in the city of Port of Spain and the country at large. Besson Street police station has the task of dealing with some of the most heinous crimes within Port of Spain and its environs.
A jail in the middle of the city? Oh yes it is! It was built in 1812 and is commonly called the Royal Jail; shown in the photo above. It is located on the corner of Frederick Street and New Street in the city of Port of Spain. As a result of crime being conducted within the city and environs this a jail was built to keep criminals of the street. To date we see that the Royal Jail is still functional fulfilling its purpose. The high walls, security cameras and ‘lock down’ design of the area indicates to passers-by that it a jail and its purpose is detention. The Royal Jail is responsible for executing death penalties, the gallows platform is visible from the outside of the prison walls.
Reference
Achong , Derek. 2013. "Five Killed in East Port of Spain: Gangs on Warpath." The Trinidad Guardian Newspaper. https://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-08-15/five-killed-east-port-spain-gangs-warpath (accessed March 7, 2014)
Glaeser, Edward L. and Bruce Sacerdote. 1999. "Why Is There More Crime In Cities?."Journal of Political Economy 107, no. S6: S225-S258.
A typical commuter (one who drives a vehicle) to the city of Port of Spain spends at least 2-4 hours per day in traffic depending on where you’re
coming from. That’s equivalent to 20 hours per working week; 80 hours per
month; 960 hours per year which is equivalent to 40 days of our lives annually we
spend in traffic? Scary isn't it.
Traffic congestion is a dilemma in cities around the world.
It is a condition where road networks are saturated with vehicles resulting in
slow movement and longer travelling times but people do it any way. The
concentration of activities in one particular area encourages it and so
decentralization might be a good idea to solve its problems.
In Trinidad and Tobago all major and important
services are rendered within the city of Port of Spain making it a requirement
that a large amount of persons visit the city for various activities. Persons
who are living within the city and environs are not only the ones who are
commuting to the city to work but persons from all corners of the nation. Spending
wasted time in traffic has become routinely part of the lives of those living
and working in Trinidad especially those in the city of Port of Spain; most
persons endure the toil as it’s a means of securing a livelihood.
The photo above shows a traffic congested road at midday along Wrightson Road, Port of Spain. On the day the photo was taken the traffic pile up seen here spanned as far as Aranguez Flyover. The photo the portrays the familiar experiences of drivers as they sit in their vehicles and patiently and some impatiently wait to get to where they want to go. As a driver who is always in traffic, sometimes I feel its best to park up the vehicle and walk. Walking most times gets you thee faster.
Some persons believe that it’s simply a matter of having too
much cars on the road. According to Hall and Barrett (1998) it is believed that
social spaces of city life are affected by increasing dominance of vehicular
use. In many cities it can be seen that a large proportion of urban land has
been designated to vehicles. This is so true and relevant to not only foreign
cities but also Port of Spain. The news paper articles will further inform you about the traffic situation in Port of Spain and the island at large.
In the view of Hall and Barrett (1998) urban
social life is degraded by the dominance of vehicles in cities. This could be
valid as time spend driving reduces the amount of time that you interact with
other persons, especially if you do not car pool.
What do we do with the vehicles when we get to our destination?
The photo above shows one of many car parks located at 44-58 Edward Street, Port of Spain owned and operated by Neal Co. Properties. In an attempt to reduce congestion along the streets of the city we have to now allocate valuable land spacing for vehicles for what could
have been put to better use. For example at the International Waterfront
Center millions of dollars was spent to construct a 7 storey car park for
accommodation of 1200 vehicles. Do you think it’s a waste of resources?
Reference:
Hall, Tim, and Heather Barrett.1998. Urban geography. London: Routledge.
Guardian Newspaper. 2013. "Traffic jamming commuters daily." The Trinidad Guardian Newspaper. http://guardian.co.tt/editorial/2013-02-08/traffic-jamming-commuters-daily (accessed April 6, 2014).
Qunital , Joel . 2013.Trinidad Express Newspaper. http://www.trinidadexpress.com/letters/Simply_too_many_cars_on_the_nation_s_roads-170861001.html
Pollution is defined as ‘the introduction by man into the
environment of substances or energy liable to cause hazards to human health,
harm to living resources and ecological systems, damage to structures or
amenity, or interference with legitimate uses of the environment,’ (
Holdgate 1979)
Pollution has resulted in cities as a result of human
consumption and expansion. It has grown to become an issue of threat to the
environment. As a result of people trying to secure a livelihood within the
urban city large amounts of pollution have been generated. NASA reports have
shown that with urban expansion comes an increase in not only the amount of air
pollution within the city but also land, noise and water pollution. Livelihood needs must be met in ways that do
not degrade or destroy the environment of the city; it must be done in a
sustainable way.
Whilst once occupying only around two percent of the world’s
land surface, cities now contain more than half of the world’s population and
generate the majority of the world’s waste and pollution. This gluttony has occurred
as a result of increasing urban growth rates in the Global South.
It has been proven that the environmental demands of city
dwellers vary enormously between the Global North and Global South. Global North dwellers typically generate
about twice as much waste as those in the Global South but it is mainly within
the Global South that you see rampant and uncontrolled pollution. (Hall 1988,
306)
In the city of Port of Spain all forms of pollution are
prominent; they are more so evident in East Port of Spain than anywhere else in
the city. Issues of land pollution, water quality, smog and noise pollution are
endured by residents of the city on a frequent basis. The different forms of
media used below will help to educate and inform you about the pollution issues
that exist in the city of Port of Spain.
Photo A was taken along Picadilly Street in Port of Spain. The photo shows household waste being dumped along the side of the roadway. It is very distasteful to passers by and users of the areas as well as unhygienic. Photo B shows waste material both household and non household waste being thrown along the side of the Beetham Highway. The garbage seen in the photo has been there for days, residents who use the area are vulnerable to sanitation diseases and illness due to rotting garbage. The smell is extremely horrid.
All the waste from the entire city and environs
are deposited at the Beetham dump. It is one of the largest dumps in Trinidad
and its horrid state poses threats to commuters and residents of the city. A
lot of people who reside in Beetham gardens make their living from the Beetham
dump. The video presented by Marcia Miranda below sheds some light on the operations and deplorable
conditions of the Beetham dump.
The dump is located to close to the city and the
consequences of such actions are the cries of the users of the city on a daily
basis. The newspaper article below talks about very recent SMOG problems that
affected the entire city of Port of Spain. As fire burned at the Beetham dump
the city was filled with smoke and a very offensive smell that resulted in
mayhem in city; schools were closed, workers were sent home resulting in an
inoperable city. The news paper article in the link below can further enlighten you about the Beetham fire and Smog.
The definition of a homeless person remains a topic
of debate and varies according to the sociological and legal material
consulted. One New York City study defined the homeless as "those whose
primary night time residence is either in the publicly or privately operated
shelters or in the streets, in doorways, train stations and bus terminals,
public plazas and parks, subways, abandoned buildings, loading docks and other
well hidden sites known only to their users." (Baxter and Hopper 1981)
Other common names for vagrants are ‘tramps’,
‘hobos’ ‘drifters’ ‘homeless’ and ‘skid
row’. Homelessness is a social issue,
caused by structural inequalities and a lack of certain resources within an
area causing more vulnerable individuals to vacate their homes and resort to
the streets as a means of survival. The majority of homeless persons comprise
migrant laborers and those of the lower economic strata of society. This is
more so because of their weak social links, lack of education and the inability
to adapt to drastic economic, political changes.
The
number of homeless persons in urban areas has increased at an alarming rate –
it is estimated that there are 30 000 homeless men and 6000 homeless women in
New York City alone. (United Nation 2008)
Homelessness in urban environments has grown to
become a problem within cities worldwide. Homeless persons resort to the street
of cities regardless of its size to secure a means of livelihood. Literature
has indicated that the expansion of homelessness in the 1980’s and 1990’s has
been fueled by economic restructuring, ongoing welfare, state reorganization,
de-institutionalization, demographic shifts and changes in housing markets. (Takahashi
1998)
In the city of Port of Spain, Trinidad homelessness
has become a major issue within recent times. The problem has existed before
but now it is more rampant than ever. In some countries it is a more serious
offense than in others. In Trinidad and Tobago there are currently no strict
laws against vagrancy or homelessness and by many officials in power the
problem has been deemed ‘un-fixable’.
In
Trinidad and Tobago the street-dweller population grew by 13.4 per cent over
the decade 2000 to 2011. The largest concentration is in Port-of-Spain. The
distribution by sex remained predominately male and was 95 per cent in 2000 as
compared to 93 per cent in 2011. This was revealed yesterday by Dave Clement,
director of statistics of the Central Statistical Office (CSO), at a press
conference by the Ministry of Planning and the Economy at the Eric Williams
Financial Building, Port-of-Spain.
The photo (A) attached above shows a homeless person
sitting between two buildings along Duke Street, Port of Spain, with a jacket
covering his or her head shading from the afternoon sun. To me it describes the
length to which people are willing to go to survive. Photo B adjacent to it
shows a street dweller with a cart, at the time the photo was taken he was picking
up bottles from the side of the roads. I presume that he is going to sell those
to obtain money. The other photo (C) in the collage shows a homeless person
sleeping beneath a building on the hard concrete floors. All three persons in
these photos have no place they could call home and resort to the streets of
the city of Port of Spain to provide shelter.
The collage depicts the reality of living on the
streets of Port of Spain. Homelessness has become a means of livelihood for
many persons in Trinidad, not only those who are economically deprived but
those who are mentally disabled, on drugs or deranged persons can be found on
the streets of the city of Port of Spain. They flock around busy, commercial
areas where they can easily receive hand-outs and uses the resources of the
city as that of their home. The video link below shows a homeless person on the
city of Port of Spain using drain water to bathe. This is clear evidence that
homeless persons resort to the city for support.
For several years vagrants have inhabited part of
what is a car park building in Port of Spain and made it their home. The photo
below shows vagrants inhabiting the space. In the photo below, one can clearly
see mattresses, cardboard boxes, bags, clothing, garbage and other items dispersed about the surroundings. The homeless have claimed part of
this private building and temporarily calls it home.
Whilst driving past this car park several days for
the week I have noticed that the homeless people who reside there do indeed
differ from each other in many ways. Observation has led me to believe that
homelessness varies across the board; they come from different cultural, ethnic
background, and vary in age.
The existing homelessness situation is a reflection
of the fact that there is a breakdown in the social structure of our country,
which is causing vagrancy to develop and escalate. We as a country need to
examine the nature and functioning of our various institutions, see where we
are falling short and take the necessary corrective action.
I became aware today that the Minister of the People Dr
Glenn Ramadharsingh is fighting the battle against street dwelling and
homelessness. In an attempt to fight the scourge of homelessness the Government
of Trinidad and Tobago has approved $17 million to address the vagrancy problem
plaguing the country. The newspaper
article (attached below) by Shalini Hassannali sheds more light on the issue and rehabilitation
efforts.
Baxter , Ellen , and Kim Hopper, 1981. Private Lives/Public Space:Homeless Adults on the Streets of New York . New York : Institute for Social Welfare Research.
Takahashi, Lois. 1998. Homelessness, AIDS, and stigmatization: the NIMBY syndrome in the United States at the end of the twentieth century. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Takahashi, L. M.1996. "A decade of understanding homelessness in the USA: from characterization to representation."Progress in Human Geography 20, no. 3: 291-310.
St. Clair is a North Western community in the city of
Port of Spain. It is bounded by Tragerete Road on the South, Maraval Road on
the East, Long Circular Road on the North and the Maraval River on the West.
St. Clair houses some of the city’s most prized mansions and is home to
diplomatic missionaries. In addition to that it is the home to exquisite
hotels, restaurants, and popular socializing spots. It is the perfect
definition of a very elitist, upscale, residential community on the outskirts
of the town. Whilst walking through the streets of St. Clair the luxurious,
extravagant lifestyles were clearly evident. The photo below depicts what the streets of St. Clair looks like.
The architecture of the area is a mixture of colonial and
modern. Houses were large and spacious; most of them were built on more than
one lot of land. There were swimming pools and yards that were beautifully
landscaped to adorn the homes of residents. The streets were wide, shady and
tree lined indicating that proper planning went into the development of the
community. The entire environment was clean; there were no signs of littering
or the dumping of rubbish, Public walls were adored with paintings of Caribbean
arts and culture. There were lots of sporting facilities and ground with ample
facilities. During our walk through the town there areas were being used to its
fully capacity. St. Claire appeared to me as being the ideal environment for
living.
In accessing the design and architecture of St. Clair I
noticed that as part of every home it was the norm to have high walls and
fences; excessive use of barriers and security and safety mechanisms. There was
no sense of community felt throughout the neighborhood. With the exception of the parks, there were little to no persons seen outside their homes or walking the streets
or socializing within the community itself.
The historical buildings and houses within the community
need to be preserved as they are prized possessions of the city. For example,
the RC Archbishop’s Residence, Mill Fleur and Whitehall just to name a few. There are vast amounts of facilities
and activities available for youths and adults to partake; there is the YMCA
Association, King George V Park, the Islamic Academy and Queens Royal College
just to name a few.
Jane Jacobs’s four preconditions for the creation and
preservation of vibrant and diverse cities are evident in St. Clair. Within the
St. Clair area there are:
1) High densities of population and activities;
it is a high density residential area saturated with both business and
entertainment/ leisure activities. 2)Mixtures of primary uses; St Clair serves
more than just one primary function, it provides housing settlements,
government and diplomatic activities and public and private support services .
Each street contributes towards providing different functions and is not
dominate by only one single activity. 3) Pedestrian friendly blocks and streets; the
St. Clair neighborhood is very pedestrian friendly as well as its streets that
border squares, grounds and parks. The streets are also wide enough to
accommodate the free flow of two way vehicular traffic, with parking along one
side. There are also proper provisions that have been made for pedestrians via
pavements and easy access ramps. 4)Retaining old buildings mixed with the new;
throughout St. Claire there are old historical buildings (Mill Fleur, QRC, RC
Archbishop Home, and Whitehall) that have been preserved to date for a variety
of reasons. They exist amongst new buildings such as the Office of the Prime
Minister and RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) and Briar Place. The historical
buildings seek to provide visual and emotional landmarks that link the neighborhood with time and space.
Belmont is located on the North-Eastern electoral
district of the City of Port of Spain. It is found to be bounded by Port of
Spain ‘proper’ and Lavantille and the Northern Range. Belmont is the City of
Port of Spain’s oldest suburb. The name Belmont was given to the area by
Governor Hislop, the name meant nothing to the people of the area. Belmont
previous known as Free Town was established by formerly enslaved Africans in
the 1800’s who worked on coco and coffee estates at Belmont It also included
may free African rescued from slaves ships after 1807.To this day it is
inhabited by generations of the emancipated ex-slaves. It is an area rich in
Trinidadian cultural heritage.
Belmont is a close knit community where neighbors are
involved in the lives of others. It is a community where ‘a village raises a
child.’ Along the different streets throughout Belmont there is sense
friendliness and an active neighborhood setting; lots of interaction between
people. While walking through the streets there are passers-by along streets
and at corner shops. The setting of the Belmont community is in stark contrast
to what was observed and experienced in St. Clair. The Belmont area is said to have the highest
concentration of schools in Trinidad and Tobago. Belmont is home to world class
cricketers (Ian Bishop), footballers, singers (David Rudder, The Mighty
Shadow), entertainers (Tommy Joseph), former presidents and authors. It is
also where the earliest forms of carnival begun; the area is concentrated with
mas camps and pan yards.
The heritage of and culture of the people and neighbor of Belmont needs to be preserved along with the few houses and buildings of
late Victorian architecture that was noticed during my visit. Institutions such
as St. Jude’s Home for the Girls and St Francois RC Church are important artifacts concerning architectural and cultural heritage. The photo below shows a typical street in the town of Belmont.
Trinidad Theater Workshop is a community outreach venture
program founded by Derek Walcott in 1959. It is housed in Belmont but does not
only include Belmont participants. The organization lack government support but
should be promoted in every way possible as it an important means by which the
culture is passed from one generation to the next.
In addition to that the Rada compound needs to be
maintained and preserved as it is of cultural importance to the Belmont area.
The Rada compound was founded by Jean Antoine (Papa Nannee). It comprised those
who were freed from Portuguese slave ships from Benin West Africa. The compound
consists of a Church (Vodunkwe), Rada burial grounds and residential housing. Radaism
which is the concept of seeing spirituality in every aspect of life and always
seeking to be righteous is the practice of the people of the Rada community.
Attempts should be made to make people more aware and educated about the
lifestyle and nature of Radaism. During the field session it was the first time
that I encountered the concept of Radaism and think that others will be
delighted to learn about it as well.
There are heavily polluted areas in and around the neighborhoods; street side dumping of rubbish is evident along streets. The
houses are not widely spaced they are more or less cramped for space. The
streets are narrow and along most of the streets there are no pavements as well
as graffiti can be found throughout the neighborhood. The layout and structure of the town indicates
that little to no planning was done before the town developed. Consequently
this is a result of the history of Belmont.
One such issue that is getting worse is the crime issue
in the area. Residents do not feel safe walking the streets at night or leaving
their homes open as they once did. An interview with a Belmont resident said
that one such reason for the increase in crime in the area is due to the lack
of activities for Belmont’s young children to participate in.
The lack of sporting facilities is also an issue that
needs to be addressed. Whilst St. Clair has multiple parks and squares the
entire community of Belmont has one Savannah to meet the needs of the entire
area.
Based on my days experience I was able to see two
extremes; St. Clair and Belmont. They are nothing like each other but both have
historical experiences which shapes them to what it is today, some (Belmont)
had more cultural influences and heritage than the other. I think that Belmont
needs to become a bit more developed in its efforts to portray its rich
cultural heritage but at the same time the essence of Belmont and how it became
what it is must not be lost.
“The success of cities depends on successful neighborhoods-physical areas within which people organize their lives.’
(Power, 2000 cited in Sandhu, 2006)
I agree 100 % with this quote. It is indeed neighborhoods that determine whether or not a city is successful. Belmont has
some work to do in terms of making Belmont what it needs to be to truly
represent its heritage and culture. In my opinion it is not impossible, we just
need the right people and resources to make it happen.
The
urban city does not only constitute slum settlements but offers exclusive
settlements as well. The urban life results in the formation of elite, plush
communities. Urban livelihood offers
settlement for both the lesser fortunate and the wealthy groups who reside in
the city.
Luxurious,
elitist communities are characterized by opulent houses, built on expensive,
overpriced land where several vehicles are owned by persons with permanent high
paying jobs; who can afford the finer things that life has to offer. The
lifestyle of the wealthy reflects urban livelihood from a different
perspective. In Trinidad and Tobago the different perspectives of urban
livelihood are discernibly evident when referring to urban settlements. Whilst urban
slum settlement was discussed in the previous blog, the photo below depicts
urban settlement at its best.
The photo above best represents ‘high class’ urban
settlements. It exhibits what is known as ‘One Woodbrook Place.’ The apartments give breath taking views of the
South/ West coastline. There are Large Master Bedrooms, wrap around balconies,
high quality kitchens and amenities such as gyms, pools, Jacuzzi and tennis
courts all on extravagantly landscaped grounds with courtyards and fountains. These
apartments are rented for $24 000.00 per month (TT dollar).
In my opinion Karl Marx’s ‘Law of Poverty’ is evident in
society today. Capitalists’ main aim is to increase profits. They maximize
profit by reducing wages of the poor marginalized groups in society. No matter
how hard some persons work they will continue to live a life of poverty. In this
scenario the poor keeps getting poorer and the rich keeps getting richer. In my
view all occupations are equally important and people should be rewarded for
their labor and toil as such. In that way every one would be able to afford
the best that life has to offer.
An urban
settlement can be defined as a densely populated area comprising mostly man-made
structures that contain the majority of a society's administrative, cultural,
residential, religious and economic functions. Urban settlements are
characterized by high population density and vast anthropogenic features in
comparison to the areas surrounding it.
There are
approximately 7 billion people living on the planet today. (Index Mundi 2013)
For the first time ever, the
world is undergoing the largest wave of urban growth in history. Statistics
proves that more than half of the world’s population is living in towns and
cities. One hundred years ago, 2 out of every 10 people lived in an urban area.
By 1990, less than 40% of the global population lived in a city, but as of
2010, more than half of all people live in an urban area. It is projected that
by 2030, 6 out of every 10 people will live in a city. (World Health Organization)
As a means
of securing a livelihood, cities tend to offer more favorable benefits than
rural areas. Cities generate jobs which provide a source of income. A country
which practices good governance can deliver education, proper health care and
other services more efficiently and effectively than less densely settled areas
simply because of their advantages of scale and proximity. In addition to that cities
even present the opportunity for social mobilization and women’s empowerment.
Urban growth
is taking a toll on the environment in which it prevails, not to mention that poverty
is now growing faster in urban than in rural areas. One billion people live in
urban slums, which typically lack basic services such as clean water, proper ventilation
and sanitation, and are overcrowded, polluted and dangerous.(UNFPA)
Within every urban city there are poverty stricken areas that lies within. This
is not only relevant to urban areas in New York and Los Angeles but is very
relevant to Trinidad. Urban Slum Settlement
Marx et al
speculates that slum formation is due to rapid urbanization within a developing
country. This theory is of significance because population growth, associated with
urbanization, creates a greater demand for housing than an urbanized area can
offer or supply. I agree with theorists who believe that urban slums are a
result of lack of proper planning, organization and development.
Urban
settlement occurs as a result urban livelihood in the city of Port of Spain,
Trinidad. In the city of Port of Spain the trend of slum settlement is no
different from other countries.A substantial portion of
the population of Trinidad and Tobago lives in slum settlements. The struggle
of their lives can be characterized by low levels of income, temporary or
seasonal employment, and most evident of all inadequate living conditions. The
photo below depicts slum development in Port of Spain.
In the photo,
typical slum development patterns are evident. The houses are tightly packed
together and poorly constructed; walls are not plastered, windows are not
installed and some are built using galvanize sheeting. The appearance of these
houses indicates that they are occupied by lower income earners who work within
the city and environs.
‘Housing and
jobs were the main issues the people of east Port-of-Spain raised in a meeting
yesterday with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.’ Reported by Melissa
Doughty for The Trinidad Guardian Newspaper.
The article indicates that
the two main issues of South East Port Of Spain are unemployment and housing. They
are both problems associated with urban livelihood that goes hand in hand. The photo
clearly depicts the reality of urban livelihood where urbanization generates an
increasing demand for housing than the city of Port of Spain can accommodate.
A
description from the article ‘The character of modern landscapes’ by Edward
Relph of urban situations, portray similar scenarios of what takes place in Trinidadian
urban societies today.
‘Jacob Riis
(1968, pp. 37) wrote in the 1880’s of specific New York city tenement buildings
and particular families of 10 people living in 2 rooms, and of a couple who
committed suicide because they were so tired.’ On another similar report from
the article of Charles Booth on ‘Life and Labor of the People of London’,
described comparable conditions of Sheldon Street of Drury Lane. He wrote ‘ in
little rooms no more than 8ft square would be found living, father mother and
several children….rooms would be dirty to last degree….. not a room would be
free from vermin, and in so many life at night was unbearable, several
occupants said that in hot weather they don’t go to bed but sit in their
clothes in the least infected part of
the room.’
This
suggests to me that people would do what they have to do to earn a living, and
in this instance it means living under harsh conditions where they hope to one
day enjoy the luxuries life has to offer.
The Video uploaded above is for your listening pleasure. It is a song sung by one of the most talent artiste in the Caribbean, Machel Montano. The song is about resident living in Sealots, Port of Spain and the hardships they face.It also speaks about the great potential that the youths of the Sealots community possess. If you look at the video you will get a better understanding of thier livelihood.
Reference
Doughty,
Melissa. 2013. "Kamla Hears East POS Woes." The Trinidad Guardian
Newspaper. https://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-08-22/kamla-hears-east-pos-woes
(accessed February 26, 2014).
UNFPA.
"Latest Publications. 2014. " Urbanization: A Majority in Cities: Population
& Development : UNFPA. https://www.unfpa.org/pds/urbanization.htm (accessed
February 25, 2014).
Marx,
Benjamin, Thomas Stoker, and Tavneet Suri. 2013. "The Economics of Slums in the
Developing World." Journal of Economic Perspectives 27, no. 4:
187-210.
Relph,
Edward. 1976. The Character of Modern Landscape. London: Pion.
United
Nations. 2012. "United Nations Population Division ." UN News Center.
http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/urbanization/urban-rural.shtml
(accessed February 26, 2014).
"Urban
population growth." World health Organization. http://www.who.int/gho/urban_health/situation_trends/urban_population_growth_text/en/
(accessed February 26, 2014).
"World Population."
Demographics. http://www.indexmundi.com/world/population.html (accessed
February 26, 2014).
Street vending is one
of the major means of livelihood for the less fortunate living in the city and
environs. In relation to Trinidad, street vending can be described as
self-employment within the informal sector. Street vendors are an integral
component of urban economies in the Caribbean namely the city of Port of Spain.
For residents of Port of Spain and environs, street vending generates a source
of income and creates a source of employment for a vast majority of the
population.
Throughout the city,
street vending is evident on every junction, most of the major streets, outside
schools and workplaces. ‘Structural theorists posit that street vending is seen
as an endeavor into which marginalized populations are driven out of necessity
in the absence of alternative ways of securing a livelihood.’ (Adom and
Williams 2012) I agree with the structural theorist perspective on street
vending. It is the marginalized, less fortunate populations in society that are
resort to street vending. It is an effort made into securing a means of
livelihood for people and their families. For this I think they should be ‘cut
some slack.
Within the city of
Port of Spain, street vending is highly discouraged as it is perceived as an insignificant
contribution to the country’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and obstructs the
regular flow of traffic. ’ Street vending is a form of economic activity and I
think that it should be accepted and not be treated as an illegal activity. Street side vending customarily becomes a
hindrance during the recent Christmas season and the upcoming Carnival season. These
are the times when sales are the highest; allowing street vendors the
opportunity to earn an extra dollar. According Maraj 2013, ‘officials in charge
make it their duty to threaten those who are trying to make an honest dollar.’
(Newsday Newspaper 2013)
It is of my opinion
that willingness and dedication to work must be encouraged. It is by far
certainly better than depending on state funding or participating in criminal
activities. Those who are willing to work should be accommodated within the
economy as long as they do not infringe on the rights of others. Street vending is a well renounced means of
urban livelihood and constitutes a relatively large proportion of urban economies
and has been for decades. It is about time that the stigma (illegality)
attached to street vending be changed.
‘Let the nation’s street vendors enjoy the Fruits of their Investment and Labor!’
Express Newspaper, "Street Vending: No first-timer,"
Street vending in the city of Port of Spain
The photo above depicts various aspects of street vending in Downtown Port of Spain. The collage displays the busy bustling streets of Port of Spain (namely Charlotte Street, Duke Street and the Queen’s park Savannah) It can be seen that the streets of Port of Spain are used for the exchange of good and services, whether it be fruits, vegetables, snacks, clothing or accessories. It is evident from the photo that the street vendors are patronized and the economic activity not only benefits the vendors but also the consumers. Observation of the photo also indicates that the means by which the street vendors display their goods and services is mobile in nature. This can be convenient for the vendors whenever they are required to move for example when they are being controlled by the police.
Reference
Adom, Kwame, and Colin
Williams. 2012. "Evaluating the Motives of Informal Entrepreneurs in Koforidua,
Ghana." Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship 17, no. 1: 6.
Beall, Jo , and
Nazneen Kanji. 1999. "Households, Livelihoods and Urban Poverty." Urban
Governance, Partnership and Poverty 3: 12.
Maraj, Leiselle. 2013. "Illegal Street Vending and Loud Music — a No, No." Newsday,January
19, http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,172223.html (Accessed February 5,
2014).
Express Newspaper, 2012. "Street Vending: No first-timer," December 19, http://www.trinidadexpress.com/business-magazine/street_vending__no_first-timer-184054091.html
(Accessed February 7, 2014).
