This is a special blog entry dedicated to a field study carried out for Placecheck in the CBD and Belmont in Port of Spain.
The
Central Business District (CBD) in Port of Spain can be describe as the hub of
activities in the city. The CBD includes areas such as Independence Square,
Brian Lara Promenade, Charlotte, Henry, Frederick Street and Woodford Square.
On these streets there are lots vending and busy city dwellers carrying out
their daily activities. The streets were filled with traffic congestion and
busy corners with crowds of people hassling to cross the streets. Upon
conducting a placecheck of the areas mentioned above it was nice to see many
parents and their children selling on the streets earning an honest living. Many
street vendors were accompanied by their children who assisted them in selling
customers and providing a friendly service to the citizens of Trinidad. There
was the feeling of togetherness and wholeness amongst the vendors as they laugh
and talk with each other trying to make a daily dollar. This was something that
stood out to me the most in the CBD of Port of Spain the way in which the
vendors organized their daily lives to earn a living. It is important that
these bounds and social interactions are preserved and maintain among the city
dweller.
Street Vending and Busy Urban Dwellers
on the Streets of Port of Spain
However,
there are many aspects of the city that was displeasing and needs improving to
ensure the proper functioning of the CBD. One major aspects were the large
amounts of vagrants and homeless person seen sleeping on the streets and
against walls of the city. This site does not paint an inviting picture for a
passerby or a tourist to visit the CBD.
These people make urban customers feel unsafe and discourage from
shopping in the CBD. On major example was the vagrants and homeless people on
the Brian Lara Promenade sleeping on the benches and urinating on the trees
which left a pungent smell in the atmosphere. Who would want to visit a CBD in
such condition? The government definitely needs to intervene in this matter as
it puts the future of the CBD into questioning. Would businessmen and citizens
feel motivated to conduct activities in the CBD of Port of Spain?
at City Gate Port of Spain
Further,
the traffic congestion on the streets made it difficult for many person to
enter or exit the CBD. This problem if becomes to server would discourage many
citizens from shopping in the CBD as they would not want to spend long hours of
back to back traffic just to access the city center. This can results in business closure in the CBD since many citizen many prefer to shop online or at
malls.
Therefore,
the government needs to recognized these problems and provide the necessary
solutions that can improve the CBD. The Government can provide housing
accommodation for the vagrants and homeless with basic facilities such as
toilets who cannot afford proper housing. Further, effective traffic plans can
be established to curb the congestion problems of the CBD enabling an easy flow
of vehicles through the streets of Port of Spain. Safe and secure parking would
reduce the amount of vehicles in the CBD as citizens would feel a sense of
security to park their cars and go shopping.
Best
of Belmont
Belmont,
the first suburb in the city of Port of Spain lies within working distance to
the town. Belmont was the first community in which our enslaved ancestors
settled after becoming emancipated and is known as “First Emancipation
Village”. Upon entering the Belmont community one must cross the bridge known
as the “Wash Out Bridge” or the East Dry River. This bridge is very significant
to the community since many of the ancestors utilized the river to wash their
clothing. In those days this river would have probably be known as the “Hub of
activities”. This river runs through the Belmont community and floods when
there is torrential rainfall. The residents reported the last major flooding
occurred in 2012 as a result of increased rainfall and due to the disposal of
garbage directly into the water course.
The
community of Belmont is one that certainly stands out as a canvas of rich
diverse cultural heritage unspoiled but kept through the architectural,
cultural and social aspects of their community. This vibrant cultural heritage
is maintained through the collaboration of community groups that starts true to
their “roots”. One of the many successes of Belmont community is the Trinidad Theater Workshop. At this theater, the Belmont heritage is kept alive through
production activities and performances by children and youths of the community.
Also at the theater there is also artifacts, photographs and paintings
associated with the Belmont community. The many achievements of the theater
allow them great opportunities to work in collaboration with National Museum an
UNESCO to produce in excess of 100 photos and artifacts which attracted scores
of people. Such achievements left much
to be desire like the formation of the Belmont Community Museum and Research Center.
Furthermore,
the community houses one of the most well know homes for girls the St. Jude’s
Home for Girl’s. This is the only girl’s institution in Trinidad. The home is a
correction institute where young girls who displays delinquent behavior
requires some form of training to set them on the right tract. The community is
also well known for its many pan yards and mas camps where youths partake in
these activities to maintain social interactions and occupy their free time but
most important keeping the rich legacy of Belmont community alive.
Living
in the Belmont community has lots of luxuries for its residents. Due to its
close proximity to the CBD, residents can enjoy a short walk to the town to
engage in activities such as shopping in commercial centers, visiting the
market or their work place. The comfort lies in not having to endure lengthy
hours of traffic or the hassle of reach to work on time.
The
CBD of Port of Spain and the Belmont community can be pretty good examples that
fit the J Jacobs principles of good neighborhoods. Both places have various
functions, blocks of different ages and conditions, short streets and numerous
corners especially Belmont and a dense concentration of people.
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