Port of Spain Field Excursion

PLACECHECK

PORT OF SPAIN- CBD 

Port-of Spain, Trinidad’s capital city, is located near the northwest coast of the island. The Central Business District (CBD) is in Downtown POS and it is one of the most commercialized areas in Trinidad. In some of my future blog entries, I will shed light on some economic activities which take place in Port of Spain.

A placecheck was conducted within the CBD with walkabouts at various areas such as Independence Square, Brian Lara Promenade, Charlotte/Henry/Frederick Streets and Woodford Square.

The first area visited was the Brian Lara Promenade. What I liked the most about this area was that it took away from the monotony of buildings. Along the entire stretch was a lot of greenery with trees and grass. There were also benches and tables available for the tired shopper or commuter visiting the CBD. There were many persons just relaxing and enjoying the morning hustle under the shady trees. This was also present in Woodford Square. I would certainly like to see more greenery within the CBD. In my opinion, I enjoyed the fact that there were numerous food outlets within the CBD. Whether is it fast food restaurants (eg. KFC and Subway) or local cuisine (eg. doubles and aloo pie), food was never too far away! On Charlotte, Henry and Frederick Streets, the town was alive with the hustle and bustle of shoppers. These streets contain countless shopping facilities, stores and vendors catering to your every need.

However, I noticed some things which were of some concern to me. Along the Brian Lara Promenade were many homeless persons who were sitting on the benches and ground. This would not be a pleasant sight for visitors who have never been to the capital city of Trinidad. The government should relocate these persons from the CBD or place them in a home. Another eyesore was the amount of garbage along pavements and drains throughout the CBD. It blocks the walkways, creates foul smells and encourages accumulation of insects. Apart from this, I also think that there should be more parking facilities in the CBD in order to avoid car theft and illegal parking. One thing that needs to improve in the CBD is the appearance of some of the older buildings. They need to be renovated and refurbished in such a way that their original design is maintained. Port of Spain’s architectural heritage will hence, be sustained.

BELMONT

    Belmont is a residential neighbourhood located roughly northeast from the CBD and is in fairly close proximity to it. This is an advantage as residents can easily access the CBD for various purposes. Belmont is rich in culture and heritage. Many mas camps and steelbands originated in this neighbourhood. One steelband area which was visited was Cascablanca. These places need to be preserved as they form part of Trinidad’s history. A major downfall of Belmont is the frequent crime that takes place. The environment is unsafe so I think more police should be on patrol in this area. There is not much urban planning as seen from the narrow winding roads and somewhat random housing pattern. Belmont is densely populated with many houses located along each street.

ASSESSING “GOOD NEIGHBOURHOODS”

According to Jane Jacob’s principles of good neighbourhoods:

•  Mixed use – different functions;
•  Mixed blocks with different buildings of different ages and conditions;
•  Streets with short blocks and numerous corners;
•   A dense concentration of people.

The CBD is more commercialised and economic activity is its main role serving functions such as banking, retailing, insurance etc. Belmont however, is a residential neighbourhood which contains basic services (like groceries and food outlets) to cater to the basic needs of the residents. Within both areas, old pre-modern architectural designs can be seen in buildings and houses. Throughout the years, the government has been able to preserve these designs. In these modern times, though, it can be seen that some of the buildings have undergone some structural change. New building designs are being employed as well, as seen in the high rise complexes such as the Hyatt Regency Hotel and the Nicholas Tower. With respect to the streets, there are many narrow and meandering minor roads throughout Belmont. This can be explained due to the absence of urban planning. The opposite can be seen in the CBD where there are many long straight roads. On a daily basis, scores of people commute to Port of Spain and the CBD for different reasons so the density of persons is usually high. Belmont also has a high concentration of people but these constitute to the residents.  

WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL CBD?

• ·         Availability and accessibility of goods, services and facilities
• ·         Ease of access into and out of CBD - No traffic congestion
• ·         Clean environs - No pollution
• ·         Safety of commuters and workers - No crime
• ·         Strong social relationships
• ·         Reliable communication networks
• ·         Presence of local/city’s heritage and culture
• ·         Eradication of homeless persons