Trinidad is a very diverse country when it comes to food, architecture, culture, etc. and the economy on the whole. I have explained all different aspects of urban economy and how it relates Trinidad. This was an interesting assignment as I was able to understand the various categories of activities that contribute to the urban economy. Comparing this economic study to what is known of foreign urban environments, it it clear that both areas are definitely not the same.
Some of my course colleagues' blogs were of particular interest to me since they had some sort of relation to my topics.
In Jerniece Jones' blog entry on 'Urban Tourism - Hotels in the City!', she mentioned the significance of hotels. I thought she was accurate in saying that the architecture of hotels give an impression of the economic status of a country. This relates to my blog entry on HIGH RISE BUILDINGS where it was noted that cities of developing countries want to construct tall buildings to emulate a foreign developed metropolis.
In Chanel Glasgow's blog entry on 'Urban Nightlife - The Ave Pt2', she posted about Ariapita Avenue and the night clubs and bars which many young people frequent, especially on weekends. It is becoming a norm now to see younger people out at night but in they are still contributing to the economic activities at night.
In Vanessa Boodoo's blog entry on 'Behind the City Lights - Loss of culture through globalization', she argued that globalization can result in many negative
effects including threatening the local cuisine with foreign fast food
restaurants. I am of opinion though, that Trinidadian local cuisine is still
quite popular among the locals.This relates to one one my topics - CUISINE and the economy of Trinidad. The majority of people selling local foods
are streetvendors and do not contribute much to the economy. In Vanessa's case, I assume she would like to see more local
foods being sold around Trinidad rather than foreign-owned fast foot
restaurants. In my case, however, increasing this means increasing the amount
of streetvendors seeing that the majority of local foods are sold this way.
What should be put in place by the government of Trinidad is the establishment
of registered restaurants so that the local foods can be sold and in this way,
it contributes to the economy while decreasing the influence of foreign-owned
restaurants.
Friday, 11 April 2014
NIGHT-TIME ECONOMY
So far, I have delved into different aspects of the urban
economy in Trinidad. Most of these aspects take place at daytime. For example,
both sectors of the economy (formal and
informal) and some recreational
activities take place only during the working hours of the day.
For my final post, I would like to compare how economic
activities differ between day and night in Trinidad.
Have you ever heard the phrase “Trinis never sleep”? Well if
one were to visit Trinidad and experience the hustle and bustle of regular
daytime activities, one would be quite surprised how much MORE lively the place
becomes at night!
 |
| Photo a shows a popular bar in St. James, Port of Spain while photo b shows a night club at Ariapita Avenue, Port of Spain. |
Night time activities in Trinidad hold just as much economic
benefit as any other daytime activity. Trinidadians are always out “liming”, partying and enjoying themselves at various
social areas such as bars, clubs and fetes.
Photo a shows a
popular bar in St. James called “Smokey and Bunty”. Every night, especially on
weekend, persons gather here to drink and hang out. There may even be some
regulars that frequent this place almost every day! Whether it’s an after work lime
or just a simple gathering with friends, Smokey and Bunty, as well as other
bars will sure to be full of life. The photo clearly shows scores of persons
crowded around the entrance of the bar.
Photo b shows another popular liming spot in Port of Spain – Coco Lounge.
This is a more formal setting than the bar in a and younger individuals tend to frequent this club.
If one were to pass these places during the day, one would
see little to no people. In the case of Coco Lounge, the place only opens at
night so this is strictly a night time business. The best places to go to relax
with friends after a long day of school, work, etc. are these clubs and bars
that are full of life and excitement once the sun goes down.
 |
| (2) Food tents in Port of Spain. |
Photo 2 shows many tents set up for the purpose of food
vending. This photo was taken near to the Queen’s Park Savannah and NAPA in
Port of Spain. Even though an entire topic was done on food previously, this
situation is different in that, these food vendors only come out to sell
customers at night. The photo was taken on that particular night because there
was a scheduled performance at the National Academy for Performing Arts (NAPA)
located across the street. It was amazing to see the crowds of persons lining
up by every tent for a variety of mouth-watering dishes and fast foods. This
would be classed as an informal economic activity.
Just imagine if Trinidad’s
government were to establish legitimate and registered food outlets in this
area...this would surely boost the economic profit by a lot!
To review these exciting night activities in Trinidad and to
learn more about our nightlife, please click the following link:
CUISINE
MY FAVOURITE TOPIC! :)
Trinidad and Tobago is eminent in many places around the
world for its tantalising cuisine. Trinidad incorporates different culinary
influences in their local cuisine, most notably Indian, Creole and Chinese. It
is a norm in this country to see a range of foods being sold at roadsides, also
called “streetfoods”.
Even though streetfood vending is deemed as part of
Trinidadian culture, occurring at almost every street corner and roadside, this
practice is part of the informal economy.
A huge amount of income is earned daily by streetfood vendors but they are
the ones who keep their profits. Trinidad still manages to accumulate a high
amount of revenue as there are countless registered restaurants throughout the
country which serve the same local cuisine as that served at roadsides.
 |
| (1) Photo a shows restaurants in downtown Port of Spain. Photos b and c show street vendors at Princes Town and St. James, Port of Spain respectively. |
Photo a was taken
to show the consecutive fast food restaurants located in the capital city. The
KFC restaurant tells that Trinidad also incorporates foreign food franchises in
its cuisine. The photo also shows other fast food restaurants such as Mario’s
and Trini Chicken. These restaurants, unlike KFC, are local in origin but also
contribute to the formal economy.
Photos b and c are examples of local Indian streetvending.
B shows alloo pies and doubles while c shows roti. One can truly
taste the culture of Trinidad without having to go to a fancy restaurant. There
is more than one person in each of these two photos. I noticed that one was preparing
and cooking the food while the other was serving customers. Another interesting
feature of streetfood vending is that customers can have the pleasure of
viewing the preparation and cooking of some of the foods before they are
served.
 |
| (2) Photos a and b show gyro vendors at Pro Queen Street, Arima and Ariapita Avenue, Port of Spain respectively |
It is evident that these photos were taken to show the
crowds of people lining up to purchase gyros. In recent years, gyros have
become increasingly popular in Trinidad, although many are unaware of the exact
reason. Gyros are influenced by the Arabian culture and have also been
incorporated into Trinidad’s culture as of recent years.
The following is an
article about gyros in Trinidad in an attempt to explain its recent popularity
among locals:
Even though we see foreign cultures being included and
appreciated in Trinidad and Tobago’s cuisine, we can still rest assured that
the same is true for our melting pot ( literally! J ) of cultures in foreign
countries. In some countries, Trinidad and Tobago’s culture can be found in the
form of food which can attract potential tourists to the country as well.
You’ll be quite interested to know that the host of a popular television show
in America has visited a restaurant in his country which is owned by a
Trinidadian woman, where he tasted some of the local dishes which she serves
daily to customers. Don’t believe me? Well have a look at this video:
RECREATION
Recreation
involves any sort of activity that is done for leisure, amusement or enjoyment.
In Trinidad, people engage in various forms of recreational activities, a lot
of which contribute to the country’s economy.
 |
| (1) Photo a – Movietowne, Invaders Bay, Port of Spain. Photo b – Digicel IMAX, Woodbrook, Port of Spain. Photo c – The Falls at Westmall, Western Main Road, West Moorings. |
Photo 1a was able
to show the large number of persons that visit Movietowne (mall and cineplex).
The photo was taken at night so that all the lights and signs could be more
visible. This enhances the appearance of the area and attracts persons to
visit.
1b shows the IMAX cinema with
two apartment complexes or condominiums in the background. Many residents of
these areas do not have far to travel to get to this theatre. 1c shows the clean, spacious environment
of the Falls mall.
Movietowne Port of
Spain is one of three locations (other locations: Chaguanas and Tobago). It
features a shopping complex including a grocery (PriceSmart), a wide variety of
restaurants, a video arcade and children’s playroom, a membership casino and of
course, a Cineplex with 10 screens showing the latest popular movies. What also
makes Movietowne enjoyable is the open courtyard with benches and chairs so one
can dine, drink or relax outdoor in the open air.
The Falls at Westmall is also a huge shopping complex which
includes many retail shops and restaurants. The mall also has a way of enhancing
the ambiance and attracting visitors. It features a skylight throughout the
entire top floor so that there is a feel as though one is in open air and not
enclosed. It also features large fountains at different parts of the mall. All
these shops, stores, restaurants etc. are part of the formal economy (as
explained in an earlier post “FORMAL
ECONOMY”).
Malls and shopping complexes are important as they create
jobs and generate a high income. They include both private and public services.
A wide range of products are offered and sold in order to meet consumer demand
so more consumers are content knowing that most of their wants are being
satisfied. Shopping complexes are significant sources of income for the
economy.
This link explains the importance of shopping centres to economy:
Digicel IMAX in
Trinidad is the first IMAX theatre in the Caribbean. Because of this, scores of
persons throughout the country journey to Port of Spain to be part of this
experience. IMAX is globally known for its extraordinary entertainment
experiences as it specializes in technologies that use digital re-mastering
that can transform any conventional motion picture to superior, incomparable
image and sound quality. This theatre has had initiatives to attract more
persons to come and enjoy their facilities. One such example can be seen in the
following news paper article: http://guardian.co.tt/entertainment/2012-07-29/tollywood-movie-premieres-digicel-imax where Digicel IMAX premiered a film of the Telugu/Tamil language of India and
also provided traditional Indian delicacies. This would have appealed to
certain audiences who would have taken the time to visit the theatre.
 |
| (2) Photo a shows the National Academy for Performing Arts (NAPA), Port of Spain. Photo b shows Queen’s Hall, St. Anns, Port of Spain. |
Another form of entertainment would be visiting NAPA or
Queen’s Hall to view local performances. Recently, a South Academy for
Performing Arts (SAPA) was constructed in San Fernando. Photo 2a was taken on a night when a
performance was scheduled. I was able to capture the lights and the people
visiting the NAPA. NAPA aims to
develop the talent in the local performing arts with focus on the steel pan.
The building contains teaching facilities and performance halls with spacious
accommodations for seating and parking outside. Queen’s Hall’s purpose is similar to that of NAPA but its main
focus is on theatrical performances and showcasing local talents. While promoting
development of local and urban culture, they contribute to the economy
significantly as well.
Other places of recreation that are dominant in Port of
Spain include the Emperor Valley Zoo located (north of the Queen’s Park
Savannah) and the Hasely Crawford Stadium (located off the Audrey Jeffers
Highway).
The zoo is a fairly large enclosure that contains sufficient flora
and fauna to maintain a near-natural setting for the animals. It features both
local and foreign animals of various species. The zoo has always attracted many
visitors as it is the only one in Trinidad and hence, the country earns a lot
of income. The Emperor Valley Zoo has recently had additions of lions, giraffes
and tigers. The talk of the town though, is the arrival of the tigers, especially
rare white Bengal tigers.
The following news article shows what all the buzz is
about in Trinidad:
The national Hasely Crawford Stadium is a popular sporting
facility and field which hosts a number of sporting matches and competitions,
fetes, displays and other events. Trinidad also gains a lot of revenue from
renting the stadium and facilities, as well for hosting national sports
matches.
TOURISM
Trinidad and Tobago is a melting pot of rich culture and
heritage that have been present for many years. The country consists of persons
of multiple races, cultures, religions and ethnicities where everyone strives
to live in unity and harmony with one another. Trinidad and Tobago is eminent
around the world for its rich culture which includes sports, cuisine, nature
reserves, carnival and religious festivals.
The following link shows a video
which was intended to be a local advertisement promoting tourism in Trinidad
and Tobago. Please view it and experience the wondrous island life:
TRADE
With the recent and rapid increase in globalization countries around the globe have become
progressively more interconnected. A lot of this is as a result of economic
trade. Due to the global integration of economies, there may be potential enhancements
in productivity and standards of living. For this matter, many developing
counties welcome the globalization process.
 |
| (1) Photos a and b show the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, Port of Spain and photo c shows the CARICOM wharf which is also a part of the PATT. |
The Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago has three
terminals which are used for different purposes. The container terminal is used for storage of full and empty containers
and bulk cargo, as well as berthing space. The storage containers can be seen
in 1a with numerous cranes in the
background which transfer them from the ships into storage. The photo was taken
a bit far away because access to the compound was restricted. The cruise ship terminal has berthing space
and buildings and carparks for ship passengers. The government shipping service terminal also has berthing space, as
well as different jetties for different purposes. Photo 1b shows a cargo ship docked at the port, most likely at this
terminal. Because I had no access to the compound, this photo was taken at the
adjacent Hyatt Hotel so that I could capture the scene at a height without
hindrances such as the gate barrier to the port. I took this photo in such a
way that the name of the ship and the cranes in the background are visible.
Photo1c shows the CARICOM wharf where goods
are traded between CARICOM member countries.
According to Trading Economics, Trinidad and Tobago’s main
export items include natural gas and oil, petroleum and petroleum products,
Liquefied natural gas (LNG), ammonia, alcohols, fertilizers, iron, steel and
some agricultural products such as citrus, cocoa and sugar. Their main trading
partners include the USA (which accounts for 45% of all exports), Jamaica,
Spain, Colombia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Russia, the Dominican Republic and
the European Union (EU). Most of their imports are from the EU and Japan.
Figures show that Trinidad spends more money on imports than they receive for
exports.
To learn about Trinidad’s Economic Partnership Agreement
with the EU, visit the following link to a report about the trade agreement:
 |
| (2) This is a photo of ALCOA, Chaguaramas. |
ALCOA is one of the world’s leading producers of aluminium.
The industry also engages in refining, smelting, fabricating and recycling
other materials. ALCOA deals with a variety of materials in different
businesses. This industry contributes to the country’s revenue as products are
traded with foreign countries such as USA and Europe.
Click the following link to view a list of these businesses
and their details:
References:
Trading Economics. "Trinidad
and Tobago Balance of Trade."
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/trinidad-and-tobago/balance-of-trade (accessed
April 6, 2014).
ENERGY SECTOR (Oil and Gas)
Trinidad and Tobago earned its status of being one of the
wealthiest countries in the Caribbean due to its high GDP of which 45% is gained
from the energy sector. Trinidad and Tobago is the leading producer of oil and
natural gas in the Caribbean so its economy is largely dependent of these
natural resources. The US relies on imports to satisfy their needs for natural
gas so Trinidad and Tobago benefits significantly from this foreign market.
To learn more about Trinidad’s energy sector, visit their
official government website:
 |
| All photos were taken in Port of Spain. Photo 1a – Trinidad and Tobago National Petroleum Marketing Company Limited (NP), Sea Lots, b – BHP Billiton, Invaders Bay, c – British Petroleum Trinidad and Tobago (BPTT), Queen’s Park West, d – British Gas (BG), St. Clair. |
There are numerous oil and gas companies in the country
which specialize in exploration on- and off-shore, extraction, production,
refining, marketing and storage or petroleum and natural gas. NP, BHP Billiton,
BPTT and BG are only four examples.
These resources are non-renewable and
therefore, must be used sustainably in order for the country to upkeep its
financial status. As the global population continues to grow, the demand for
energy will grow simultaneously and this may cause the local companies to
over-exploit these resources.
The following newspaper article expresses this view and also,
proposals for “longevity in the oil industry”:
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
High rise buildings, also sometimes referred to as
“skyscrapers” or “tower blocks”, are extremely tall buildings that exceed
standard heights. Modern central business districts (CBD) are usually characterized by this type of building structure as
they are often used for office, commercial and residential purposes. High rise buildings
in foreign cities are often constructed over 50 stories high but smaller cities
such as Port of Spain have much shorter buildings than these, though still
generally taller than most other structures.
 |
| Photos 1a, c and d were taken at downtown, Port of Spain while b was taken at St. Clair. |
The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT), otherwise
locally known as the “twin towers” is shown in photo a. CBTT is responsible for issuing and redeeming Trinidadian
currency, as well as providing sufficient currency to satisfy the public’s
needs.
Photo b shows the RBC
headquarters with numerous offices. A daytime photo was not possible but the
size of the building can still be seen.
Photo c shows the Nicholas tower. Compared to the nearby buildings and
cars, the Nicholas Tower of business offices appears to be extremely tall.
Photo d is a building that is
currently under construction off Wrightson Road. This goes to show how
mainstream this design and structure of buildings are becoming in Trinidad
urban areas. This photo was taken with the purpose of capturing the surrounding
high rise buildings as well.
Why do governments want to construct high rise buildings?
Some cities in developing countries simply want to emulate a
foreign developed metropolis. In Trinidad, this was the former Prime Minister’s
(Mr. Patrick Manning’s) goal until there was a change of leadership in 2010.
Urbanization is a process
which occurs at greater proportions in developing countries. Over half of the
global population now lives urban areas. This results in a demand for urban
space. The value of city centres is usually quite high so planners find it more
economical to build vertically rather than horizontally to minimize land use.
According to Buyukozturk (2004), there is a demand for high
rise buildings for different reasons:
- · Scarcity of land in urban areas due to urbanisation
- · Increasing demand for business and residential space
- · Economic growth
- · Technological advancements
- · Innovations in Structural Systems
- · Desire for aesthetics in urban settings
- · Cultural significance and prestige
References:
Buyukozturk, Oral. 2004. "High-Rise Buildings: Evolution and
Innovations." Keynote speech presented at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, World Building Congress from CIB, MA, USA, May 2, 2004.
"Manning’s
high-rise legacy meets policy standstill." Trinidad express,
February 16, 2014.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Mannings-high-rise-legacy-meets-policy-standstill-245712861.html
(accessed April 6, 2014).
FORMAL ECONOMY
In my previous post on INFORMAL ECONOMY, the term “formal
economy” was often mentioned. As one would guess, it is more or less the
opposite of informal economy. This is where registered workers earn a fixed wage
and work regular hours. This is a more organized employment system as compared
to informal economy. Working environment conditions are decent and more
acceptable. Unlike informal economy, the government monitors tax payments and
influences economic activity which is included in the country’s GNP. Examples
of occupations belonging to the formal sector are government services, defense,
management organizations, banks etc.
 |
| (1) This image shows 2 photos taken at Port of Spain. Photo a was taken at Frederick Street and b was taken at Park Street. |
The angle at which 1a
is taken is important as it shows the length of Frederick Street with many
different stores and shops along the buildings. Compared to the informal
businesses in the previous post, these appear to be much more organized and
spacious.
Photo 1b depicts three
different banks all in one area – Republic Bank and Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
at the left, First Citizens at the right. Banks play an important role in the
economy of a country as it provides specialized financial services which help
to make the overall economy more efficient.
 |
| (2) Persad’s Grocery in Princes Town |
Photo 2 shows a grocery in Princes Town. This is typical of
most urban areas so that residents and commuters have easy access to fresh
foods and items. This photo was taken to show shoppers with their grocery bags
and shopping carts in hand. This form of food sale is quite different when
compared to that of the informal sector. In this formal type of setting, foods
are expected to be clean, fresh and safe. Meats, fish and dairy would be
properly refrigerated and other food items like fresh produce would be stored
in a cool, clean environment.
The World Bank states that because workers in the informal
sector do not pay taxes or contribute to social security payments, there is a
net loss of budget revenues. This negatively impacts the country as a burden is
placed on the registered workers in the formal sector to pay for infrastructure
and public goods and services. As such, persons are encouraged to move from the
informal to the formal economy.
The following video explains some initiatives if the ILO to
go about achieving this:
For further details of these initiatives, feel free to view
the ILO’s official report on “Transitioning from the Informal to the Formal
Economy”:
References:
The World Bank. "Workers
in The Informal Economy."
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTSOCIALPROTECTION/EXTLM/0,,contentMDK:20224904~menuPK:584866~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:390615,00.html
(accessed April 6, 2014).
INFORMAL ECONOMY
Economic activities which do not contribute to the Gross
National Product (GNP) of a country or which rarely has government influence
are called informal economic activities. According to the International Labour
Organization (ILO), 50% - 75% of persons working in the non-agricultural sector
consist of the informal economy in developing
countries. Oftentimes, this is as a result of their lack of ability to obtain
jobs in the formal sector (Stay tuned for
my next post on Formal Economy!).
 |
| (1) Photos a, b and c were taken at Princes Town while d was taken at Pro Queen Street, Arima. |
This collage represents different types of informal economy
which take place in Trinidad. Photos 1a
and 1b show persons selling a
variety of fashion jewellery and DVDs respectively.
Photo 1a was chosen as it shows how confined and clustered the area was.
This person solely ran her business which was situated on a pavement in front a
clothing store.
Photo 1b was taken
at this angle in order to show the pavement where the seller chose to run his
business with the DVDs on nothing but a wooden board leaning against a fence.
While the persons in photos
1a and 1b ran stationary businesses, the man in
photo 1c only stopped to encourage
me to purchase a pack of clothes pins and to take a quick picture before he
busily walked down the road to possibly catch a sale. Photo 1d shows the “Arima drags”. “Drags” is a
local term used to describe closely packed stores under tents or sheds that
mimic a formal store but is usually dirtier, more crowded and not as
aesthetically appealing. A wide variety of items are sold here including
clothes, shoes, belts and other accessories.
 |
| (2) Photo a was taken at Carenage and b was taken at Charlotte Street, Port of Spain. |
This collage shows the informal economy with respect to
food. Photo 2a depicts the fishing
boats which residents in a small village in Carenage use to catch fish to sell
to persons who are heading into and out of the capital Port of Spain. Most of
these fishermen sell their catch nearby at the roadside in the same area, while
some may go into the city. These fishermen depend on their sales as their
source of income so any sort of disturbance can affect their livelihood.
The
following link explains such a disturbance in Carenage which occurred in 2011
during the State of Emergency in Trinidad:
Photo 2b shows
street vendors lining the entire stretch of Charlotte Street as far as the eye
could see. The vendors also sell a variety of items, especially fresh fruits,
vegetables and seasonings. Some tend to sell clothing, shoes and jewellery. The
angle of this photo allows vision of the length of the roadside which is
occupied by scores of vendors.
This type of economic activity is typical in developing
countries. Many persons tend to run informal businesses so that they can
sustain themselves everyday without having to make a huge effort. Other persons
work in the informal sector in order to avoid tax payments so that they can
keep all their profits.
These occurrences are prevalent in many other countries
around the world, especially in developing countries.
As mentioned before, for
some, informal economy is their way of life. To learn more about the life of a
worker in the informal sector, please view this video which is based in Cebu
City, Philippines :
For an in-depth understanding of informal economy, its
features and its importance to Trinidad and the Caribbean, please visit the
following link to the ILO:
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