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”:

http://www.ilo.org/ilc/ILCSessions/103/reports/reports-to-the-conference/WCMS_218128/lang--en/index.htm

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: 

http://guardian.co.tt/news/2011/09/19/raw-deal-carenage-fishermen

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: 

http://www.ilocarib.org.tt/cef/background%20papers/informal%20economy.pdf

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

URBAN LIFE

Throughout the years, it has become increasingly evident that the majority of persons within a country live in urban areas or CBDs (Central Business Districts). This is usually due to the fact that urban areas provide the most and best quality goods and services. People also migrate to these areas since there is a variety of available jobs compared to rural areas.Making reference to Burgess' Concentric Zone Model, the theorized version of settlement is that the centre of a country or area would be the CBD which has a concentration of economic activity as well as social and cultural services and facilities . Hence, persons tend to migrate as close as possible to the CBD while others commute different distances daily, in order to get to their jobs and to acquire various commodities.CBDs offer goods and services which are provided in the form of shops and businesses and which cater to the needs of the population. Such shops and businesses can be formal or informal and can differ by day and night. 

(1) An urban setting in Princes Town where different forms of economic activity are taking place.

This photo was taken in order to capture the various types businesses along the roadside, as well as the pedestrian crowds and vehicular traffic which contribute to the urban life. The cars are moving along the major road which passes through the town. It is worth noting that this photo was taken on a weekend (usually the busiest period of the week) when most persons tend to do their weekly shopping. Along the road, as seen in the image, there are a number of different shops, vendors, businesses etc. and persons contributing to the hustle and bustle of the urban life.