Street Vending

     Picture showing a man selling doubles on Ariapita Avenue, Port-of-Spain. Photo taken by :                  Trevette Ramlakhan

According to the National Association of Street Vendors of India,"street vendor" is defined as a person who offers goods or services for sale to the public without having a permanently built structure but with a temporary static structure or mobile stall ( or head-load). This picture was taken while driving along the roads of Port-of-Spain. I was surprised to see a doubles man in this part of Trinidad. Honestly, with all the local and foreign franchise available it was the last thing on my mind. What surprised me even more was the amount of customers present and enjoying the taste or our traditional "Doubles" not only Trinidadians but also foreigners. 

But what do these street vendors contribute to our society? Most street vendors provide the main source of income for their households, bringing to their families and paying school fees for their children. These informal workers have strong linkages to the formal economy. Over half the Informal Economy Monitoring Study (IEMS) sample said they source the goods they sell from formal enterprises. Many customers work in formal jobs. They also keep the streets clean and safe for their customers and provide friendly personal services.

Street trade also adds to the vibrancy to urban life and in many places is considered a cornerstone of historical and cultural heritage. Yet street vendors face many challenges, are often overlooked as economic agents and unlike other businesses, are hindered rather than help by municipal policies and practices.

References

Roever, Sally. 2014. IEMS Sector Report Street Vendors. Web Accessed April 7, 2016. WIEGO.http://wiego.org/informal-economy/occupational-groups/street-vendors

National Association of Street Vendors of India-NASVI, Defining street vendors. Web Accessed April 7, 2016.http://nasvinet.org/newsite/defining-street-vendors/

Historical Architecture Designs in the Urban city

This image captures one of the historical structures that has survived the "Golden Ages" in Port-of-Spain, taken on Carlos St, Ariapita Avenue, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Photo taken by: Trevette Ramlakhan

Jane Jacobs pointed out long ago in her famous book, "The Death and Life of Great American Cities", the density and diversity of urban populations generate serendipity, unexpected encounters and "new combinations" that lead to innovation. It is heartbreaking to know that some of these houses are not being renovated and is easily becoming culturally erased. Why haven't we not given appreciation for our history, and landmarks? It is unfortunate that someday, these gems may be gone forever due to our lack of being able to create an equilibrium that would generate innovation between these historical structures and our modern day designs.

This image shows the sustainable engineering that requires little to no consumption of energy. In our world today, one of the main problems scientist are trying to solve, are ways to reduce energy consumption. It is estimated that over 50% of the world's population now lives in urban areas that will rise to 70% by 2050. This is a tremendous change which will have an impact both on the millions of people that move and on the cities that they move into. Such a change provides planners and developers with a challenge.

 Urban sustainability is the idea that a city can be organised without excessive reliance on the surrounding countryside and being able to power itself with renewable sources of energy. The aim is to create the smallest possible ecological footprint and to produce the lowest quantity of pollution possible. With this in mind, ideas can merge together, leading to innovation combining both historical and modern designs to create a hybrid design between the two. This would lower the use of energy and create a more sustainable environment.

References

Jacobs, J., The Death and Life of Great American Cities. New York: Random House, 1961.

Noel, Vernelle. "The Thinking insomniac,", Architecture Sketch, The Strategic Planning for Metropolitan Port-of-Spain. April 11, 2011. Web Accessed April 6, 2016.https://thinkinginsomniac.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/architecture-sketch-houses-in-gonzales-port-of-spain-trinidad/

Drugs in the City

This photograph was taken around 11pm on a Tuesday night in St. James.  It depicts men partaking in an illegal activity of smoking cannabis also known as marijuana. From the photograph, it is difficult to determine that they are actually indulging in such activity however; the area is eminent for this. According to (Newport Academy 2016), ‘marijuana has a sticky, sweet smell that is unlike anything else,’ and this is exactly how the area smelt as we drove passed them. While driving along this area to specifically capture the moment, I felt a sense of anxiety, knowing that we could have been caught taking random pictures while they were conducting their ritualistic meeting over some cannabis.

Usually in Trinidad, marijuana is sole by the ‘house on the block’ and smoking a ‘joint’ is not really

 reprimanded as it ought to be by the law of the land since it is not a very large quantity.  From the photograph we can see that public space is being utilized to conduct an illegal activity, therefore it may be proof that the law enforcement body does not view smoking a ‘joint’ as a serious crime and most times it is overlooked.

What Exactly Is A Drug?

(State library 2015) states that a drug is ‘any chemical that changes a person’s physical or mental state when it is swallowed, breathed in, or consumed in another way.’ Illegal drugs are drugs whose use and possession are controlled by a government, and the possession of the drug is criminalized.Moreover, the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) had conducted a study in the Unites States of America, which compared marijuana use in urban areas, less urbanized areas and completely rural areas. The study found that, “urban areas had the greatest marijuana use with approximately 40.9% of the population using marijuana in their lifetime. Marijuana use among individuals in completely rural areas were estimated to be 35.9% and for less urbanised areas, 35.1% during their lifetime.” (Marijuana Treatment Help 2016)

Why do people use Marijuana?

Marijuana can be used for its medicinal purposes. People also use it for the ‘high feeling’ from the effect of THC (delta 9- tetrahydrocannabinol) and to combat the stresses of life including emotional, psychological or family issues. It may also be used since it can be easily sourced and harmful effects are not widely publicized. Marijuana use can be influenced by peer pressure to ‘try it’ and most use it for relaxation purposes.

References
Marijuana Treatment Help. 2016. Inner City Marijuana Use. Accessed April 7, 2016.http://marijuanadrugtreatment.com/inner-city-marijuana-use/

State library. 2015. What is a drug? Accessed April 7, 2016.http://www.druginfo.sl.nsw.gov.au/drugs/aboutdrugs.html

 

REFLECTION/CONCLUSION/CRITIQUE

This photograph was taken on the Lady Young look out.

Reflection /Conclusion

There are many different activities done at night that differs from the activities done during the day within the city of Port of Spain. This blog has pin pointed the various social, cultural, and economical aspects of the city. These aspects may  including ‘liming’ which is a social event with a group of friends,  listening and playing the urban instrument of the steel pan or going to church can be seen as our culture. Additionally, prostitution, street dwelling, drug and port activity can be seen as four different economic activities done at night. Such activities may generate pollution and traffic within the city. However, all of these activities culminate to give what we know as Port of Spain, the City Light after Dark. Most importantly, it must be noted that as we made progress in capturing the night life, it was a bit thrilling and dangerous, looking back on the adventure.

Critique on course colleagues’ Blog

Keighon Webster and Nekaisha Legerton’s blog, Urban Mirrors, was very similar to our blog. We both cover aspects of homelessness, traffic congestion and vending within the city. What stood out the most in their blog was the informal interview with the street dweller which was very interesting first-hand information. Their blog not only linked to the urban geographical theories but they made connections between international regions and the city of Port of Spain. Additionally, they had compared each aspect whether it is street vending or traffic congestion between the two cities in Trinidad, Port of Spain and Arima, giving rise to a cohesive, coherent blog.

Slums- the King of Urban Decay by Ryan Dhanraj and Rommel Dookeran was very informative and interesting. The blog identifies the various characteristics of a slum and it relates all of the theories covered in the urban geography 2016 course. These theories included solutions to urban slum decay, urban graffiti, gentrification and demography, development and decay. My colleagues had included more than one photograph of each factor they had discussed in the blog. By having more than one photograph for each post, it captured the essence of what was being explained and provided substantial evidence. The blog was well written however, some may believe that it may be too much to read.

The blog done by Atiyah Mohammed and Shirlena Baldeosingh entitled Cities before Time, was a very innovative idea.  There was a good comparison of the past and present infrastructure of historic sites and the images were a good representation of the development made by the country. The blog layout chosen made it difficult to follow; as a result, I had lost interest in following the information.

Traffic in the City

Bumper to bumper traffic along the Betham Highway, Port-of-Spain. Photographer : Trevette Ramlakhan

The city Port-of-Spain is notoriously know for it's traffic conditions, the situation extends from North of Trinidad and extends all the way to the South on a bad day, it's no joking matter. "Traffic jam" or "Traffic congestion" is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times and increasing vehicular queueing. When traffic demand is great enough that the intersection between vehicles slows the speed of the traffic stream, this results in some congestion. This often can lead to drivers becoming frustrated and engaging in road rage. I myself have been a victim of "Traffic congestion" on a daily basis and on most days, I feel very discouraged knowing that my journey to school is going to be long and strenuous. 

 

   According to The Wall Street Journal ("The hidden health effects of traffic jam", 2011), "The evidence so far is largely circumstantial but worrisome, neurochemist Annette Kirshner says: "There is real cause for concern."they added: "Children in areas affected by high levels of emissions, on average, scored more poorly on intelligence tests and were more prone to depression, anxiety and attention problems than children growing up in cleaner air." Putting empirical data on the physicological aspect aside, my beliefs is this excessive traffic is eroding the productivity and happiness of the society.

 Children are not monsters. Having to face hours of traffic to get to school, have class and then face hours of traffic to get back home on time to do homework is the root of pupils demoralisation and parents alike, subsequently leading to frustration. Who wouldn't be angry if they had to do this everyday of their school life? I'm not saying this is the reason some children today behave in an unruly manner, but it contributes to it.

   But are there any benefits that one may get from sitting in the traffic for so long? A related point comes from the venerable Brookings economist Anthony Downs in his book "Still Stuck in Traffic." He argues that bad traffic is a good sign for cities especially large cities and integral to how modern societies function. Tony makes the case that traffic congestion is an indicator of prosperity not because it shows the failure of the transportation syetem, but it shows the success of the economy. More people, doing more things, mean more people moving around. 

  According to Richard Arnott, author of the book entitles, "Alleviating Urban Traffic Congestion." states that, "Microscopic policies attack the problem at scale, and examines areas of urban transport policies that have been neglected by the macroscopic approach. These include downtown parking Policies, the encouragement of bicycling and "mulimode" ticket that charges cars entering the city center."

References

Arnott, R, Rave , T. and Schob, R. (2000). Alleviation Urban Congestion. United States: CESifo Book Series https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/alleviating-urban-traffic-congest

Puentes, Robert. " Rethinking urban traffic congestion to put people first." Rethinking Metropolitan America, Metropolitan Infrastructure Initiative. August 27, 2015. Web Accessed April 6, 2016.http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/the-avenue/posts/2015/08/27-urban-traffic-congestion-puente

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160304/letters-to-the-editor/diary-of-a-frustrated-commuter

Liming Hotspots

Coco Lounge, one of the many nightclubs and bars on Ariapita Avenue in Woodbrook. Photographer : Trevette Ramlakhan

   

  The word “lime”, as used in T&T, appears in the New Oxford American dictionary. It is defined as doing anything, anywhere at all, in company and in a way that de-stresses.

It is part of Trinidad’s culture , that we Trinidadians always look for an excuse to party and lime . It is in our nature , and makes us who we are . The picture above captures people standing outside Coco Lounge , one of the  hotpots in Port of Spain .This picture was taken on a Tuesday evening ,just before the Spiritual Baptist holiday , the following day. Additionally, it must be noted that there are a lot of hotpots areas in Port of Spain , and a lot of them being nightclubs, Coco lounge just being one of the many.

  There is a variance in the social groups who anxiously await entry into the zone , which is an environment of cultural diversity and hybridity .

This image captures the different social groups engaging in  interactions moments before entering one of the nightclubs or lounges on the Ariapita Avenue, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. Photo taken by: Trevette Ramlakhan
     
 "The central and significant fact about the city," as Geddes and Branford pointed out, "is that the city... functions as the specialized organ of social transmission. It accumulates and embodies the heritage of a region, and combines in some measure and kind with cultural heritage of larger units, national, racial, religious, human." (Mumford, 1938)

    “De Avenue” found in Woodbrook on the outskirts of Port-of-Spain, offers international dining and nightlife paradise. In any given day of the week, you'll find a lot of social and face-to-face interactions bringing both local and foreigners alike, barhopping up and down this trendy thoroughfare. Bmobile has also introduced their Bzone, free 4G wireless internet enabling individuals to capture unforgettable moments with friends and families and share them on social networks at lightening speeds creating ideal conditions for a "creative buzz".

  What impact does this have on current events? Some of the largest nightclubs now host concerts with both local and foreign artists. The party market has evolved immensely and there has been the  growth of mega-clubs whose various levels and special VIP areas are packed out all weekend. Some present popular international acts would include Trinidad-born Nicki Minaj, One Direction, Beyonce, Maroon 5, the Marleys and many  others.

  When there are big fetes, these are held at the arenas such as the  Queen’s Park Savannah,in order to accommodate the massive crowd of people attending .

These big party and concert events are concentrated around Carnival time, public holidays and school vacations. Mega fetes can be packed with over 10,000 jumping and gyrating party animals. At public fetes you pay for food and drinks, while all-inclusive parties provide food and drinks as part of the ticket price.

    

References

New Oxford American dictionary: Lime.  Accessed 6 April 2016.

Broadbridge, Stephen. " Trinidad's nightlife and entertainment scene." Discover Trinidad and Tobago. MEP Publishers ( Media and Editorial Projects Ltd). 8 September 2015. Accessed 6 April 2016.http://www.discovertnt.com/#axzz46N2CrI1x

Mumford, Lewis. "Culture of Cities." Harcourt, Brace and Company, New York. 1938, pg 6 lines 34-37. Accessed 6 April 2016.

  

  

CITY LIGHTS AFTER DARK

It can be safely said that our capital Port- of –Spain, is one which never sleeps, in the sense that the night time does not signal the stop of economic, social and cultural activities as people are always partaking in different activities. The question is who are those that actually sleep in the city? The answer to this question is revealed by looking at those who are awake and thus making a differentiation. As seen in the picture, lights can be seen from a distance foreshadowing its activities. City light illuminates from cars, street lights, houses and buildings as darkness can seam unattractive citizens as it creates criminal activities and a lack of safety and security. 

      Port - of – Spain is known for its ‘hustle’ and ‘bustle’ lifestyle as it is regarded as the central business district where the majority of administrative, economic, cultural and social activities are taking place. The photograph captures the beauty of the city before dawn, sparking one’s curiosity as to what is really occurring within the inner city. However it also highlights a congested and busy area despite the façade of the beauty presented by the lights.

    Historically, cities were set up based on the hydraulic theory where those who controlled water exerted power, the theory of religion where religious elites controlled the disposal of surplus and the economic theory based on trade and networking. Throughout the blog, you can see that there are still pockets of those characteristics within the city even at night.

    Moreover, according to (Rojas 1989), a city is one which is usually located close to ports for trading purposes, the population density is high and there is a well-developed transportation system as compared to the rest of the country. Subsequently Port-of-Spain is developed along a port for economic purposes with an extensive transportation system and there is a relatively high population density as compare to the rural area, resulting in traffic congestion and pollution. 

Why focus on the activities done at night within the city?

     It is important to bring to the forefront the activities of the night within the city, as often times it is overlooked regarding the activities of the night due to safety purposes. Since geography is the study of space, place and time, activities done in the night may not be necessarily done during the day, for instance street prostitution. The city is a home for the generation of income via various means, musical and cultural expression, religion, and socialization. These characteristics give rise to factors such as prostitution, vending, night life events, vagrancy, religious practices, traffic congestion, and pollution which can be seen at night. Urban music can also be included in this, for instance, music from our national instrument the steel pan. These factors are of high importance in facilitating what is known as the ‘creative buzz'.