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'.

URBAN FESTIVAL

        The photograph was taken at the PHASE II Pan Groove pan yard at #13 Hamilton Street, Woodbrook, Port of Spain. The photograph depicts that the national instrument, the steel pan is eminent amongst the nation and it draws a larger audience, both nationally and internationally. The steel pan competition is known as Panorama which is an annual competition, marking the start of Carnival.

The steel pan is a form of urban music, originating in the 1930’s in Laventille. Traditionally, the steel pan was associated with people from the ‘Ghetto’ as they had given birth to the instrument and was detested by the upper class. It was a manifestation of cultural retention and renewal by African descendants, and has proliferated throughout the nation and the world at large through globalization.

Through globalization, the Panorama competition has brought in economic gains through tourism, exporting of steel pan and national and international sponsorship. The harmonious sounds of the steel pan and its vibrant and energetic rhythms are infectious, reaching out to all age groups and social backgrounds.

History: In 1963, the government of Trinidad and Tobago in conjunction with the National Association of Trinidad and Tobago Steelbandsmen (NATTS) lunched a new steelband competition called Panorama

Personal Reflection: This image was taken at this angle because in my opinion it highlights the various social classes and also numerous face to face interactions. I was also able to bear witness, and enjoy the astounding music that emanated from our local ‘steelpan’. This was actually the first time I ever attended such an event and must I say, it truly was one I didn’t regret .I will definitely be returning next year.  The people were friendly and communicative, which made this experience even better. I actually felt like a tourist. This opportunity was one which I would never regret, and I fervently urge all my fellow classmates, to not miss out on this spectacular event. It really was an eye-opening experience, clearly demonstrating that Trinidad and Tobago is a blessed nation, filled with many wonders.

Relationship to textbook: Jane Jacobs pointed out in her famous book 'The Death of Life and Great American Cities', density and diversity of urban populations generate serendipity, unexpected encounters and "new combinations" that lead to innovation. This competition now brings together participants from approximately thirty-eight (38) steelband-playing countries from around the world to compete against each other for the title of ICP Champions. If you would like to experience the Panorama sounds, click the link https://youtu.be/3nwP15Kcf8k


References:

Steel Pan History and Development blog. The. http://www.steelpan-steeldrums-information.com/steel-pan-history.html. (accessed February 14, 2016)

PORT ACTIVITY AT NIGHT

This photograph was taken at the Port of Port Of Spain. It is a photograph of a cargo vessel unloading imports onto the port. This photograph gives a tired feeling by looking at it as it shows work being done at night, when usually people are at home resting. This photograph was taken by my father during his night shift.

In this photograph, it is clear that economic activities are not limited to the daytime only.  Work is always being done. Through globalization and technological advancements, we are able to have a continuous flow of global interactions. According to the (Business Dictionary 2016), globalization is the worldwide movement toward economic, financial, trade, and communications integration which implies the opening of local and nationalistic perspectives to a broader outlook of an interconnected and interdependent world with free transfer of capital, goods, and services across national frontiers.We can see globalization as car imports are shipped from as far as Japan and Singapore to Trinidad. As such, there must be a continuous supply of man power and as a result, jobs are created on the port.

Moreover, the Port of Port of Spain (PPOS) is responsible for handling cargo operations at the Port. According to (Port Reform Toolkit), ports represent a mix of public and private goods. Direct economic benefits are generated through private goods via operations. Indirect benefits, that is, public goods are generated via trade enhancement and collateral increases in trade-related services.

Traditionally, ports developed around industrialized areas where deep waters were located. The proximity of the port to industries and distribution centres made the transportation period of goods shorter. Also, the close proximity of the port to industries allowed a reduced transportation bill. Today, the main port is still located in the city area although most of the industries are located outside of he city.

To add, the government may be directly or indirectly involved in port development. The government has implemented strategic development policy, by encouraging co-development of various value-added services through franchising and licensing. This is evident as cars are held on the port to be inspected by the licensing authority with is located next to the port. As such the government is responsible for the layout and infrastructure of the port and the facilities around the port, which is a means of urban planning.

 Read more:

The Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago blog. The.http://www.patnt.com/about.php?%20mid=49 . (accessed  April 20, 2016.)

Port ReformToolkit. Alternative Port Management Structures and Ownership Models: Port functions, services, and administration models. Accessed April 20, 2016. http://www.ppiaf.org/sites/ppiaf.org/files/documents/toolkits/Portoolkit/Toolkit/module3/port_functions.html

Street Dwellers

The image presented above was taken driving along the streets of Port-of-Spain and was captured in such a manner, that protects the identity of the individual. It is heart- wrenching  to know that these conditions exist within the  city capital. Photo taken by: Shantal Shankali

The term "Street Dweller" was defined by Merrium Webster (2002) as one who has no established residence and wanders idly from place to place without lawful or visible means of support.

As students of the university of the  West Indies pursing a major in the field of Geography we conducted a study on the thoughts of our local people highlighting their views on vagrants. Whilst conducting interviews from several social groups of citizens from Port-of-Spain, the question asked was " Using one word, describe what "Street Dweller" meant?" The responses were not ideally what we had in mind,  and we were quite heartbroken by their views . Some of which were; Dirty, Dumb, Poor, Flithy, Vagabond, Losers, Homeless, Tramp, Hobo an etc.. these were the responses of our society.

 This is a way of life that existed in many cultures for thousands of years. It is associated with "homelessness." "Homelessness" wrote sociologist Peter Rossi, "is most properly viewed as the most aggravated state of a more prevalent problem, extreme poverty." This can lead to economic stresses in society, and reduction in the availability of affording houses. The image was taken along Luis Street pavement in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and displays one of many who are unable to cope with financial and social requirements of our society.

 Darcel Choy (2008, March 23) published an article in the Newsday papers titled ' The Nowayrians' which shows that vagrants are getting lazier. The term 'Nowayrians" is a local term that is used for people who have no where to live and no one to take care for them, according to Dr. L Trevor Grant, author of the book 'The Nowayrians: Homelessness in Trinidad and Tobago'.

Grant, who has a doctoral degree in Social Welfare, collected data and research from 1996 to 2007 by sitting down with the homeless and learning about their lifestyles particularly in Tamarind Square- "the capital of homelessness in Trinidad".He has also written seven other books saying that he was disappointed with the current Government's plan to eradicate homelessness in the nation's capital. He stated " As a matter of fact, throughout his book, the homeless said that they had more faith in the UNC government because they actually started doing things to help them .Moreover there are a lot of sick homeless people , who are often shunned by the hospitals because they are smelly and dirty , and therefore are unable to get the medical treatment that they are in need off. Which is indeed baffling , as its the role of medical professionals to always seek the best interests of the patient regardless of social standings in society . 

He listed five factors of what he wants to achieve with his book:

1.    The people of Trinidad will finally get an opportunity and hopefully understand the plight of the homeless in this country.

2.    People will be able to change the perception of what the reality of homelessness really is.

3.    Institutions of higher learning will utilise the book in their classrooms, to not only educate but motivate and to propel students to conduct studies similar to his.

4.    The lives of Micheal, Ronald, Indian, Foxy, and those who died did not die in vain as the book is dedicated to them.

5.    The PNM government now has a tool to use, to understand homelessness which will assist in developing effective policies to eradicate vagrancy once and for all.

The task of city design involves the vaster task of rebuilding our civilization. We must alter the parasitic and predatory modes of life that now play such large  a part in these present times .We must create, region by region, continent by continent, an effective symbiosis, or co-operative living together. The problem is to coordinate, on the basis of more essential human values than the will-to-power and the will-to-profits, a host of social functions and processes that we have hither to misused in the building of cities and polities, or of which we have never rationally taken advantage ( Mumford, 1938)

References 

Knox, Paul and McCarthy, Linda "Urbanization" 1994 Pearson Education, Inc. pg, 434, 2005. Accessed 5 April 2016.

Merriam Webster Dictionary: Street Dweller. Merriam Webster Incorporated, 2015.

Choy, Darcell. " The Nowayrians" Trinidad and Tobago Newsday, 23 March 2008. Accessed 5 April 2016.http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,75537.html

CHURCH SERVICE AFTER DARK

CHURCH SERVICE AFTER DARK

This photograph was taken outside of the Sacred Heart Church on a Saturday night. Sacred Heart Church is located at #21 Richmond Street, Port Of Spain. From the photograph we can see worshipers leaving the church which marks the end of the Mas, at around 6:45pm. It is clear that religious activities are not only subjected to the daytime but it also occurs at night. As such, there is a relationship between time, space and place, linking culture and the theory of religion together.

Historically, according to (Park 2004) "in later centuries the pattern of Christianity reflected hierarchical expansion diffusion and early congregations were largely confined to towns and cities while the countryside remained largely pagan." (Park 2004) states that "Roman Catholicism was introduced into Middle and South America by the Spanish, after they had invaded the continent in the mid sixteenth century." Religion was a means of control and power within that period. From the photograph, we can still see, even in the 21st century that religion is dominant within the city.

Within the photograph, we see spikes and the tall gates are locked after the Mas is over. As such, privatization is a means of security and a sense of safety within the city. It controls who enters and who does not and at what time the entry is permitted. Mas usually starts around 5:30pm and end at 6:30pm as such it controls our own behavior, since it is a tradition to attend church services. It may have been set at that time to accommodate individuals who may be working or busy running errands. Moreover, the time frame of the service is not too late at night due to safety purposes, since the city is known for criminal activity.

Moreover, religion is a part of our culture as it shapes the values people hold and it shapes the way of thinking and interacting with others. It may form the pillar of family life and it can dictate life choices made which is acceptable by society, for instance, murder is not promoted by Christianity, and it is looked down upon and is punishable by law.  

Subsequently, by looking at this photograph, it conjures up a sense of belonging and a sense of escape from the burdens of life and the hustle and bustle of the city, as it is a place of worship.

References:
Park, C. (2004) Religion and geography. Chapter 17 in Hinnells, J. (ed) Routledge                                       Companion to the Study of Religion. London: Routledge.