Reflection/conclusion and GEOG 2016 - course colleagues' blog reviw

Port of Spain skyline

Socio-cultural heterogeneity is a very defining characteristic of urban communities. Urban communities are characterized by diverse peoples, races and cultures. There is great variety with regard to the food habits, dress habits, living conditions, religious beliefs, cultural outlook, customs and traditions of the urban dwellers, all of which have all been used here to showcase the urban side of St. James. Through this blog, St. James is meant to look like an increasingly developed urban area with a large emphasis on culture, entrepreneurship and socialization. This blog has been a tremendous learning experience. As we progressed in our study we found that the functions and various aspects of St. James expanded far beyond what we see on the surface.

Course colleagues' work:

Kristen and Celine gave a very informative view of the urban diversity in Chaguanas. It is seen that Chaguanas exhibits very similar aspects and functions to that of St. James such as entertainment, finance and education. It is very different in the aspects of agriculture and industry as St .James does not offer these functions. Chaguanas does not have a city status whereas St. James is considered as part of the Capital (district). Their blog was an overall good read and provided an re-enforcing view of the urban aspects of Chaguanas both known and unknown. It also may help persons to further understand the reasons behind the urban formations in Trinidad.

Hayden, Mala and Nakita had a very invigorating blog on the entertainment in Trinidad and Tobago. It gives a very unique perspective of many of the social activities that take place in the urban areas. Much of these activities in our opinion is regularly overlooked but thanks to this blog we were able to gain a better understanding of these activities and their causes as well their importance to culture. Our blog has also highlighted similar urban entertainment and culture. Therefore it is very relatable to us and may give a better understanding to the socio-cultural aspects of St. James and the processes behind it.

Paulette and Jonathan's blog about integrating disabilities had a very unusual yet interesting topic. Disabilities were highlighted as an important issue in urban areas. The methods to incorporate persons with disabilities were also investigated. Processes such as social exclusion were explained in depth. This was also mentioned in our blog but in a different context. Overall this blog was very informative about the issue at hand and what could be done to improve the situation but we found it somewhat monotonous at times. From a geographers view, we thought it exhibited an accurate representation of space and place.

Festivities and culture

photo 1: showing masqueraders entering St. James under the iconic sign on Carnival Tuesday, 2015

The Great Parade

photo 2: showing a preview of the activity that occurs during Trinidad and Tobago Carnival in the YUMA mas band. They seem to be enjoying themselves quite a lot. 

Although it is centred around entertainment, this celebration has been becoming increasingly economic in nature. To partake in an actual mas band, members pay thousands of dollars but this does not seem to deter the thousands of masqueraders, spectators and tourists that indulge its the famous festivities. Some even call it the greatest show on earth.

photo 3: showing the Muslim celebration, Hosay that takes place every year in St. James.  

photo 4: showing the Hindu festival, Divali, the Festival of Light which as has been revamped in St. James by the Singh's family on Ethel Street several years ago. 

source: Guardian news paper

In this photo one can also see the dormitory and security (gates and walls) funtions of this residential zone. A residential zone is one of the functional zone within a city.

Socio-cultural heterogeneity is a very defining characteristic of urban communities. These images are meant to capture the various aspects of: religion, tradition, history, ethnic diversity and an overall cultural diversity that are expressed in these festivals. These festivals are an expression of the culture not only present in urban areas like St. James but also in many parts of Trinidad and Tobago. Festivals are a notable part of most urban cultural landscapes, providing opportunities for community and audience engagement at a scale and scope unique among cultural events. 

References:

Carroli, Linda. 2010. 'Culture & Urban Strategy: A Case Study Of A Major Festival', 1. http://www.academia.edu/2223833/Culture_and_Urban_Strategy_A_case_study_of_a_major_festival.

Lyndersay, Mark. 2013. 'A Very Personal Light'. Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.tt/lifestyle/2013-11-06/very-personal-light.

Yourarticlelibrary.com,. 2015. '20 Important Characteristics Of Urban Community | Sociology'. http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/sociology/20-important-characteristics-of-urban-community-sociology/4873/.

Protection - TTPS

photo 1: showing St. James police station at night. One can see a response vehicle on site in case there is any need for police action or patrols. 

One can frequently see the Trinidad and Tobago  presence in St. James especially on the Western Main Road. They sometimes help enforce traffic regulations such as the safe zone for Mucorapo Girls R.C. school. Although it may seem like there is a nationwide sense of no confidence in the Police Service the St. James police station had been called to action more than a couple of times. Serious incidents such as the bombing outside Smokey and Bunty in 2005 have been quelled by this service. Formal social control is a characteristic of an urban community and is exhibited by the police service.

As urbanisation and therefore population increases, so too does the amount of crime. The Trinidad and Tobago Government has recently funded a pilot program, Community Comfort Patrol (CCP) in order to assist police and increase the level of security in communities such as St.James. Having a growing population requires an increased need for protection and peace of mind.
Defence/security is a function of an urban area.

photo 2: showing the residence of the Commissioner of Police near  the entrance of the Police Barracks (training academy) on the Western Main Road.

source: trinioutdoors

One can see that even here, there is a need for walls and fencing - the first line of security. Crime is a serious issue affecting not only St. James but the entire country. Walls and fences are extremely common if not always present around every house and building in this country. They not only serve the purpose of security but also the purpose of voluntary exclusion and individualism - which are also characteristics urban communities.

References:

Joseph, Fancis. 2005. '12 Injured In St James Blast'. Newsday. http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,30847.html.

Kowlessar, Geisha. 2015. '$4.5M More For Comfort Patrol'. Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-01-20/45m-more-comfort-patrol.

Myers, Samuel L. "Crime in urban areas: New evidence and results." Journal of Urban Economics 11, no. 2 (1982): 148-158.

Road vendors and more food!

photo 1: showing fruit stall on the corner of Bournes Road and the Western Main Road.

This photo also depicts a building of mixed use. Behind the fruit stall the building consists of a pharmacy downstairs and a Christian church upstairs. Mixed-use development is urban/suburban development, or even a single building, that blends a combination of residential, commercial, cultural or institutional uses, where those functions are physically and functionally integrated, and that provides pedestrian connections. This mixed use also shows the optimal use of vertical space. This is an important urban characteristic as it shows the utilization of scarce land by vertical usage. Mixed-use developments can increase the convenience and enjoyment in people's everyday lives.

photo 2: showing a doubles vendor on a Friday morning on the Western Main Road.

Doubles is a local dish that is widely eaten across Trinidad and Tobago and is therefore part of urban culture and cuisine. It is also the go to food for a quick, cheap breakfast of urban dwellers with a fast-paced lifestyle. It is often consumed on spot which then gives way to increased social interaction. Many people have their doubles with slight pepper.

photo 3: showing a drink cart, Harry's Punch on the Western Main Road.

It only opens at night to accommodate the people of the social side walks and night life. 

              Having a number of vendors in close proximity can sometimes lead to competition.

photo 4: showing an ice cream vendor at night on the Western Main Road in front of the post office.

This shows an aspect of the night life very effectively since this vendor obviously cannot be present during the day in front of a public building.

photo 5: showing a pirated DVD roadside store on the Western Main Road.

Urban community functions include that of entertainment, and where there's entertainment there is always Food, St James has a wide variety of both eats and drinks. Urban areas like St. James possess a large variety of food choices. This is because the urban community provides a sufficient market for these small businesses to be profitable and therefore abundant.

References:

Amarasekera, Athula. "Critical analysis of vertical mixed use development: the transit and spatial interface." PhD diss., The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1996.

Tinker, Irene. Street foods: Urban food and employment in developing countries. Oxford University Press, 1997.

Food - international and local franchises

photo 1: showing American fast food franchise, Burger King on the Western Main Road. 

There is a number of fast food varieties to chose from you can have what ever you like.

photo 2: showing American fast food franchise, KFC which is also situated on the Western Main Road. KFC is extremely popular around Trinidad and Tobago and has become integrated into the the local cuisine and pellet (culture). Look at that long line...Trini's love this stuff called  Fast Food.

The presence of these international franchises not only displays the commercial (urban) function of St. James but also the effect of globalization when it comes to food - the greater availability and diversity of food, particularly American fast food. This is closely associated with urbanization. Food franchises, especially international ones typically establish themselves in areas where they can make profits. These areas will be ones that have a high population density which would most likely be an urban areas such as St James.

                                                                   

photo 3: showing local fast food franchise, Royal Castle on Western Main road.

This photo is also meant to depict the socialization activity known as 'liming' in Trinidad which can be characterized as urban in nature. Also, it may not be obvious, but upstairs section of this franchise is actually a residence which most likely owns the entire property and collects rent from the Royal Castle franchise. Here one can see the mixture of land use and building use of an urban area. 

photo 4: showing local food franchise, Hott shoppe (roti) located on Mucorapo Road, St. James.

at a hot shop

In the latter two photos, one can see the effects of having pavements. They influence socialization and therefore the interactive urban side of the culture of St. James as people socialize outside food places etc. Side walks allow people to do this in safety as they are out of the way of vehicular traffic (a characteristic of urban areas). The presence of all these fast foot outlets indicate the typical busy, fast-paced lifestyle of an urban community.

References:

Jacobs, Jane. The death and life of great American cities. Vintage, 1961.

Jacobs, Jane. "The uses of sidewalks: safety." The City Reader (1961): 114-118.

Kennedy, Gina, Guy Nantel, and Prakash Shetty. "Globalization of food systems in developing countries: a synthesis of country case studies."Globalization of food systems in developing countries: impact on food security and nutrition 83, no. 1 (2004).

The night life

photo 1: showing Universal Bar on the Western Main Road on a Thursday night. One can see various patrons in and around the bar emulating the urban concept of 'night life'.

photo 2: showing the very popular bar, Smokey and Bunty. It is also located on the Western Main Road obliquely opposite to Universal bar. A similar setting is also seen. On weekends, the crowds of patrons are far larger than what is depicted here.

"The district of St. James has been called “the city that never sleeps” because of its thumping music, sidewalk vendors and straightforward, down-to-earth drinking dens. You’ll find loads of bars along the Western Main Road. Of these, the most famous is the signature Smokey and Bunty‘s, a legendary liming spot where regular characters who are an evening’s entertainment all by themselves." (discovertnt.com)

photo 3: showing newly opened lounge, 'On Mucorapo' located on Mucurapo Road, St. James.

source: facebook.com

The demand for leisure activities drove the development of a landscape for leisure in the built environment. Visionary entrepreneurs began to make such leisure sites more accessible, safe, clean, and attractive to render them respectable to the middle class. With the rise of the industrial city, leisure became a more important and clearly discernible part of the pattern of daily life (culture) in St. James. Despite the longtime existence of a small upper class with the time and resources to pursue cultivated leisure activities in the colonial and early national periods, most Trinidadians enjoy a more middle class clearly defined leisure time such as in St James.

There are many other facilities that provide a form of leisure such as: casinos, private member clubs and recreational parks. St. James resembles the famous, Ariapita Avenue in Woodbrook, another urban area which is also a part of the city of Port of Spain. It has a variety of different recreational facilities such as night clubs and casinos. St. James therefore provides the urban function of recreation and can therefore be defined as an urban area.

References: 

Encyclopedia.com,. 2015. 'Urbanization Of Leisure - Encyclopedia Of Recreation And Leisure In America | Encyclopedia.Com'. http://www.encyclopedia.com/article-1G2-3434800265/urbanization-leisure.html.

Discover Trinidad & Tobago Travel Guide,. 2013. 'Trinidad's Nightlife & Entertainment Scene | Discover Trinidad & Tobago Travel Guide'. http://www.discovertnt.com/articles/Trinidad/Trinidad-Nightlife-Entertainment-Scene/66/3/29#axzz3WvYfWJLJ.

Religion

photo 1: showing Muslim memorial mosque (Haji Gookool Meah) on the Western Main Road. This photo was taken at night and persons were still seen entering and leaving the facility. This shows that religion is an important aspect of the residents' lives.

photo 2: showing the Port of Spain Hindu Mandir (Paschim Kaashi). It is located on Ethel Street in St. James. In the 19th century St. James was a cane farming area inhabited by indentured Indian labourers. "It was their dream to erect a structure of which they could be proud. This took place in 1963 when construction began of Port of Spain's first Hindu Mandir or temple".

source: http://www.trinoutdoors.com/pages/religous%20sites.htm

These two religious facilities show the withstanding cultural influence of a predominantly East Indian community historically and presently. 

photo 3: showing St. Agnes Anglican church on Clarence Street, St. James

source: http://www.theanglicanchurchtt.com/parish-directory/

photo 4: showing St. Mary's Roman Catholic church on George Cabral Street, St. James. This church however is currently under renovation as of recent times.

source: bestoftrinidad.com

These two churches show the colonial/ christian influence in the building form of St. James.

Sacred places make up a significant and irreplaceable community asset - not only architecturally, but also in terms of the arts, human services, and community vitality. This is another reason why these religious structures have 'stood the test of urbanization'. St. James can therefore be said to have an Ecclesiastical function: this refers to the religious facilities provided by a town (an urban function). These religious institutions are also somewhat indicative of various ethnic groups present is St. James.

References:

Jaeger, Robert A. 2015. 'Urban Sacred Places: What Are They Worth'. Faith & Form Volume 47 (Issue 3). http://faithandform.com/feature/urban-sacred-places-worth/.

Skoool.ie,. 2015. 'Skoool.Ie :: Homework Zone'. http://www.skoool.ie/skoool/homeworkzone.asp?id=1910.

Trinoutdoors.com,. 2015. 'Religous Sites In Trinidad, Churches, Mandirs, Mosques, Temples And Places Ofworship'. http://www.trinoutdoors.com/pages/religous%20sites.htm.