The Houses of Laventille......a sense of space....

       Within geography, especially urban geography, a sense a place and space is vital in describing any particular area. A specific area can  provide a sense of comfort and security. Every person usually, when building or buying their own home, wants a home where there is privacy and sense of a safety. They don't usually want a home where they can see directly into their neighbour's house or vice verse. The picture below       shows an area in Laventille where the houses are built with very little space near to one another. Many of the house surrounding the capital city are built this way.

The Houses of Laventille.

      I don’t believe that these houses were built so close to one another by choice but due to the lack of space within the urban area. Urban spaces are known for having a variety of uses one being low cost housing. Many of the houses in the picture above started off as low cost housing and were gradually developed by their owners. Urban models such as Burgess’ model, Ullman and Harris and Hoyt’s sector model each include an area designated specifically for low cost housing. Houses that are built closely together due to lack of space and need to be close to the city centre.

       Even though this aspect or urban planning may be seen as a “problem” because of the lack of space between houses, it can also be seen as a way to create a much more intimate community. The lack of space can be seen as encouraging a family among members of the area. A community in which everyone knows everyone and even your neighbour is as close to you as a brother. In this perspective, a closer community can lead to a reduction in urban problems such as crime. This goes to show that not all urban problems may be considered “fully” urban problems without weighing both sides….

The Other Side...

           "In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of."  Confucius

The above quote describes what many countries experience on a daily basis. Both statements can be used to describe Trinidad and Tobago. It can be both poorly and well governed. Currently the government is moving towards a more entrepreneurial form of governance. The below picture portrays the wealthier aspect of the Port-of-Spain area. It shows the skyscrapers of the west side of Port-of-Spain.This is in complete contrast to the picture i last posted of the houses in Laventille, the east of Port-of-Spain.

The Skyscrapers of Port-of-Spain.

       In contrast to the picture shown in the previous post, there is a difference in the building structures, materials as well as design. There is a distinct contrast between the two. This is clearly portrayed the effects of an entrepreneurial government. Here is a building that was built to encourage investment and tourism in order to increase the foreign exchange within the country. But at what costs? Even though creating investments and jobs are priority, what happens to the remainder of the country who are in need of better roads and service facilities? 

      The buildings shown in the above picture seem to be buildings of power. Structures that dominate the skyline and show the power of these buildings. The architecture and design of a building demonstrates the effect that building structure has on the urban environment. Compared to buildings to the east of Port-of-Spain, these structures   portray the country's wealth and beauty.

If such buildings can be built on one side of an area and not on the other side then what can we say for that country?

Til next time, Chantel

Urban Politics and the Community...

This picture shows the roof of a house in Laventille.

    I took this picture while touring the streets of Laventille for the first time with my boyfriend. It was hard at first due to the stigma that Laventille has attached to it's name, but after the first corner I began to realize it was just like any other community. Full of life. People liming, children playing... During the day it seemed nothing like the place portrayed in the media and through the politics of this country. I was shocked when I first saw this house. It was hard for me to grasp how someone could not have used nails in their roof but rather have stones to keep it attached to the ceiling. Why would someone choose to cover their house in rocks? It did not make sense. 
     After a while it occurred to me that there could be multiple reasons as to why this was so. Maybe the ceiling was too weak, or maybe it was a last resort. Why was it that a building so close to the capital city, looked so dilapidated.
    Tim Hall and Heather Barrett put forward the question, "Is urban political power located mainly in the hands of the elite or is it distributed among a wider constellation of groups?" This picture showed an example of what many would describe as political power being located within the hands of the elite. Port-of-Spain's governance can been seen as moving further towards a form of entrepreneurialism. According to Tim Hall and Heather Barrett, entrepreneurialism entails the process by which urban governments become more concerned with 'inviting' investments and creating jobs as well as increasing economic growth. While there is a decrease in the local government as the provider of social welfare and other services. This form of governance can lead to the a reduction in funding for housing and social development and an increase in the building of skyscrapers. It can thereby be assumed that the house shown can be a result of lack of funding for social welfare and therefore many people suffer as a result. 
    Why is it that that resources can be allocated to one sector in a city and not to another? Is this new form of governance good for the citizens of the urban city or would it create greater inequalities?

Think about it....
 Chantel