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| Picadilly Street or "around the bridge" as it is called , East Port of Spain. |
The eastern side of Port of Spain has
been able to retain its history and culture stemming all the way back to
emancipation. After emancipation, many of the free enslaved persons moved to
East Port of Spain and Belmont or Free Town forming communities there. Today
these traditional Victorian - type houses still exist. Also there is evidence
that the building materials of today significantly differ than those of the
past.
When comparing this photo to the
previous pictures shown, it is almost as if you are in a totally different
country all together. On one end of the spectrum, you have towering skyscrapers
and signs of urban growth, whilst on the other end there is stagnation. These
buildings in this area however are rich in history and depth. The question we
all should think about then is if in the quest to be urban and achieve urban
growth and development do we sacrifice our history and culture? Why can we not
revert to gentrification in these areas or preserve the authenticity of these
spaces?
Some of the major problems facing this
part of Port of Spain are:
- · Flooding
- · Deurbanization
- · Gang Culture
- · Poverty
- · Negative Public image
- · Poor housing and living conditions
East Port of Spain might not be seen as
being urban by developers in the developed world. This makes our city unique as
there are still elements of our history present in the city.
Additional links and further reading on East Dry River and East Port of Spain
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