We
know that a settlement is a place where individuals live and engage with each
other through social, cultural and economic activities. In a geographic
perspective, settlements help us to determine the relationship man has with the
environment. Settlements can be either rural or urban. Rural areas involve
predominantly economic activities such as peasant or subsistence farming,
mining or lumbering and has low population size and densities whereas urban
settlements involve social services, food processing and banking with a higher
population size. Urban settlements tend to have adverse effects on the
environment. However, when there are instances of rural areas such as slums
within the proximity of the central business district of a nation, social
polarization arises. Cities at the peak of the global urban hierarchy are
characterised by increasing levels of polarisation in income, occupational
position and opportunities (Sassen, 1991). Since the 1970s, economic growth has
led to a “concentration of wealth at one pole of society and poverty at the
other” (Burawoy, 2007, p. 503). As can be seen in the image above, the Sea Lots
‘slum-like’ rural community to the left is being compared to the majestic twin
towers of the urban capital of Port-of-Spain. Both places are just metres apart
however there is a drastic difference in terms of the infrastructure, housing
and environment.
Sea
Lots located in south east of Port of Spain got its name because the Government
at the time parcelled "lots" of land near the sea. The area is in
close proximity to the port in Port of Spain as shown in the picture above. The
space itself is prone to a lot of crime and plagued by poverty. It has always
been known as a crime ‘ridden’ area and is not considered a residential area
but an industrial site due to the industrial facilities operating locally. This
links to the article reading on Human settlements of the Eastern Caribbean
where Eduardo Rojas explains that the differences among countries in terms of
the distribution of population in settlements different sizes are the result of
historical and geographical factors.
Research
suggests that a slum or squatter settlement is an area on the outskirts of the
city in a developing nation where inhabitants live on land which is not theirs
and they do not pay rent or property taxes (Wordpress, 2013).These areas
usually have shack housing, lack a proper sewage and drainage system has little
educational institutes or communication lines. They usually develop as a result
of urban growth and urbanization which subsequently causes less housing, rise
in population density, migration in search of cheaper cost of living etc.
Evidence shows that Sea Lots is an indication of a slum development. City
officials faced with rapid urbanization lack the capacity to cope with the
diverse demands for infrastructural provision to meet all economic and social
needs. Additionally, governments are not effectively linking the economic
implications of development for housing needs (Ooi, 2007).
Port
of Spain, however, is known as the retail, monetary services and administrative
centre of Trinidad and has been the capital since the year 1757. It is the
largest city in the Lesser Antilles and is a developed urban area with a
population of 36,963 (2011 census) where there is urbanization occurring on a
continuous basis.
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Picture 1: Panoramic view of the contrast between the slum and urban
settlements in Port of Spain
Source: Dianne Mahabir, Nicola
Mathura, edited by Shirlena Baldeosingh
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A
panoramic view of the area taken in the picture 1 above was taken (standing in
close proximity to the lighthouse) to highlight the main differences in the
structure of buildings and the condition of the environment. There are
high-rise buildings which utilizes most of the space in the city compared to
the flat, wooden homes that create the identity of space of the undeveloped
area of the outskirts in Sea Lots. Socio-economically, there seems to be social
division instead of social cohesion from what the image of Sea Lots versus Port
of Spain portrays. In this case, population distributions has led to a fairly
polarized pattern.
The
reading on Rojas also says that rapidly growing urban population increases the
demand for housing, accelerating the rate at which land is converted from rural
to urban uses. The process can lead to “urban encroachment” or urban sprawl. Additionally,
urban encroachment is characterized by economic and business development
outside of concentrated urban centers. It is also characterized by low-density
housing and retail development in suburban areas adjacent to larger urban centres
(Harper, 2016). As the city itself is rapidly growing and becoming modernized,
there is potential for development of Sea Lots, however not much action is
taking place. The situation creates a noticeable variance between the busy
urban area and the slum-like areas as a result of this. In order to avoid such
an unsightly scenery in such close proximity to the capital, it is suggested
that the small village of Sea Lots become developed and improved in terms of
its housing, education and health systems and organizations. “Seeing a Future
for Sea Lots” was published on the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian in 2013
following tragic road deaths and injuries in Sea Lots on the 24th of
February that year discussing the development of the area. A Sea Lots wish list
was posted including a walkover, proper roads, grants to build homes,
employment opportunities, sports facilities, community centre etc. The people
of Sea Lots are grappling with numerous issues and hence strategies should be
implemented towards obtaining justice for these unfortunate souls.
Moreover, in that
same year, Machel Montano and Morgan Heritage joined forces on producing the
song, "I See Lots", in an attempt to bring attention to the poverty
and crime in the area, while showcasing the youth of the Sea Lots, who
desperately need financial assistance and higher education.
Insight on a video
on the harsh conditions of sleepless nights in a wooden housing structure in
Sea Lots.
"Sleepless in Sea Lots"
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mjlMeMFSDI
References:
Rojas, E. (1989).Human Settlements of the Caribbean. Butterworth & Co.
What does it mean to you as a Trinidadian that a young mother with two children can work full-time(?) at minimum wage and not be eligible for HDC housing? What are her alternatives? -- you need to treat these images and videos critically and with more depth.
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