Disparities in Development

THE DARK SIDE OF URBANISATION-DISPARITIES IN DEVELOPMENT

There are fashions in building. Behind the fashions lie economic and technological reasons, and these fashions exclude all but a few genuinely different possibilities in city dwelling construction at any one time.” ― Jane Jacobs

   Is this the same city? What is happening? It is obvious that with urbanization comes disparities in development. The upper hand of the picture is eastern Port-of-Spain where as the bottom is the western side. It is very clear that architecture, design, building materials and functioning of the buildings has changed drastically. The eastern side of Port-of-Spain being the older was formed originally from the existence of the port. The building materials were mostly old wood, galvanize and concrete. Additionally we can see  a human in the East Dry River residing there which a clear sign of  poverty. With development of cities there is always disparities in  the distribution of wealth and certain areas are discriminated against and excluded from the developmental phase which can be seen with Port-of-Spain.
   
  What brings about the spatial developmental disparities within the city? This question can be addressed by drawing on the
economic geographer’s distinction between first nature and second nature geography. First nature says that some regions are favored by virtue of endowments or proximity to rivers, coasts, ports and borders. Second nature emphasizes the interactions between economic agents, and in particular the increasing returns to scale that can be created by dense interactions. Thus, cities tend to have
high productivity.

  First nature addresses the issue of the existence of Port-of-Spain however as urbanization continued the eastern side of the city was neglected and urban decay started taking place. This refers to an area within the city that falls into a state of disrepair and neglect. It is characterized by depopulation, economic restructuring,property abandonment, high unemployment,fragmented families,political disenfranchisement, crime and desolate urban landscapes. That is represented by the communities and economic activities that take place on that side of Port-of-Spain. Mainly the lower classes in society reside on Duke Street or George Street by the Plannings and the residents there are mainly Afro-Trinibagonians with mediocre jobs obtaining minimal wage if employed. Illegal street vending/ small parlours or selling market produce is the main form of economic activity on that side of the city.

  In comparison to the western side and even the upper areas of the city it is remarkably different. The buildings by the waterfront for example are high raised buildings made of glass with greenery and a more modern design. Globalization has infiltrated those areas with many foreign companies as well as the change in economic activity its no longer agricultural produce being sold or illegal street vending, its dominated by services and government buildings.  

I choose to show One Woodbrook place and it represents the future and the direction officials are taken with respect to the city. One Woodbrook place is a mega complex of different activities interacting with each other. It is a housing complex that consists of all needs (social, economic and industrial) therefore there is no reason to leave the compound unless absolutely necessary. Entertainment, restaurants and retail stores are located at the base of the complex. Services ,business and recreational facilities are also present. However this form of living caters for the very wealthy creating a bigger issue of marginalization within the city.

In my opinion I see no need for such drastic disparities in development within cities. I truly believe government officials and planners were simply lazy and instead of coming up with a plan for older parts of the city they just disregarded it, and discriminate against the people living there because they are poor and focus on creating new areas to attract the more affluent in society. 

Any city however small is in fact divided into two,one the city of the poor, the other of the rich.These are at constant war with one another- Plato