The Importance of Green Spaces/Parks

 Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain

"Unsustainability implies that at some point in the future development will be compromised, or even threatened, as environmental capacity is reached or environmental limits are breached" (Tim Hall, 2006: 155)

The urban environment is characteristic of many buildings in a limited space. Concentrated in the city is both the living and working spaces, shopping areas, educational facilities and services which is found in close proximity to one another. The city due to its high real estate value is the result of the limited amounts of green spaces seen to be present and also the lack of space available for parking of private and public vehicles. The city of Port of Spain displays this type of environment because currently there are only two main green spaces that can be seen. They include Woodford Square and the Queens Park Savannah. The Woodford Square has many historical events linked with its location so it not only acts as a public open space but has attached meaning to it. The savannah on the other hand Trinidad and Tobago's largest Park has its many perks as it is usually used for leisure, football and cricket by surrounding schools and/or teams and the general public. It is known as the largest round-about in the world.

Green spaces has several benefits which can be expanded on in terms of its environmental, social, health and economic impacts ( Liverpool City Council,n.d)

Environmental

Green spaces in the city encourages the protection and conservation of valuable areas so that it can increase its biodiversity. It contributes significantly to keeping the air and water clean by sequestering the damaging effects of pollution. This will also help buffer against climate change as well as act as a safe habitat for endangered species. These areas also contribute to cooling the cities as the trees within buffer the trapped heat between buildings and streets.

Economic

These green spaces besides for their positive impacts on the environment they play a role in enhancing the economies of the city and its neighboring communities. It stimulates recreation within the urban environment and move away from the city being known just for its services. It encourages a more entertaining lifestyle on the outdoors rather than indoor recreational activities such as the cinema,arcades, malls etc. It also facilitates the tourism sector as scenic environments are very attractive. Besides from its physical appearance, these spaces are sources of employment to many.

Health

Being in contact with nature often enriches our psychological, emotional and spiritual well-being. As such these areas can bring a sense of enjoyment as it is a place of adventure, exercise, recreation, and in general an area of peace and quiet. As such it can those who are vulnerable to stress, mental heath issues and obesity.

Society

These green spaces/parks are used as a meeting place for friends, family and the general public. It is an area where excitement and relaxation is usually felt as it is the location of many festivals, sporting events and activities. What can be seen here is the mingling of different cultures thus it encourages and keeps alive our own cultural heritage.

Flow chart shows the various benefits of green spaces (Liverpool City Council, n.d)

To read more on the benefits of green-spaces, the PDF by Liverpool  is here

According to Banerjee, open space also referred to as the lungs of the city is the  "antidote" to the crowed and polluted city. Therefore it can be seen that the ‘greening of the city contributes significantly to the environmental,economic, health and social aspects of the city and thus makes the future development of cities more sustainable (Tim Hall, 2006: 171) However regardless of the positive benefits these spaces has, green spaces/parks are used for development. So yes people want to see these green spaces but only at the cost of someone else for example the government. In order for this mentality to change Peiser 2012 page 291-292 suggest that the 'free rider' problem where people want to enjoy the use of open spaces provided and paid for by someone else must be overcomed. This can also be achieved by making open-space preservation a priority by the regional and local level. 

While researching green spaces in Trinidad and Tobago I came across an article by Selwyn Cudjoe who argues the reasons why the Tacarigua savannah should be preserved. According to Cudjoe, "This is what great countries do. They preserve, maintain, and restore green space in their cities and their villages because they are essential for the well-being of their citizens." To follow more on this article, read here.

This is just a video I took as the picture alone could not show the entire savannah.

Another example of a green space that is recently being developed is the Green Park at Movie Towne. I just wanted to share the beauty of this picture to you.

References:

Liverpool City Council. "The Value of Parks and Green Spaces" n.d.
http://www.green-space.org.uk/downloads/Publication/The%20Value%20of%20Parks%20-%20LCC.pdf

Richard Peiser. 2012. "Urban Sprawl," The Town Planning Review 72: no.3: 291-292.


Tim Hall.2006.Urban Geography 3rd edition. London/New York: Routeledge,171.


Tridib Banerjee. 2001. " The Future of Public Space: Beyond Invented Streets and Reinvented Places," American Planning Association, Winter 2001: 67:no.1: 3.

Traffic Catastrophe

 Traffic coming out of Port of Spain on an evening

In Trinidad and Tobago, the car per household ratio has been increasing exponentially over the years. However with this increase in the number , there would also be an increase in the congestion in the nations roads and within the city because the transport system is not efficient enough to accommodate these large numbers in and out of the city. Even though the ministry has proposed several projects such as the major intersection by Grand Bazaar to enhance the efficiency of our countries road network, traffic congestion is still a major phenomenon seen throughout especially when exiting and entering the urban environment.

You may wonder what are the environmental effects traffic has because traffic as many of us has experienced is just intolerable to some as the waiting for hours in back to back traffic on your way home from work or school especially after a long day can be very tiring and cause people to experience feelings of  annoyance, become impatient, irritable and sometimes can create "road rage". An aspect of traffic congestion not explored in terms of its environmental effects is the economic inactivity due to congestion having high cost attached to the excess time wasted when getting to the place of work (Hall and Barett,2012: 290). "Time is money" , so when this time is decreased, productivity too decreases due to maximum capacity of the working population being held back.

When looking at the environmental impacts air pollution can be explored.  You may have notice before or at some period of time vehicles on  the road are seen to experience engine exhaust problems due to the black smoky fumes that diffuse into the atmosphere via the muffler. "This is a sign of incomplete combustion", stated by my CAPE lessons teacher. But what is this incomplete combustion? Incomplete combustion  in car engines occurs when not enough oxygen is available for the burning of the hydrocarbon fuels such as petrol. As a result carbon monoxide and  a black carbon deposit called soot is deposited in the exhaust pipe and it is seen when these vehicles are started and when mobile.

Most vehicular fuel consist of gasoline, natural gas, diesel and ethanol just to name a few.None of these fuels are burnt without there being the emission of pollutants into the environment as the equation will show.

Incomplete Engine Combustion Process:

Fuel(hydrocarbons) + Air (oxygen and nitrogen) = Partially burnt hydrocarbons (VOCs) + Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) + Carbon Monoxide (CO) + Carbon Dioxide (CO2) + Water (H2O)

From this equation, it can be noted that car exhaust contributes significantly to air pollution which even though in its small concentrations per vehicle, the concentration if calculated for the total households who own more than one car, the value would indeed pose a great risk to the environment and health.

The effects of these pollutants are as followed:

• Hydrocarbons- when it reacts with oxides of nitrogen and sunlight, there is the formation of ozone at the ground level which is a component of smog. This gas in the atmosphere can have severe effects on the eyes, lungs and also encourage respiratory problems. This is one of the major urban air pollution problems that is widely seen. Also there is the possibility of it being carcinogenic as some of these exhaust hydrocarbons are toxic.
• Nitrogen Oxide- like hydrocarbons they influence the formation of ozone and also can contribute to acid rain at its high concentration.
• Carbon Monoxide-  the main product of the incomplete combustion process. This occurs when the carbon in fuel is not fully burnt hence it is partially oxidized. As a result carbon monoxide is formed and not carbon dioxide which is formed when oxidation of the fuel occurs fully. This carbon dioxide if present in the bloodstream can reduce oxygenated blood flow and it is harmful to ones health. 
• Carbon Dioxide- one of the main greenhouse gases which when present in the atmosphere traps heat contributing to the greenhouse effect and potentially the change in climate.

Furthermore, there is noise pollution which is created as a result of the traffic moving in and out of the city. This is created due to the number of restless people stuck in traffic becoming agitated as a result of the discomfort faced whilst having to wait. This is seen daily on the streets for example numerous car horns are blown, drivers are seen to get in arguments with one another, the driving on the road becomes rough where no one individual is giving another a chance to pass. These are just a few examples that can be observed.

According to Hall and Barett 2012(290), auto-mobile emissions are the main contributors to the greenhouse gases responsible for increasing rates of climate change. It is said that road traffic at the city scale is the most rapidly growing contributor to air pollution and accounts to 50% of the pollution in many cities. Due to the deteriorating air quality which is usually concentrated in the inner cities for example the CBD of Port of Spain, many health problems ranging from respiratory disease to even cancer can be caused. Noise generation also as discussed due to traffic also inflicts harm on residents who usually consist of the low income groups who are concentrated on the inside and at the fringe of the city.Therefore in order for there to be a decrease in these emissions and noise, what should be happening is as the population density in the city increases, fuel consumption per person should drop only if car usage drops and the use of alternative modes of transport such as walking, bicycling, and public carpooling is increased (Hall and Barett, 2012:288).

Reference:

Elizabeth Olson et al. "Vehicles and the Emissions they Produce". n.p : n.d.Accessed March 30, 2014. <http://www.extraordinaryroadtrip.org/research-library/air-pollution/vehicle-emissions/combustion.asp>

Hall,T. and H. Barett.2012. Urban Geography.4th ed. London/ New York:Routeledge.

Noise good or bad??

 Caps Bar situated on the main road Tunapuna

At my area of residency, I live in close proximity to the Eastern Main Road where there are a number of bars located. Friday night, when the liming starts, the music is turned up and we are usually tolerable to this loud blast as the music especially ‘Soca” during the Carnival season is quite entertaining. However, regardless of the  enjoyment at times this music brings, when this occurs constantly every weekend there is the creation of some annoyance and irritation. This is where noise becomes a problem.

In Michael Pacione’s Urban Geography text, he defines noise as “unwanted sound that is one of the most ubiquitous pollutants in contemporary urban areas”.  It is difficult to measure as its tolerance levels vary between individuals. Noise has four main effects which he outlines as

• Annoyance or stress which can contribute to psychological problems such as hypertension and neuroses
• Physiological effects such as hearing impairment
• Effects on the job performance
•  Reduces property values

The problem with noise resides in the frequencies, duration and the intensity because not all noise is considered to have negative effects. Some noises can have positive effects such as relaxation for example the sound of waves breaking on the beach or in my case music helps me relax in times of frustration. On the other hand there are noises such as natural or man-made noise which can be tolerated only for short periods of times. But when noise such as those coming from fireworks, bars, fetes, factories, traffic, aircraft and barking dogs  extends this period people undoubtedly suffer from sleeplessness, emotional stress, and also there are  those who suffer more severely from stress, depression and hearing defects.

In my own experience, countless times I have been awaken by loud music coming from events or football matches taking place at the Centre of Excellence. Even during Carnival time every Monday morning it has become tradition for my family and neighbors to be awaken to the loud blast of big trucks passing on the main road for Tunapuna’s jouvert. I often wonder about the elderly persons and even children living in my neighborhood, the fright they must experience when they are awaken by this loud disturbance and also the health hazard that is created along with its duration. It concerns me whether the people hosting these events are aware or even care that there are other people living in the area who are not participating and, in the comfort of their own homes are facing these discomforts.

The irony with noise pollution, is that unlike the types of polluters like air, water and land who requires the pin-pointing of a source to be controlled, noise pollution can be considered the one most easily tackled. Even though it is expected to be easily addressed through the laws implemented by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), its pollution level is viewed as one significantly suffered and it has become more out of control over the last couple years.

Did you know that noise pollution rules have been enforced for many years in Trinidad and Tobago? Like myself I am sure you all had an idea but given our culture and official attitudes, these rules are not taken seriously.

Noise Pollution laws of Trinidad and Tobago 

Recently I was walking to the grocery and next door to Caps Bar I saw little children playing in their yard. It later dawn on me that this  family lived there and this was shocking to me because the distance I live from the bar in comparison to this household is approximately 2minutes walking and the intensity of the music on the weekends keeps me up so what’s to say for them, especially when children are involved. They deal with this on an everyday basis. Therefore, how are we supposed to deal with the effects noise pollution has on us? Or should we just avoid it? When this tolerable stress thus becomes intolerable strain, the household may have to decide on either three courses of action. This includes remaining at their present location and either improving the environment or lower their expectations or they may face the inevitable of having to relocate (Pacione,2009, 204) But is this the answer?

Club Aria- One of the many clubs on Aripita Avenue

Another example is the hotspot Aripita Avenue, which is an entire stretch with bars concentrated on both sides. How are these residents of the Woodbrook supposed to sleep when the level of noise coming from the bars as well as the constant vehicular traffic which in itself creates noise.

For these households their only predicament is to move, or sound proof their homes or parts thereof. Is this fair? I was reading on a blog by TTCAN (TT Citizens Against Noise) and the author refers to the  Marriott business hotel located west of the Audrey Jeffers Highway. In the past, guests have complaint about noise which comes from events at the Hasley Crawford Stadium and so when this occurs they have to be moved or refunded if they can’t be moved when this inconvenience occurs. Blog by TTCAN here

Therefore the only way that this issue can be addressed efficiently is to establish a more rigorous system of monitoring, prompting and enforcing strict penalties when the already well-established laws are breached.

Reference

Michael Pacione. 2009. Urban Geography:A global Perspective Third edition.London and New York: Routeledge.

Urban development or Environmental degradation?

Land Degradation in Arouca

Almost all of us at one point in time have heard the saying "A picture tells a thousand words." This picture for example which shows the construction of the Arouca River bridge does in fact display multi-faceted problems that may not have been taken into consideration. Before I condemn this urban development project as being "bad", I would like to state that this bridge will have a positive influence for the residents of Arouca as well as those citizens who use the Eastern Main Road as their main transport route. It also displays Arouca's urban growth as the older bridge would now be built to a more modern design. As such there would be a more efficient transport route available for access by the public.

Regardless of the benefits development brings, the process in which  reconstruction undergoes usually creates many environmental impacts during its time of construction. What can you interpret from the picture above? In my opinion, four things come to mind.

1. Land Degradation
2. Air Pollution
3. Noise Pollution
4. Water Pollution

These are some of the major environmental problems being faced today.

Before this area was cleared for construction that is besides for the  bridge, previously the area surrounding the bridge was densely occupied by forest/or large trees as the picture still indicates. This area had to be cleared and graded for the reconstruction because the new bridge required more space to be built. As a result of the removal of these large rooting systems which held together the soil, the land can become vulnerable to erosion by wind, rainfall and even mass movement which can occur due to the body of water situated below, the river.Besides from this degradation that can occur, there is the loss of habitat and ecosystems due to the disruption in the river and by trees. Therefore both fishes and birds have to relocate to find a new place to dwell.

 Arouca Eastern Main Road : Shows the proximity of residents to construction site

Another impact of this bridge development is air pollution. During this construction, the movement in and out of the area by trucks constantly raises dust particles. As there is no trees to intercept the wind blown, the dust that is raised when construction is being done has a profound impact as the atmosphere becomes highly polluted as chemicals used in the materials  for the bridge structure fumigate the area on a daily basis. This can result in allergic reactions amongst residents as it is in close proximity to households. Therefore those persons who suffer from respiratory illnesses would be severely affected as this construction is not a short building process but a long one. Even those who do not suffer from respiratory illnesses can have a low resistance to it and can also develop sinus problems which can be very irritating. Besides being a health hazard to many, the large amounts of dust that is raised on a daily basis contributes to the pollution of households, for example the home environment becomes contaminated regularly thus frustrating  the residents who have to be dusting and cleaning on a daily basis. This was the complaint of a relative of mines who live in the area. She complained about the discolouration of her white washing machine now cream in colour, which was located in her yard was due to the constant dust settling.

Contributing to these environmental effects is the noise which can become intolerable when it is being created daily. This is due to the heavy equipment being transported in and out of the construction site as well as the machinery when doing work. Residents in the neighbourhood encounters problems with this because the noise disturbs their own peace and quiet in their homes as well as cause their pet animals to become irritable from the constant movement in and out the area. This noise also contributed to the relocation of many species from this area due to  the disturbance which was created in their original habit.

Lastly, all these factors come together and individually contributed to water pollution as there is a river situated directly below the bridge. Water becomes polluted due to the heavy soil material which have been pushed into the river by the land degradation. The noise disturbance as well creates a problem for river fishes to spawn due to the vibrations travelling far distances in the water as well as chemicals from materials used to build may be leaked into the water contributing to eutrophication or causing the water pH to change. These factors play a hand in hand role in polluting the water ways and changing its course. 

In an article by the Newsday (February 2014), due to construction at this site there was an incident in which the contractor Jusamco had an accident where they ended up breaking a main WASA pipe. This contributed to areas east and west of the corridor experiencing water lost. Approximately 400,000 households were affected by this which created frustration from the citizens. Even when the problem eventually fixed, many households experienced getting dirty water from their taps. This story can be followed in the following articles "My People are on it" or "Customers must wait 24 more hours".

According to Richard Peiser in his article on "Urban Sprawl" (2012), environmental degradation has resulted from market and regulatory failure to protect the environment. Market failure because it contributes to inefficient development and the poor establishment of open-space and Regulatory failure because it promotes the gluttonous use of land for development. As a result, not only the environment is affected but failure to properly plan can  impact on the lives of people due to the health hazards that can arise.

Reference:

Richard Peiser. 2012. "Urban Sprawl," The Town Planning Review 72: no.3: 284.

I See Lots...

The Waterfront and its Environment

The beautiful city of Port of Spain on entry one can gaze upon a few high rise buildings. Just to list a few, The Twin Towers, The Nicholas Tower and the Hyatt Regency Trinidad.  For many who have visited the capital, a must stop is the waterfront which is located next to the Hyatt as well as the Port. At the waterfront area, one can see many boats harbored and beyond you can see the never ending blue ocean. Or so it may seem!

This water body which bounds the five star hotel Hyatt, is in fact polluted. Even though it appears clean due to the absence of garbage, the water quality here is unsatisfactory in my opinion. The Hyatt Regency is the number one hotel in Trinidad which facilitate in the hospitality of many foreigners such as Government Officials, Celebrities and even Tourist who visit the country for varying reasons. As such, you would expect to leave these visitors with a positive impression of our sweet T&T.  However the slumped area seen upon entrance to the city could be an 'eyesore' to witness as well as the contamination of the water from Sea Lots adjoining with the ocean is very unpleasant. Would you not prefer that our 5 star hotel which overlooks the sea be a clean blue, not one that is obscured by the dark waste? 

Sea Lots Water Pollution

Those who are familiar with the Sea Lots environment and for many who may not have notice, observe the environment the next time you take a trip to Post of Spain. You will be given a clear visual of this distasteful sight and unfortunately you would be greeted with its unpleasant odour. So whine up those glasses!!

The Sea Lots area is directly linked with the open sea and it is a clear indication of the water quality in the vicinity. Sea Lots which is home to many squatters is severely polluted with varying amounts of garbage ranging from glass bottles to old plastic that have accumulated by the residents occupying the area. This is illustrated in the picture which shows a heavily polluted, dark and muddy water. This is due to the area having poor drainage and little to no infrastructure for sewage or pipe borne water. The residents here are usually employed at the waterfront or at the Sea Lots Industrial Centre. As such they remain in a dormant position in which the case is they are encouraged to pollute on an everyday basis.

According to Richard Peiser urban planning should contain policies governing utility provision which would discourage sprawl but however due to the absence of the laws, areas like Sea Lots and the Beetham will continue to prevail. Furthermore, due to the pull factors such as good schools and safer neighbourhoods versus the push factors of poor schools, high crime rates and the deteriorating home values are substantially the reason why there is currently a high concentration of poverty in the city region as the poor are not able to afford the commodities of the suburban environment (Rusk, 1995)

As such the Government and the people needs to be more aware of the water pollution problem which is generated in the city life especially by those who are residents of the slumped areas because they are faced directly with serious health threats that can be fatal(Hall, 2006:154)Therefore to avoid or reduce these problems associated by sprawl, regional management is necessary so that all municipalities within the metropolitan can benefit in their best interest instead of individual areas maximizing their own self-interest. With this, proper facilities and infrastructure can be put into place for not only the suburban dwellers who can afford the safer environments but the poor city dwellers who face health threats on a daily basis (Peiser 2001:296)

Reference:

Tim Hall.2006.Urban Geography 3rd edition. London/New York: Routeledge,154.

Richard Peiser. 2012. "Urban Sprawl," The Town Planning Review 72: no.3: 296.

David Rusk. 1995.  Cities without suburbs. Washington, DC: Woodrow Wilson Centre Press.

 

Port of Spain Field Trip: Placecheck findings on the CBD and Belmont

Placecheck: CBD (Independence Square/ Brian Lara Promenade/Charlotte-Henry-Fredrick/Woodford Square)

Brian Lara Promenade- Port of Spain

The CBD of Port of Spain is the main commercial centre and it is located at the heart of the city. When touring this area in the city, there are a variety of sectors ranging from the street vendors to our own skyways (malls) where there are the social interactions of many. While walking through the CBD, what can be observed is the business of the people who speedily walk through the promenade or streets on their way to work as well as the down-town traffic which is most evident by many vehicles. Firstly seen on the Brian Lara Promenade were the mixing of people socially interacting. It acts as a meeting place for the young and even the old. Cultures here are mixing and as a result this area should be better protected or even patrolled to ensure that its area is not degraded. Therefore to maintain this area more waste disposals should be placed as well as public facilities should be invested in. Crossing these busy streets and walking in the highly dense business district is several streets that are occupied by many street vendors. These streets are so congested that the entrance to other stores or buildings become obscured. For example Charlottte street operates as a market as the roads on both sides are encroached by these vendors. As these areas a busy on a daily basis improvement to be done should be the increase of more patrols due to the mass movement in on out of these densely occupied streets. Also what should be implemented is the proper disposal of waste as street vendors usually discard of their spoilt vegetables in the drains which can clog them and lead to future flooding during the wet seasons. Even though the CBD has its negativities, its serves its purpose by providing a diverse commercial zone that is surrounded by many tall buildings. Further into the city to Woodford park, this area was well maintained and serves its purpose for relaxing and social interactions. However in order to make these areas such as the promenade and this park more operational, the level of homelessness witnessed in these areas should be reduced.

Placecheck: Belmont

 Belmont

Situated on the outskirts of Port of Spain is the first suburban area known as Belmont. This settlement came about as a result of the first set of free slaves in Trinidad. Development in Belmont even though it is an old suburban area, it shows no indication of or ever having urban planning. This is suggested by the close proximity of houses to each other as well as the streets which are narrowly spaced throughout. This was due to the transport routes being developed after housing. Due to this, this area has created a close knitted relationship with the residents. Everyone come together as one and it is evident in the culture shared. Even on the streets the busy hustle experienced in the CBD is not experienced here as people are more relaxed and interact on personal levels in my own observation. Even though not all of Belmont interacts in this ways because there is crime and violence prevalent in this area, it cannot be said that it is a Belmont problem due to the stigma attached that "Belmont is bad". Crime occurs all over Trinidad. Also there is the heavy flooding which occurs during the wet season when the East dry River overflows. This is usually encouraged due to the heavy pollution by residents. Besides these negatives, Belmont has the luxury of being closely located to the CBD in comparison to other areas that are further away from this commercial zone. Furthermore, Belmont is home to the cultural origins of mas and pan. Even though modernization has occurred, Belmont still holds on to its own community culture. To improve the Belmont community, improvement should be made into creating parks to facilitate in sports to lower crimes of the idle youths and also improve the quality of communication within this environment.

Breathing in the City!

Churchill Rosevelt Highway- Alongside the Beetham Landfill

About two weeks ago, on the evening of January 26th, a thick, grey smog creeped over Port-of-Spain, and blanketed the city for a few days. Visibility was impaired for motorists heading into and out of the city and several schools and businesses were closed that week. 

Newspaper article here

I was headed to a dentist's appointment in Woodbrook just after lunch time on Monday 27th January, and instantly noticed the eerily blackened sky as my brother drove down the highway. I had previously learned via social media, that 12 fires at the Beetham landfill had left some smoke in the area, but I did not expect that it would span such a large distance, and that it would take so long to subside.

In the days that followed the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) conducted  tests to determine the air quality in the capital city amidst citizens' claims of  being severely affected by respiratory illnesses. Test results confirmed that the air quality in areas contaminated with the toxic smoke had been stabilised.

C News Live footage of the Beetham fire here.

The PowerGen Power Plant

Like most events that contribute to air pollution, this event was man made. We see air pollution everyday and we contribute to it knowingly and unknowingly as we go about our daily lives. Apart from household and business use of chemicals, cleaning products and paint supplies and burning of garbage which emit harmful chemicals into the air, there lies in the midst of the city, the noticeable Powergen Power Station, with its massive chimneys bellowing smoke into the air, 24/7. Also high on the list of contributors to diminishing air quality in the city is the tremendous amount of exhaust produced by the heavy vehicular traffic in and around Port of Spain.

As we all know, air pollution can impose severe health consequences on all citizens. Even so, urban population growth and development seems to be increasing at an exponential rate. Those most affected by urban air pollution are the city dwellers and those lower income groups agglomerated at the boundary of the city ie. residents of Beetham Gardens and Sea Lots (Hall and Barett 2012: 290).

So, despite being a popular destination for its many attractions and activities, further commercialization and expanding development of Port of Spain seems to have its costs.

But what good is an urban city with poor air quality?

Reference:

Hall, T. and H. Barett. 2012 . Urban Geography. 4th ed. London/ New York: Routeledge.