The Interconnectedness of The Informal and Formal Sectors in Port of Spain

Photo Showing Aspects of the Formal and Informal Sectors: A Doubles Vendor In the Heart of the Central Business District, Port of Spain ( Photo Taken by Sybastian Manners, February 3, 2015)

 In the photo above the authors aimed to portray three main ideas. Firstly, the formal and informal sectors in a city are influenced by a region's culture as well as they influence a city's culture,  temporal and spatial factors are imperative for the success of both sectors and these sectors are interconnected.

  According to Mumford (1938), in addition to facilitating the gain and expenditure of income, cities serve as organs for the embodiment and transmission of a region's culture.  While the nature of the formal and informal sectors of an urban center is influenced by the culture of a region, as these sectors grow and diversify they impact the urban culture: food, dress, language, patterns of behavior, music. It is these complex, interacting factors which lead to the unique culture of an urban centre as seen in the city of Port of Spain.

In the picture above, a doubles vendor can be seen. Doubles is an East Indian delicacy which is appreciated by Trinidadians of all ethnic groups. This snack is part of the Trinidadian culture and so it is very easy for this business to thrive in a busy urban centre. Moreover, this particular vendor sets up his stall very early in the morning, providing many business persons and their customers with breakfast. He also provides many, especially the urban poor, with lunch. Unknown to this vendor, he may play a very important role in shaping the behavior of many persons: what time they eat, how much they spend and how often they consume a particular meal. Moreover, he has chosen a strategic location, Independence Square, the hub of formal and informal activity in Port of Spain. Due to these factors his business can thrive. This type of industry is not unique to Trinidad. In other Caribbean islands vendors set up stalls in strategic locations. Moreover many busy pedestrians are able to stop and have a meal. In Roseau, Dominica a snack which can be found at many vendor stalls in the early around the city is bake (a fried flour based snack) and codfish. This is usually available in the early mornings and at midday.

 The vendors depend on workers in surrounding government buildings and businesses for their daily income and the workers and customers of the formal sector depend on the vendors for their meals. However as posited by Daniel's (2004), persons sometimes misidentify these two sectors as separate entities and enough attention is not given to the informal sector. This has been the case in Port of Spain since the early 1990s, where authorities and vendors along Independence square have been clashing.  In recent times this has continued to be a matter of controversy.
  
This is further explained in the video below by the Trinidad Express Newspaper.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/videos/---VENDORS-UPSET-2759---229341621.html

 January 1, 2015 was the date slated for the vendors to be permanently relocated in the Port of Spain capital, however the City Corporation is yet to deliver (Trinidad express 2015).  It is the aim of the authors to further explore these and other issues related to employment in the urban center, Port of Spain.

References:

Daniels, P,W. 2004. "Urban Challenges:the Formal and Informal Economies in Mega-cities. " Elsevier 21 (6) : 501-511. doi:10.1016/j.cities.2004.08.00

Mumford, Lewis.1938. The Culture of Cities. New York:Harcourt, Brace and Company. Acessed February 3, 2015. http://myelearning.sta.uwi.edu/file.php/25346/Lewis_Mumford_Introduction_The_Culture_of_Cities_1938_xid-3429222_2.PDF

“Salvatori Vendors Get More Time,” Trinidad Express, January 1, 2015, accessed February 4, 2015,  http://www.trinidadexpress.com/business/Salvatori-vendors-get-more-time-287301291.html?m=y&smobile=y 

 “Vendors Upset,” Trinidad Express, October 25, 2013, accessed February 4, 2015, http://www.trinidadexpress.com/videos/---VENDORS-UPSET-2759---229341621.html