Social Polarisation In the Use of Public Space by The Urban Employed

In our post entitled, "High Profits...At What Cost?" we looked at how social polarisation (one effect of the post-industrial economy) is evident in the area of employment renumeration in the city of Port-of-Spain.  In this post we explore this issue in relation to the use of space by the urban employed.

Figure 1. Showing Persons Utilizing the Woodford Square At Midday
 (Photograph, taken by Sybastian Manners, February 20, 2015)

Figure 2. Showing Patrons Enjoying the Night Life at Shakers, Ariapita Avenue
(Photograph taken by Rachel Mckenzie on begalf of Sybastian Manner February 21, 2015.

The photos above show two different types of spaces. While a public space is seen in figure one, a private space is seen in figure two.  In our visits to the city we observed that those who were most frequently found enjoying public spaces (such as the one on Woodford Square) seemed to be persons of the working class. These persons included street sweepers, garbage collectors, fast food employees and taxi drivers. We observed very few persons in suits or crisply ironed shirts and ties in these areas. On the contrary while socialising on the Ariapita Avenue we noticed that most of the persons 'liming' on the avenue seemed to be of the middle class and high class. 

We believe that several factors contribute to this polarisation in the use of public space. These factors include issues relating to time, a fear of crime, the state of public spaces and economic issues. Firtsly one factor which influences the use of public space is what Sybastian refers to as the 'corporate net'. The corporate net refers to the restrictions imposed on those who work in the service sectors. The capital driven economy which is an attribute of the postmodern city creates a rigid environment that adversely affects how individuals experience time and space. On average, eight hours of productivity is required of each employee with an hour break in which most choose to have lunch or do personal business in the capital or more frequently both. This really reduces the capacity for one to really experience each day outside of the task ascribed by the job description. As such many persons who get a chance to enjoy the public spaces are persons who work in less rigid environments such as  in the informal sector (taxi drivers). 

Furthermore, Mycoo (2008) stated that there is a "mounting evidence of state failure to provide basic state function such as...security for citizens". She believes that this is one of the key factors which has lent to the rise of gated communities in Trinidad. We believe that many persons of a high social status do not utilise public spaces because they do not believe that they are very safe. In the past many robberies and shootings have taken place in the vicinity of Public spaces in broad daylight. In October 2013, the Trinidad Newsday reported that persons 'liming' on the Brian Lara Promenade scattered in fear when two men were shot dead in a drive by shooting. This took place at 11:00 am on October 12th, 2014.


Furthermore, many persons do not use public spaces as they are seen by many as unsanitary places. Such places are often littered by the public as well as they are the homes of many vagrants. This has a significant effect on the health and livability of these places. This is an issue not only in Port of Spain but in other cities in the Caribbean. In an article entitled "Simply Beautiful..or Paradise Gone Down the Toilet?" in the St. Lucian Star newspaper, Toni Nicholas lamented at the way in wish the Derek Walcott Square, a public space in St. Lucia was kept. He stated, "in the middle of the kiosk inside the square lay a vagrant fast asleep, oblivious of the curious visitors desperately trying to photograph the venue...There was litter under the park benches and empty bottles everywhere. "

Photograph of A Vagrant Sleeping in the Derek Walcot Square ( Nicholas  2014)

Lastly, some persons are excluded from certain spaces because of their financial status. Places such as the Shakers restaurant on the avenue clearly cater for persons of a high social status. Many of the working class poor cannot afford the expensive delicacies on these menus and so do not frequent such places. On the contrary many of the middle class enjoy such places which are often well secured and which helps to reinforce the reality that they have high positions on the social ladder.

References

"Two Men Shot". 2014. Newsday, October 14. Accessed March 30.                                   2015. http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,184998.html

Nicholas, Toni. "Simply Beautiful..or Paradise Gone Down the Toilet?" The Star Newspaper,  November,22.  Accessed march 30. http://stluciastar.com/simply-beautiful-or-paradise-gone-down-the-toilet/

http://myelearning.sta.uwi.edu/file.php/25346/mycoo_2006_Trinidad_gated_communities.pdf

Creative Employment

Video 1: Showing Musician Entertaining Passersby on guitar at City Gate, Port of Spain
 (Video taken by Sybastian Manners, February 20, 2015)

“Global economic shocks coupled with natural disasters [have] left most Caribbean countries with zero to negative growth and high unemployment rates” (World Bank 2014). In such austere economic situations many persons struggle to support themselves and their families. While many resort to full dependence on governmental social services others evince the common quote, “necessity is the mother of invention”.

Figure 2: Showing Musician Entertaining Passersby 

At City Gate, Port of Spain (Photograph taken by Sybastian Manners, February 20, 2015).

In Port-of –Spain we have seen many creative forms of employment as shown in the photo above. These informal businesses thrive off of the transient population of Port of Spain. Moreover,   these entrepreneurs usually situate themselves in high traffic areas (along sidewalks, squares and passages through major shopping plazas) where their products could potentially engage a wider customer base. Apart from their strategies in selecting key locations; we believe that these business persons are successful due to the cultures of cities. In his book entitled The Culture of Cities, Lewis Mumford stated that, “Cities arise out of man’s social needs and multiply both their modes and methods of expression.” (Mumford 1938, 4) . Urban spaces are places where persons are given freedom to express their talents. Moreover, such persons often seek to appeal to human emotion; the happiness we experience from listening to music or viewing and wearing art. When successful these persons are given financial rewards.

In our exploration of creative forms of employment in Port-of-Spain we found that there was a major difference between the location of these industries in this city and the city of Charlestown, Nevis.

Figure 3: Showing craft shops at the Nevisian Artisan Village (Explore Nevis 2010)

As a twin island state driven primarily by tourism, St. Kitts and Nevis has taken a different approach as it relates to the space that artisans occupy in the urban area. In Nevis an Artisan Village was officially opened in March 2010 on the northern end of the Samuel Hunkins drive, Charlestown on the out skirts of the islands urban area (The St. Kitts and Nevis Observer 2010). It is strategically located in an area that is very accessible to tourists visiting the island and serves as a central point for the artisans to practise their trade. Its location on the tropical coast enhances aesthetics and creates a cool and welcoming environment for visitors and locals alike. It is not unusual for families to enjoy the sunset from this vantage point. The traders thrive on the consumer base that this environment attracts. This development also incorporates green space and public seating which serves as a “lunch break get away” to those employed in the island’s capital and thus reflects an element of the post-modern city (Byers 1998).

Figure 4: Showing the Green Space and Public Seating at the Nevisian Artisan

Village (Explore Nevis 2015)

There is often great debate as to the most lucrative location for sole traders such as those discussed in this post. Should they choose key locations where there is great human traffic or should they be located in central places? It is often argued that central locations will result in greater competition and less revenue. However, we believe that the location of artisans and other creative entrepreneurs in a central area will allow for greater marketability and better access to their goods. As such persons will frequent such locations, thus leading to greater revenue for these entrepreneurs.

Figure 5: Showing leather craft being sold on Fredrick Street. (Photograph taken by Sybastian Manners, April 9, 2015))

In Port-of-Spain, there is a great focus on retail industries targeted at the transient population.  However in Nevis, because of the greater focus on tourism many of the retail services are tailored to meet the needs of the visitors. Accordingly, the government has placed emphasis on making the products of artisans marketable and available. In Trinidad informal sales persons and the city council have often faced come into conflict because plans to find a central location for some of the informal sole traders have not yet materialized. This issue is further discussed in the article below. http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/print,0,205081.html 

Video 2: Showing Musician Entertaining Passersby on violin at City Gate, Port of Spain (Video Taken by Christal Benjamin, April 9, 2015)

References:

Byers. J. 1998. “Privatization of Downtown Public Space: The Emerging Grade-Separated City          in North America”. Accessed March 16, 2015.

Mumford, Lewis. 1938. The Culture of Cities. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company.                 Accessed March 28, 2015.                                http://myelearning.sta.uwi.edu/file.php/25346/Lewis_Mumford_Introduction_The_Culture_of_Cities_1938_xid-3429222_2.PDF

 “No Plans Yet For Salvatori.” 2015. Trinidad Express, January 4. Accessed March 26, 2015.                http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/print,0,205081.html

Nevis Explorer. 2010. “Nevisian Artisan Village”. Accessed March 16, 2015.                     http://www.explorenevis.com/artisan-village/

Patrice Pemberton. 2010. “Premier Parry Opens Nevisian Artisan Village.” The St. Kitts and             Nevis Observer, April 2. Accessed March 16, 2015.                                 http://www.thestkittsnevisobserver.com/2010/04/02/artisan-village.html

World Bank. 2014. “Youth unemployment in the Caribbean.” Accessed March 25,                             2015.http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/04/19586512/youth-unemployment-         caribbean

High Profits........At What Cost?

"A snack pack with a Pepsi please!" This may sound very familiar to frequent customers of KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken). Since it is a very popular order, one cashier at  KFC  may hear this sentence over a hundred times during his/her monotonous eight hour shift. During this shift, this cashier may sell up to about ten snack packs at $28.00 each generating $280.00 for the company. However, he or she would have only generated $15.00 for his/ her self. This is notwithstanding the more expensive orders that this cashier would have taken.

We have often heard our Trinidadian friends boast that the KFC outlet on independence Square is the oultet with one of the highest grossing markets per capita outside of the United States of America. In fact in a 2005 Newsday article entitled "KFC Lovers Escape Unhurt", Nalinee Seelal reported that, "the Independence Square outlet of KFC is considered to be one of the busiest in the country and also one of the most profitable KFC outlets in the world."

Photograph of the Kentucy Fried Chicken (KFC) Outlet on

 Independence Square, Port-of-Spain
 (Photo taken by Sybastian Manners, February 4, 2015 )

After reading hearing from our friends and reading the Newsday report; we were not surprised when we found the Independence Square KFC outlet filled during the lunch hour of a weekday. In fact this is a sight which is also common in KFC outlets in small Caribbean islands like Dominica and St. Kitts.  It is also not surprising that Prestige Holdings, operator of KFC, Subway and TGIF restaurants, recorded an after tax  of $50.3 million for its financial year ended November 30, 2014 (Trinidad Express 2015).

Patrons In the Line at KFC, Independence Square During the Lunch Hour
 (Photo taken by Sybastian Manners, February 4, 2015 )

However, this business has complained that two of it's major problems are labour shortages and absenteeism. We believe that this occurs as the marginalised workers are paid very low wages. Furthermore, after speaking with friends who onced worked at this establishment; we gathered that apart from the Employee of the Month photographs, these fast food chains provide little opportunity for promotion and development for their workers. 

This we believe is evidence of globalisation and post-modern urbanisation in the city of Port-of-Spain. "Globalization involves an increase in interconnectedness across time and space where disparate lives are increasingly linked yet simultaneously disembodied" (Mohan 2000). In Port- of- Spain Globalisation has increased in tandem with post modern urbanisation. Signs of post-modernism is manifested in the shift of the city's economic focus from manufacturing to service industries. This has created avenues for the operation of borderless franchises such as KFC. Unfortunately, with the operation of these franchises we have seen social polarization whereby marginalised workers have becoming poorer and wealthy business persons have become richer. 
 

References:

    Mohan, Giles. 2000. “Dislocating Globalization: Power, Politics and Global Change” Geographical                 Association 85 (2): 121 – 133

    Nalinee, Seelal. 2005. "KFC Lovers Escape Unhurt." Newsday, September 11. Accessed                                March 2, 2015. http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,29951.html

  "Prestige Holding Reports $50.3 Million After-Tax Profit." 2015. Trinidad Express, February 10.                     Accessed March 2, 2015. http://www.trinidadexpress.com/business/Prestige-Holdings-                        records--503m-after-tax-profit-291462071.html