A 'Rare' Visual or The Future of Urban Areas in Trinidad

This is a photograph of the outside of the Tunapuna Market along the Eastern Main road. As one can clearly see, in front of the market the area is extremely clean and debris free. Clean up gangs such as the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) and the Tunapuna-Piarco Regional Corporation are responsible for the maintenance of these public spaces. This is an unusual site as the area is normally always dirty and unkempt. One of the reasons for its cleanliness was because the picture was taken on an afternoon during a weekday. On weekends in particular the area becomes extremely untidy, yet thousands of shoppers still pass in and out of the market, whilst others chose to buy their market produce at groceries due to the shopping conditions. This is the typical lifestyle of urban commuters. Although commuters may be displeased with the state or condition of the area on weekends, their opinions are not voiced. Having the area clean is commendable, but the key to success is ensuring and maintaining a high level of sanitation whilst shoppers are in the market area. The main reason for the markets deplorable condition on weekends is because vendors focus on maximising profits and dispose of their garbage at their feet until the day ends. When majority of vendors practice this, the market becomes littered with spoilt produce leading to an unbearable stench. Markets therefore lead to both land and air pollution. Land pollution is a major cause of flooding, and from experience I can say that the Tunapuna area is frequently affected by flooding when rain falls. According to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) garbage that is improperly disposed enters our drainage systems and clogs the drains preventing the flow of water and as a result causes the water to back up and cause flooding. As a result of this I believe that there should be policies implemented to ensure a clean and high quality shopping area that would not only lead to health safety but prevent events like flooding. An urban city with this level of quality would not only be successful economically but socio-culturally as well.

References:

Ealing Council Homepage. "Flooding - Water pollution - Ealing Council." Accessed April 11, 2014. http://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/200228/pollution/594/water_pollution/3.

Welcome to Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management - ODPM | Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management - ODPM. "Flooding | Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management - ODPM." Accessed April 11, 2014. http://www.odpm.gov.tt/node/16.