The Waterfront
- Feb 20, 2016
- 3 min read
(click images to enlargen)
Moretti (2008) declared that the word “waterfront” means a direct contact between an urban area and water. It is normally associated with port infrastructure and bay side activities. It aids in attracting business prospects, to which further develops the area, but primarily brings together for social gatherings and activities. Önen (2007) states that moving water adds vibrancy and excitement to a space which promote the visual landscape of land and water.
The waterfront is an important aspect of urban life in Port of Spain. Right at the foot of the towering Parliament buildings and the 4 star Hyatt Regency hotel, the waterfront is used as a low-key spot for a romantic walk by couples. More importantly, it is used as a docking area for ships, particularly the “water taxi”, a small yacht which allows people to commute between Port of Spain and San Fernando. This boat, equipped with AC and TVs, allows passengers a comfortable one-hour ride free of traffic (link to traffic post) and pollution. Like all public spaces in Trinidad and Tobago, the waterfront is also (not surprisingly) used as a party venue.
Just a couple meters down from the waterfront is the port, which harbours cargo ships and the Tobago ferry. This large ship allows people a cheap but lengthy method of transport between the twin islands. One can even bring his or her car on board! The presence of the port is a major pulse of Port of Spain as it is a source of income, as well as the point of trade between Trinidad & Tobago and other Caribbean/ South American countries.
With the successful integration of the waterfront at the Hyatt Regency hotel, which has developed into a “social hotspot” for promoters and businessmen, led to the Ministry of Planning and Sustainability wanting to capitalize on its positive effects to society and has put into initiative the San Fernando Project. An article written by The Express on 7th June, 2015, stated that the Ministry is set to begin the long awaited $1.37 billion San Fernando Project. This project aims to create a waterfront on the coast of San Fernando, to which its goal is to reshape the city into a tropical coastal city. This new waterfront expects to have a boardwalk, plaza, transit hub, multi-story car park and fishing facilities to aid local fishermen. This new development would aid in tourism and business opportunities, creating identity and further establishing the city of San Fernando.
With the initiative for the development of a waterfront in the city of San Fernando, it brings to mind the ideology of the city of Wittgenstein written in Portugali’s 1996 article. “A city is perceived by virtue some features that they shared with previous entities which at their time and space were perceived as cities by virtue of some properties they shared…. and so on” (Portugali, 1996). In sake of this article, the city of San Fernando would develop a family resemblance, sharing more similarities and relationships with Port-of-Spain, further developing into what is deemed a city in Trinidad and Tobago. As stated by Wittgenstein’s concept of a city, “you would not see something that is common to all cities, but similarities, relationships and a whole series of them at that” (Portugali, 1996). This means that San Fernando and Port-of-Spain would have correspondences such as tertiary services, government services and the forthcoming waterfront. But, many common features aren’t similar, such as the high rise buildings and architecture of Port-of-Spain compared to the two storied buildings and suburbs of San Fernando.
How does the waterfront link to the multiplicity of Port of Spain? This isn’t a hard one as the name of the capital itself is synonymous with the waterfront/port area. But it’s importance, as highlighted above, lies within its uses. The way it looks is also associated with the “image” of Port of Spain: should one look up pictures of the city on the web, pictures will more than likely contain shots of the port and waterfront. Even the new $100 TTD bill has the waterfront printed on its back. If there was one “image” used to depict Port of Spain, it would be the waterfront, but this city is too diverse to have a synecdoche attached to it – hence the point of this entire blog.
Moretti, M. (2008). Cities on Water and Waterfront Regeneration: The Role of Culture and Events.
Onen, M. (2007). Examination Rivers’ Recreational Potential as an Urban Coastal Space. Istanbul: Istanbul Technical University.
Portugali, J. (1996). Notions Concerning the Nature of World Urbanization.
Wayow, Sue-Ann. (2015) “Sando Waterfront Development Board appointed.” Express Newspaper, July 7th. www.trinidadexpress.com/20150707/news/sando-waterfront-development-board-appointed
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