The Port of Spain International Waterfront
Centre was a construction project aimed at revitalizing and transforming the
waterfront of the capital-city Port of Spain. It emerges as a beacon in the nation's capital and transforms the western shoreline into a majestic, modern coastal facility. The project was a part of the overall Vision 2020, a government policy
attempting to take Trinidad and Tobago to developed country status by the year 2020 (UDeCOTT 2008).
On the 22nd of March 2014 while walking through the aesthetic manifestation of a privatized public space, inclusive of the Hyatt Regency Trinidad hotel and the popular Breakfast Shed dining hub, with a dozen of my colleagues, the appreciation of the range of simplistic and complex beauties from the conventional bustle of activities at the capital's port, to the entrepreneurs and businessmen clad in clean, crisp suits and ties leaving luxurious Lincolns which complement the rich architectural landscape of the Waterfront property is nothing short of inevitable, and may even leave some, including myself, feel wealthy just by association.
A specific aspect of the Waterfront which I fancy is its overall use of space creating a high consumer density (maximizing rooms while minimizing surface area), e.g. building upwards, as opposed to some other hotels which build laterally such as the Magdalena Grand Hotel at Lowlands, Tobago. Another facet I like is the hard Styrofoam structure, located in the more public area of the property, which bleeds national pride; a collage of all Trinidad and Tobago's Olympic medalists since our participation in the event. This structure could have been placed anywhere in the capital, but was strategically placed at the Waterfront Centre in close proximity to the Hyatt Regency hotel for greater exposure to international patrons.
During my trek around the area the realization came to me that with the hundreds of hotel rooms, offices and the largest conference centre in the English-speaking Caribbean (UDeCOTT 2008), I asked myself, why isn't there parking for guests? Not knowing that I would eventually encounter what in my eyes was one of the Centre's most admirable qualities: an entire 7-storey structure dedicated for use as a car park, with a capacity of 1200 vehicles; another clever use of space.
In spite of the visual and architectural achievements of the International Waterfront Centre, it can do with some benefits in two aspects:
1. Protection at the edge of the property.
The planners made some attempt at keeping patrons and passers-by from the edge of the property by erecting this single sign near the fountain.
However, this is not enough to ensure the protection of human life at the edge. A beautifully crafted (to add to the overall aesthetics) tall fence should have been built to guarantee that no mishaps and accidents occur.
2. Greater Human Security.
Based on what was seen, the overall amount of security personnel on the property was relatively low, with the majority being concentrated at or near the entrance of the hotel. It is possible that reliance is placed greatly on remote surveillance, but although that method captures all of the goings-on, it lacks in the preventative aspect of security; an aspect that can only be filled by human security, and with such an installment, security guards should be able to remove unwanted persons from the property, such as the homeless, who can be an eyesore to guests at the hotel. For example, during my walk throughout the area, I watched as a homeless man encroach on the property, sat on the edge of the wall near the sea and proceeded to enter the 100 ft deep water in an attempt to wash what appeared to be an article of clothing; an act which could have cost him his life. This is a blatant example of why the simple implementation of my long-lasting measures 1 and 2 ought to be executed with immediate effect.
Overall, the Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Centre is one of the best achievements of any Government of Trinidad and Tobago as it pertains to the revitalization of the capital's waterfront. The International Waterfront Centre is the new hallmark of an ever-evolving Port-of-Spain - a city already established as a significant regional centre for trade, commerce and industry.
References:
"The Port of Spain International Waterfront Centre - Completed." The Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) Limited. http://www.udecott.com/index.php/cc/cc_project_item/port_of_spain_waterfront_development/ (accessed Mar 24, 2014).
