Squatter Settlements

Every human being shares the right to a decent standard of living. Shelter is reflective of a life beyond mere survival.  Housing is seen to fulfil man’s physical, psychological and social needs. The “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” states:

“Everyone has the right to standard of living adequate for the health and well-being for himself and his family, including food, clothing, and housing”(article 25(1))

In the city, housing not only represents a mere shelter, it contributes to better understanding the spatial design of the city.  It helps us gain an understanding of a countries historical, cultural and social values. It helps us encapsulate “space and place” in an attempt to comprehend processes and practises.  

Today’s modern city is seen as disorganised, complex and heterogeneous.  Yet researchers have found that in the mist of increasing population growth, migration and urbanisation, today’s modern city displays like the cities of yesterday similar residential patterns.  It has been observed that particular groups continue to occupy certain household types and areas within the city. (Hall 2012, 260-261)

Sea Lots, Port-of-Spain comprises of  approximately 70 acres of reclaimed land that was initially destined for industry. The residents mainly comprise of squatters and illegal migrants. These residents initially choose to locate here mainly for employment opportunities in the city. The majority of the community is self built. The picture quickly forces the observer to make the link between the existence of "slums" and poverty. Also, even more important than the physical housing structures, the environment and lifestyle of the residents come to mind.  The area as seen in the photo looks dismal. It  is viewed as one the more depressed areas in Port-of-Spain, it is also known for political unrest, environmental issues, drugs and crime. 

The Ryan Report published in the Guardian newspaper, ''Fixing Sea Lots and East Port-of-Spain'' referred to Sea Lots as the ''Zinc Ghetto'', a ''place of many of many faces'',a ''disgustful'' sight, ''it is not a nice place for anyone to live in''.  ''It is virtually a dump''.

Some theories are of the view that these households are “caught in the trap of poverty”(Oscar Lewis 1966) and the snare which has bonded their legs has restricted there assimilation with major institutions within the urban society.  Thus segregation may transcend from discrimination, fear, economic insignificance, unemployment and underemployment. (Drakakis-Smith, Urbanisation,Housing and the Development Process 1981, 95-99). 

Janice Perlman (1974), “myths of marginality” in her  analysis of Brazilian squatters expressed the view  that squatters “are not economically marginal but exploited, not socially marginal but rejected, not culturally marginal but stigmatise and not politically marginal but manipulated and repressed”. (Drakakis-Smith, Urbanisation, housing and the Development Process 1981, 68). Her analysis holds true in the case of Sea Lots and other depressed area in Port-of-Spain.  The residents within these neighbourhood's not only add to the cities labour resources, they consume the cities production and have build shelters for themselves with little or no cost to the government. (Drakakis-Smith, Urbanisation,Housing and the Development Process 1981, 66-67). Yet many of the residents basic needs have not be met. Trinidad and Tobago's government like most governments seem to have little interest in tackling this very costly conundrum of squatting and its counterpart poverty.

The trend in the developing world according to the World Health Organisation is towards  the  "process of poverty" moving towards the city.  In my next post we will explore this new trend in an attempt to understand  the increasing growth in the size of existing squatter and the emergence of new squatter settlements in the city of Port-of-Spain.

REFERENCES

Drakakis-Smith, David. "Urbanisation,Housing and the Development Process." 95-99. London: Croom Helm Ltd, 1981.

Drakakis-Smith, David. "Urbanisation,Housing and the Development Process." 66-67. London: Croom Helm Ltd, 1981.

Drakakis-Smith, David. "Urbanisation, housing and the Development Process." 68. London: Croom Helm Ltd, 1981.

Hall, Tim and Heather Barrett. Urban Geography. London and NewYork: Routledge, 2012.

Ryan, Selwyn. ''Fixing Sea Lots and East Port-of-Spain.''Guardian Media Limited. 24 02, 2013. guardian.co.tt (accessed 09 02 2014).

Mario Polese and Sylvain Mendard. Is Down town on the way down? Documenting the Movement of office activity in central Port-of-Spain. Paper, Montreal: Montreal Interuniversity Group, 1992.

UN-Habitat. April 16-20, 2007. www.habitat.org (accessed 02 06, 2014).