THE CULTURE OF CITIES: POINT FORTIN

STORAGE TANKS FOR OIL AND GAS IN POINT FORTIN
Picture by Kristal Maharaj 

The photo above depicts one of the many oil and gas storage tanks which tower over the city of Point Fortin. These monumental structures have become a huge part of the landscape of the city and has succeeded in creating an identity for Point Fortin as a major oil and gas production centre. Furthermore, it aids in understanding how these structures are involved in establishing the foundation of  the now urban city, the dwellers and their attitudes toward the city and the events that transpired in Point Fortin.


The borough of Point Fortin is located on the south-western coast of Trinidad 96 km from the capital city and 32 km from the second city. For my discussion on the historical background of Point Fortin I will be reflecting on Lewis Mumford's "The Culture of  Cities" New York 1938 and linking his theories to the processes of urbanization in Point Fortin.

 In his article "The Culture of Cities" Mumford presents the notions that:

• "Cities are a product of earth". This is especially true to the history of Point Fortin as it is with most urban centres of today where permanent agricultural activities formed the backbone of communities thus leading the way to the construction of permanent housing structures, utilities such as dams for water storage, markets and learning centres. With regards to the area of study, Point Fortin was a flourishing agrarian type society named after a French planter "Fortune" with its major land-use being coconut and cocoa cultivation. The area was characterized by a sparse population, little employment opportunities for persons not engaged in coconut and cocoa cultivation and  limited access to roads in and out of the town.
• "Cities are a product of time". The idea of "time" as it relates to the growth and development of the city of Point Fortin is very crucial in understanding how the area transitioned from one economic activity to another and the changes that it brought along. After emancipation agricultural activities were on the decline due to issues of labour and the overall attitudes toward agriculture. Most dwellers in Point Fortin moved away and by 1931 there were less than 500  inhabitants in the town. This soon change with the discovery of oil in the area. The change from an agricultural based economy to one dominated by oil significantly changed the landscape and the overall sensory experience of the city in terms of its sight, smell, touch and sound. Point Fortin was now bustling with activity as workers from across the country came to work in Petrotrin's oil fields. To attract workers and retain employees the oil companies created facilities such as schools, a post office, banks and a police station. At present Point Fortin is no longer home to Petrotrin Operations but houses Atlantic LNG; a world renowned liquefied natural gas company with 4 trains in operation and a production capacity that has solidified the island's position as one of the largest exporter of LNG. Atlantic's operations in Point Fortin has created massive opportunities for employment of members of the community and even outside.The city's population has now grown to 23000 dwellers.
• "Cities arise out of man's social needs and multiply both their modes and their methods of expression." today Point Fortin boasts 5 banks, 5 supermarkets, a general market, a farmer's market, major fast food outlets, well developed sporting arenas, the very popular Borough day celebrations that draws thousands of party goers from across the country and the ongoing construction of the largest and most complexed highway system in the country's history, connecting Point Fortin to San Fernando; the second city. It hopes to support the creation of new economic space in the southern part of the country and to improve access to the city  in the future.

Point Fortin has transformed from a flourishing agricultural town up until the 20th century after the discovery of oil and gas in the area. This has lead to significant changes in the city and can be seen in the construction of various refineries that are still in operation, a significant increase in the population of the city, development of major utilities and infrastructure and the culmination of a highway to link the growing commercial centre to other parts of the country. In "The Culture of Cities", Mumford questions " what transforms the passive agricultural regime of the village into the active institutions of the city?" For Point Fortin the answer lays in the discovery of economic resources in the form of oil and gas. What is it for your city?

Kristal

References:
"History of Point Fortin", Trinidad and Tobago Newsday, Sunday April 27, 2008
http://www.newsday.co.tt/features/0,77832.html
Lewis Mumford: The Culture of Cities (1938)