The city without a soul
I was walking in downtown Port-of-Spain recently and it came to my attention that the huge crowds of people who used to frequent the capital, no longer do so. However, as of very recently, a small number of consumers have been slowly but surely returning after a temporary hiatus that occurred as a result of the threat of such things as bombings, kidnappings and gang violence. It is clear, though, that the numbers are nowhere near where they once were. At the surface level, the return of this minute degree of "normalcy" to PoS may seem to be a positive occurrence and may be viewed as citizens refusing to award the criminal elements power over them. However, in my opinion, the reality is quite different. For me, the return of citizens to PoS signals an even bigger problem. It points to the fact that crime in itself has become part of our reality and that bombings and murders have become all too normal. It signals that the people of Trinidad have become desensitised and do not view these atrocities as anything but a regular happening. Whatever the reason for the return, it seems to me that businesses throughout the capital that have been suffering such losses recently are all too excited at the prospect of having their customers back and their profits once again rising. From clothing stores to pharmacies, book stores to small groceries, all the stores appear to be having sales in an attempt to ensure that the few customers that have returned continue to do so and that more son follow.
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"The city without a soul"