Who walks the walk ?

Now that our understanding of the informal sector is widening from previous posts we will look into who is actually found in the informal sector and reasons why. Before you read any further I would like you pause and think of the vendors and wares persons that you pass by in urban areas. Try to see if you could come up with any trends or similarities.

THINK TIME.

Now the image you may have conceptualized may be a blurry one and that is the case in reality. Due to the nature of the informal sector it is difficult to get statistics on it. This is because the it is not managed or traced by the government and there is still no global unison as to what exactly compromises it. While taking this into consideration the ILO report on women and men in the informal economy states that informal employment is generally a larger source of employment for women than for men (ILO 2002).  Now look at the picture below

This image depicts an elderly woman selling oranges right outside of HILO supermarket in Curepe. I think that this is a brilliant idea as she could get a potential sale from both the supermarket customers and the general people passing by on the street. Aside from her strategic location another thing that you would notice is that the woman is elderly and could possibly be collecting pension. Another thing to note about the members of the informal sector is that they posses little to no educational qualifications and that they only require simple tools (UN Habitat 2009). Now within Trinidad not all persons in our informal sector confirm to these trends. I remember speaking to some CD vendors who said they had secondary education and could get a 9-5 job but prefer to sell on the streets because they make more money doing so.

Academic findings are one thing but the stores we hear on the actual ground from these vendors truly reveal the reasons why they are in it. Whether it is because they can't find employment elsewhere or they see it as a business to maximize on profit with little cost. There are two sides to the coin in general and sometimes it gets difficult to tell the difference.

check this link for more information on women int the informal sector
http://wiego.org/

Refrences:

International Labour Organization. 2002. Women and Men in The informal Economy: A statistical picture. Geneva

United Nations Settlement Program. 2009.State of the World's Cities 2010/11: Cities for All: Bridging the Urban Divide.Micheal Jones Software. Nairobi 

Now what really is the informal sector?

The term informal sector was first mentioned by Arthur Lewis in a development model in the 1950’s. The view was a purely economic one where it was expected with the right mix of policies and resources traditional poor economies would transform into more dynamic affluent ones. It was used in the development arena from the 1970’s onward. First, in a study on Ghana and then later in a UNDP employment mission report in Kenya.(sethuraman 1976) It was observed that the traditional sector did not fall off but it evolved into profitable and efficient enterprises. It no longer resembled the traditional sector of the 1950’s nor did it resemble the modern economies thus leading to the name informal sector.  Since then the term has gained popularity in increasing reports. Between the 1980’s-1990 there was great confusion between academics however as to what the informal sector really entails as it could be perceived differently. This stems into four different schools of thought, dualist, structuralist, legalist and the voluntarist. These perspectives combined give a holistic view.   A more recent definition is ‘’The informal sector or informal economy is that part of an economy that is not taxed, monitored by any form of government or included in any gross national product(GNP), unlike the formal economy.’’(the informal economy: fact finding study 2011)

I think that peoples’ general conception of the informal sector locally is an academically uneducated one in general. Take into consideration the picture below.

Doubles vendor in Curepe

Most people in Trinidad would think of the informal sector as illegal activity and dirty work. Now if you mention to the average Joe in Trinidad that the vendor in the picture above is actually a member of the informal sector they would think that he somehow smuggles drugs or does some other illegal activity. I think that this is the general misconception when people hear the term locally and I cannot really blame them because I was only aware of the concept at form 6.

you may be wondering what validates the vendor as being a member  the informal sector? Firstly he does not by any means own the space upon which he is using for his stand nor does he pay any sort of rent for that space. Secondly there are no direct taxes on his form of business, no NIS, no deductions. This also ties into the point that governments do not monitor this form of business and it is not taken into consideration when calculating GNP.

The informal sector also provides a means by which persons could try to alleviate themselves from poverty. The entrepreneurial skills that these persons develop are most impressive. Many vendors claim that they are more than able to make ends meet and ask why they should pay tax on their business. On the flip side other vendors cannot boast of this success and say even though there are benefits to the street vending they would much rather have a solid paying job.

The more you delve into the matter of the informal sector the more complexities you discover. In the urban setting some see it as a boon and the others a curse, even the vendors themselves. I think it is more than a matter of perspective and opinion. We interact with these persons nearly everyday whether directly or indirectly. That irresistible hot doubles with slight pepper on an early morning and the classic red solo as depicted or a shake of head in dismissal as the vendors haggle us to buy their wares. Even to the fleeting glance that is passed as we rush to the beat of our busy schedules. I think that we as a Caribbean people have just accepted this as a norm and never really thought twice about the informal sector which is a shame. There is a lot to be learnt, so come along with me and let us continue this journey.  

References : 

Hello one and all this is a special blog based on an Urban Geography field trip in my nation’s capital Port-Of-Spain on march the 22^nd . For the first objective of the trip we were split into groups to do place checks. Which is basically a qualitative data collection method that is geared around assessing the qualities of a given place , recommendations to improve it and possibly working with the partners to achieve such changes.

My group’s specific target for the place check was the International waterfront center. We strolled up, down and to an extent around this scenic area gathering information via pictures and notes. In grouping back with the team in the HYATT’s open outdoor lounge area we discussed our thoughts with each other. Perhaps it might have been the persuasion of the soft cushions, gentle breeze and the ambient music that led to the overall acceptance of the area. The majority liked that the area was open, clean and scenic with few issues with the area. One issue that came up was security for we observed what appeared to be a homeless man washing his clothes in the water with the creative use of some shoe laces as a sinker. It was that simple instance that made me dig deeper in thought than the impressive architecture and seemingly rich ambiance. I began to wonder how open this so called open space is. Who is really allowed to come on the waterfront I wondered?

The above picture depicts a no entry zone in an open area.

The more I thought about it the less open the area seemed as the code of conduct is set and in that sense there is a limit to the freedom of expression that should be enjoyed in an open space. The chain link barricade above may be overlooked by many but to me it represented a barrier to a so called open space. The fact that we were told we could not pass in certain areas further dispelled the illusion that I first witlessly accepted. I reevaluated the place mentally from the breakfast shed go back to the restricted area. The shed itself served local food but what is the cost of waterfront rent? The background motif that gave the impression of building a sense of identity and patriotism was under closer inspection constructed with a cheap foam material. It was painted and sculpted in a way to give the impression that it were stone. To me this emphasized the superficiality of the waterfront itself to me for does the public really benefit from this space? Or are they led to believe so and wear fancy clothes they can’t afford and drink cocktails that cost two times more than that of the local bar down by the corner? I view the water front as a privatized public space due to its restrictions and to me this is something that should be improved or worked on if possible. 

The second aspect if our field inquiry was a tour of Belmont with the Freetown Foundation. After hearing what seemed a very passionate dance of words from our tour master Mr. Scantlebury we were off on our way. He informed us that Belmont is the first suburb of P-O-S. and told us about the Freetown Foundation’s goals for Belmont. Which essentially is preserving its heritage and to regain their sense of pride. On observation Belmont has an interesting spatial geography and one could understand why it may be considered as urban sprawl creeping at the foot of the mountain. The architecture within Belmont was a mix of Colonial and current day and there was also an abundance of closed business areas. Belmont had the feeling of a friendly ghost town.

Colonial design of the  Trinidad Theater Workshop 

The problems that Belmont is faced with look quite similar to that of other Caribbean suburbs i.e crime and lack of proper infrastructure. However it was portrayed to us that Belmont is no Picton or Laventille and that crime comes from outside the community to cause trouble within. Belmont is rich with personality and  unique character with significant  contribution to Trinidad Carnival as produced  the fancy sailor and many mass bands. I sense that at one point in time Belmont was once the place to be as I could close my eyes and picture all the colonial buildings new and businesses flourishing adding more presence to its cramped streets. It is because of this I could understand what Mr Scantlebury seek at restoring that price and sense of place in this suburban area.

Unlike the case with the waterfront the Freetown foundation acknowledges what their current situation is and seeks to improve themselves whereas the international waterfront poses a misleading classy image. It is understood that the two are not the same but I would feel a stronger sense of belonging within the Belmont community than that with the more modern waterfront. Both areas are in definite need or work however to become more efficient in there function. The waterfront needs more characteristic life and culture of that of our own Trinidadian society and not fall into a generalized eurocentric styled liming spot at a public space should represent the broader populations over the niche. For Belmont to be a successful residential area there should be more interaction with the older heads ant the younger ones to promote the rebuilding of its community  as it is clear that the elders have a lot to share. 

Blog entry one of the Double-Edged Sword

Urbanization may be viewed as both a blessing and a curse on many levels as while the urban area is rich in societal , economic value and opportunities it is also filled with congestion of people, pollution and traffic. The informal sector thrives on such opportunity and in itself feeds off the chaos of the city. In my blogs I chose the topic of the informal sector which consists mainly of street vendors. The title of the blog is Urbanization The Double-edged Sword as street vending could be viewed easily from both positive and negative perspectives.

While walking to school one morning this set up caught my attention as the numerous bottles gleamed and shone in the days light. I peered even closer as my steps drew nearer to discover that these were potions. Yes potions being sold betwixt the bus route and the Curep main road. Behind the table sat an old aged man hunched over leering at me. Now I asked the man what was he selling? to which he replied 'the cure for all aches and ailments’. He went on to brandish his hand over his wears and go off on a tangent on its healing properties. He even claimed to have a cure for aids which could be seen in the picture. While I must commend the man on his creativity it made me wonder what lengths would people go to in order to make ends meet.

Its not new news to hear about street vendors in the informal sector fighting for basic rights and by no means this is a only a local occurrence 

http://vimeo.com/24562435

here we hear from new York vendors facing very similar problems.

We see them every day either first hand, on the papers or in the news the persons who take action into their own hands and try to hustle to make a living be it the persons selling slippers and clothes to very flamboyant ideas like the one depicted in the image here. These people aim to harness benifits from the urban hubs but in the non-conventional way leading to a bustling and thriving informal sector. It seems the busier the urban area the more persons you find in the informal sector there. I have always found this particular sector of urban areas as quite interesting and can come up with some very important questions that in time I will explore with my future blogs.

Please feel free to share your views and thoughts on this topic and come along for the ride as my blog progresses.