Woodford Square with a view of The Red House
Woodford Square with a view of The Red House
Port-of-Spain today is the bustling capital city-centre of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago - home of the only new musical instrument invented in the 20th Century, the steel pan.
The twin-island state is also home of the calypso, is famous for its Carnival and has produced - among other widely acclaimed celebrities - Miss Universe 1998 Wendy Fitzwilliam, world sprint champion Ato Boldon, star cricketer Brian Lara, outstanding soccer player Dwight Yorke, and late renowned scholars Eric Williams, CLR James and Rudranath Capildeo.
Over the years, virtually every ethnic group has come to Port-of-Spain: Africans from the other islands and from the sugar plantations after slavery, the East Indian indentured labourers from the sugar cane plantations, and the Spanish, French, British, Portuguese, Syrians, Lebanese and Chinese from their various lands abroad.
It is perhaps out of this exciting energy generated by the
demanding situation of so many diverse peoples taking up the challenge of having to live
together in harmony in one small place, that Port-of-Spain - as the urban heartland of
Trinidad and Tobago - has developed its most interesting character.
This is well evidenced in the range of celebrations and festivals taking place at any time in the City. There is the Hosay festival, for example, a Muslim religious festival, then there is the celebration of Divali, the Hindu festival of Lights.
Other observances include the celebration of Easter and Christmas - with its spicy mix of "Parang" music inherited from the early Spanish settlers, African Liberation Day, Indian Arrival Day and Shouter Baptists Liberation Day.
The names of streets and other public places also reflect the City’s links with the various people who came and with the past. Such names include Lapeyrouse Cemetery, Calcutta Street, Mucurapo (from the Amerindian name Cumucurapo), King George V Park and Terre Brulee.
Constantly throbbing with its own personal rhythm born out of this country’s complex mix, Port-of-Spain has evolved as a key source of cultural influence throughout the Caribbean and, in some ways, the world.
For example, a primary figure in the design and planning of that most outstanding and memorable event to mark the opening and closing of the 1996 Olympics was Peter Minshall, a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago and resident of Port-of-Spain.
The massive colourful street pageant known as Trinidad and Tobago Carnival has now spread to various city centres all over the globe and many of the pan players now performing professionally in various corners of the planet, cut their teeth in one of the pan-yards located in the city.
On the political front, the City has always been the centre
of reverberation of a people asserting their rights at both the local and central
government levels. Writing in the 50th Anniversary brochure in 1964, former
Town Clerk H.W. Farrell chronicles the various struggles taken on by the Port-of-Spain
Council and speaks about "the spirit of the…. Council to fight for its rights
and for those of its people…" 
Following on street demonstrations in the 1930’s led by Captain Arthur Cipriani, champion of the working class and a former Mayor of the City, Port-of-Spain saw Woodford Square developing into the seat of active politics in the 1950’s when the nation’s first Prime Minister Dr Eric Williams re-christened it "The University of Woodford Square" as he began his public lectures to the people there in 1955.
Today, all major political meetings are held at "the Square" and, between these main events, many citizens meet in small groups to discuss the nation’s affairs even while the country’s officially appointed politicians meet a stone’s throw away at the Parliamentary Chambers in the Red House.
Port-of-Spain has also laid claim to being the financial capital of the Eastern Caribbean by virtue of the huge amount of business conducted in the City.
The City is "twinned" with St Catharine’s (Canada), Atlanta (Georgia, USA), Morne-a-Lou (Guadeloupe) and Richmond (California, USA).
Port-of-Spain today is a modern City on the move, small but dynamic, stable yet adventurous.