Police presence is important to Gonzalians
Unemployment is a grave issue in Gonzales
Gonzalians prepare an outdoor stage for one of the communities many events
Garbage plagues many street corners in Gonzales
The ruins of The Gonzales Community Centre
A House in Upper Gonzales
The Vision Statement of Gonzales
"Gonzales will be a peaceful, united and prosperous community, centrally located in the heart of Port of Spain."
This goal will be achieved through:
- Adequate access to employment through education and training,
- The promotion of safety,
- Provision of adequate infrastructure,
- Quality social and community recreational programmes and opportunities.
The Issues
The Gonzales community has a number of issues that has to be addressed before real deveolpment can occur. These are as follows:
- Community Safety
- Water
- Employment and Business Opportunities
- Social activites, Recreation and Culture
- Solid Waste Management
- Physical Infrastructure
- Land Use and Housing
- Community Engagement and Capacity Building
Therefore, to combat these issues, some recommendations were proposed:
Community Safety
- Use of community policing initiatives
- Development of a police post in the community
- Use of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) techniques to be done through cooperation with POS Corporation and National security
- Regular meeting between the community and the police
- Engage residents in the roll out and implementation of community policing initiatives
- Hold regular meetings to assess progress of crime reduction
Water
- Provision of water for all where possible
- Development of standpipes in inaccessible areas based on approved designs
- Assigning community representatives to liase with WASA
- Upgrade water tanks in Gonzales
- Preparation of a plan that will facilitate provision of water
Employment and Business Opportunities
- Inform residents about available employment programmes
- Development of a business association
- Provide employment for residents and businesses in local development projects
- Internship and apprenticeship programs
- Community-based training programmes
- Temporary employment - URP, CEPEP, YTEPP and Corporation projects
- Employment through the IRIAD programme
- Regular recording of employment, education and business development data
- Consideration for the establishment of a trade school
Social activites, Recreation and Culture
- Rebuild the community centre
- Expand the panyard
- Retrofit the Robert Greenidge Sports Field
- Develop other recreational areas
- Activity Programming
Solid Waste Management
- Build new types of garbage receptacles
- Place communal bins at all bin sites
- Monitor of garbage collection
- Sanitise bins after garbage is collected
- Education programme
- Beautification of formal and informal bin sites
Physical Infrastructure
- Implement sections of the Master Drainage Plan for east Port of Spain that relate to Gonzales
- Educate residents on proper sewage disposal methods
- Installation and repair of streetlights
- Develop a roadways improvement plan
- Upgrade key roads and intersections to ensure adequate access and egress and safety for residents
- Build pavements in key areas
Land Use and Housing
- Give priority to existing residents in obtaining units in any housing development occurring in the community
- Use community as a model for developing various squatter regularisation initiatives
- Prepare a redevelopment design identifying areas for access ways and drainage
- Develop land-use policies and standards that are relevant to the community
- Set a standard community boundary
- Undertake a detailed socio-economic survey
- Retain the current land use for the area
- Formalise tenure arrangements
Community Engagement and Capacity Building
- Participation of members of the Gonzales community in the implementation of the Community Development Plan
- Develop seminars and workshops aimed at capacity-building of residents and community groups