Arima, officially The Royal Chartered Borough of Arima is the easternmost and second largest in area of the three boroughs of
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago, officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean, comprising the main islands of Trinidad and Tobago, along with several List of islands of Trinidad and Tobago, smaller i ...
. It is geographically adjacent to
Sangre Grande and
Arouca at the south central foothills of the
Northern Range. To the south is the
Caroni–Arena Dam. Coterminous with Town of Arima since 1888, the borough of Arima is the fourth-largest municipality in population in the country (after
Port of Spain
Port of Spain ( ; Trinidadian and Tobagonian English, Trinidadian English: ''Port ah Spain'' ) is the capital and chief port of Trinidad and Tobago. With a municipal population of 49,867 (2017), an urban population of 81,142 and a transient dail ...
,
Chaguanas
The Borough of Chaguanas is the largest municipality (83,489 at the 2011 census) and fastest-growing
– Afr ...
and
San Fernando). The census estimated it had 33,606 residents in 2011.
In 1887, the town petitioned
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...
for municipal status as part of the celebration for the
Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. This was granted in the following year, and Arima became a Royal Borough on 1 August 1888. Historically the third-largest town of Trinidad and Tobago, Arima is fourth since
Chaguanas
The Borough of Chaguanas is the largest municipality (83,489 at the 2011 census) and fastest-growing
– Afr ...
became the largest town in the country.
History
Contrary to the belief that the city is named after the
Arawak word for "water", rooted in the
Arima River, it was actually named after a plant and its roots that was used for fishing by the First Peoples.
Geography
Climate
The borough has a
tropical rainforest climate
A tropical rainforest climate or equatorial climate is a tropical climate sub-type usually found within 10 to 15 degrees latitude of the equator. There are some other areas at higher latitudes, such as the coast of southeast Florida, United States ...
(
Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer
* Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan
* Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...
''Af''), bordering on a
tropical monsoon climate, characterised with little seasonal variations due to its close proximity to the
Northern Range. Temperatures typically range from 20 to 31 degrees Celsius, and annual rainfall averages around 2000 millimeters. The wet season lasts from June to November, and although there is no true dry season, there is a noticeably drier stretch from January to April.
Climate Arima, Climate-Data.org Hail has occurred in the town but is rare.
Culture and entertainment
Arima hosts an annual Borough Day anniversary celebration in August. The celebration incorporates Carnival-style street parades and usually coincides with the staging of the Santa Rosa Carib Community annual festival. The annual Arima Carnival includes street parades of masqueraders on Carnival Tuesday, J'ouvert bands on Carnival Monday, as well as a local calypso competition.
Neighborhoods and suburbs
The borough contains may communities and population center, often names after the plantations on which existed where they once situated including:
* O’Meara
* Santa Rosa Heights
* The Crossings
* Malabar
* Tumpna Road
* Calvary Hill
* Torrecilla Gardens
* La Florissant
* Christina Gardens
* Gopaul Lands
Demographics
Ancestry
Transportation
Highways and roads
The major land transportation arteries are the Churchill–Roosevelt Highway, Eastern Main Road and the Priority Bus Route which all link Arima with major towns and cities along the East–West Corridor metropolitan area. Among other important routes are the Arima Bypass, Cocorite Street, Tumpuna Road and O'Meara Road which links neighbourhoods around the town to the Town Center.
Transit
Arima plays an important role for north-eastern Trinidad as a multi-modal transportation hub for many of the towns and neighbourhoods on the eastern side of the island. A bus terminal provides service by the PTSC Bus network to Sangre Grande, Mundo Nuevo, Blanchisseuse, Carapo, Malabar, Morne La Croix, La Horquetta, Wallerfield Brasso Seco and to the capital Port of Spain
Port of Spain ( ; Trinidadian and Tobagonian English, Trinidadian English: ''Port ah Spain'' ) is the capital and chief port of Trinidad and Tobago. With a municipal population of 49,867 (2017), an urban population of 81,142 and a transient dail ...
.
Maxi taxis (private, owner-operated minibuses) operate throughout Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago, officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean, comprising the main islands of Trinidad and Tobago, along with several List of islands of Trinidad and Tobago, smaller i ...
as a kind of semi-public transport. They operate along fixed routes, have fixed fares and meeting points, but do not operate under a fixed schedule. These maxi taxis provide services from the town center to Port of Spain
Port of Spain ( ; Trinidadian and Tobagonian English, Trinidadian English: ''Port ah Spain'' ) is the capital and chief port of Trinidad and Tobago. With a municipal population of 49,867 (2017), an urban population of 81,142 and a transient dail ...
via the Priority Bus Route and Churchill-Roosevelt Highway, making stops along the East–West Corridor. They also provide transport to Sangre Grande.
Sports
The major national super-league team, FC Santa Rosa and Arima Football League, which is based at the Arima Velodrome.
Abilene Wildcats Athletic Club, Trinity College East Athletics Club, Silver Bullets Athletic Club, D'Abadie Progressive Athletic Club, and Spartans High Speed Performance Athletic Club are also based in Arima.
Most suburbs, communities and neighbourhoods around the Borough have their own sporting complexes and community swimming pools.
The three major sporting arenas in Arima are:
* The Larry Gomes Stadium
* Arima Velodrome
*Santa Rosa Race Track
* Sunil Narine and Larry Gomes are West Indies cricket players born in Arima.
Attractions
* Asa Wright Nature Centre, located in Arima Valley, it has a nature walk and swimming at a natural stream pool.
* Santa Rosa Carib Centre, located on Paul Mitchell Road, off De Gannes Street in Arima, it contains items from Arima's native Carib history and is the headquarters of the Carib Queen. It also has displays about Carib descendants in Arima. Native items are also available for purchase.
*Cleaver Woods, it has nature walks and Amerindian exhibits.
* Princess Royal Park (Arima Savannah) is a wide, open, savannah, surrounded by Pro Queen Street to the east, Robinson Street to the south, Queen Mary Avenue to the west and the Arima Velodrome to the north.
Utilities
Electric generation is handled by Powergen, while electrical distribution is handled by the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC). Powergen has natural gas fired generation plants at Point Lisas, Penal, and Wrightson Road in Port of Spain. Additional power can be supplied from power generation facilities controlled by Inncogen at Point Lisas.
Telecommunications are regulated by the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT). It has been working to break up the monopoly, granting several new licences in 2005 to new companies in the market. Fixed-line telephone service is a monopoly controlled by Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT). Licenses have been granted for competition in this area, but start-up is a while away. Wireless telephony is controlled by TSTT and bmobile, as well as Digicel, which came later. Licenses have been granted for a private company, Laqtel, to offer wireless service in competition with TSTT and Digicel. However, Laqtel had its licence revoked, and is undergoing severe financial difficulties.
Digital cable television is provided by Flow. High-speed internet service of up to 100 Mbit/s and digital landline telephone service are all available in Arima.
Water and sewerage are under the purview of the Water and Sewerage Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (WASA).
Education
There are 17 primary (private and public) and 4 secondary educational institutions in Arima, and some post-secondary level technical training institutes. St. Joseph's Convent in Arima was closed many years ago and the building now houses a retreat centre called Emmaus Centre.
Gallery
File:TnT Arima Bus Terminal.jpg, Bus terminal
File:TnT Arima Velodrome 1.jpg, Arima Velodrome
File:TnT Arima Velodrome 2.jpg, Arima Velodrome
Notable People
* Neveal Hackshaw - football player
* Sunil Narine - cricketer
* Andre Rampersad - football player
* Jeremy Solozano- cricketer
* Deon Lendore, Sprinter
References
*
External links
Arima Borough Corporation
{{Authority control
1750s establishments in the Spanish West Indies
1757 establishments in the Spanish Empire
Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria
Municipalities of Trinidad and Tobago
Populated places established in 1757