Arima
| The Royal Chartered Borough of Arima | |
|---|---|
| Borough | |
| Coordinates: 10°37′N 61°16′W / 10.617°N 61.267°WCoordinates: 10°37′N 61°16′W / 10.617°N 61.267°W | |
| Country | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Island | Trinidad |
| County | Saint George County |
| Royal Borough | August, 1888 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Ghassan Youseph |
| • Governing body | Arima Borough Corporation |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.31 sq mi (11.15 km2) |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 34,389 |
| • Density | 7,500/sq mi (2,890/km2) |
| Time zone | Atlantic (UTC-4) |
| Area code(s) | +1 868 |
 | |
Arima is a town on Trinidad in The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It serves as the country's fourth largest Metropolitan Area. Located in North Central of Trinidad, the population in 2006 is 34,389 according to that year's census.
The town petitioned Queen Victoria for municipal status as part of her Golden Jubilee in 1887. This was granted in the following year, and Arima became a Royal Borough on 01 August 1888. Historically, the third town of Trinidad, Arima has slid into fourth place as Chaguanas became the largest town in the country.
The calypsonian Lord Kitchener (1922–2000) was a favoured son of Arima. His remains are interred in the Santa Rosa Roman Catholic Cemetery, Arima. Footballer Clayton Ince was also born in the town.
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.
Attractions
Located in Arima Valley, has a nature walk and swimming at a freshwater pond.
- Santa Rosa Carib Centre
Located on Paul Mitchell Road, off of De Gannes Street in Arima, contains items from Arima's native history, and has displays of descendants of the Caribs in Arima. Native items also available for purchase.
- Cleaver Woods
Has nature walks and Amerindian exhibits.
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 de-monopolise the industry, granting several new licenses in 2005. 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 currently 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 has had its license revoked, and is undergoing severe financial difficulties.
Digital cable television is provided by Flow. High speed internet service of up to 100Mbit/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 several primary (private and public) and 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.
Arima Schools
Primary
- Arima Centenary Government
- Malabar Roman Catholic
- Malabar Government Primary
- Arima Girls' Roman Catholic
- Arima Boys' Roman Catholic
- Arima Girls' Government
- Arima Boys' Government
- Arima New Government
Arima West Primary School
- St. Hilary's Private
- Arima Hindu School
Secondary
- Arima Government Secondary School
- Arima Senior Comprehensive (now Arima North Secondary School)
- Holy Cross College
Post-secondary Institutions
- Ambi's Career Institute
- College of Professional Studies
- Zenith Educational Institute
Transport
Airports
- The Arima (Piarco) International Airport is Arima's primary airport and currently the largest in the country just before the Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson International Airport (TAB) on the island of Tobago. The airport serves as a secondary hub and corporate headquarters for Caribbean Airlines, and a focus hub city for Liat, Copa Airlines and British Airways. The airport serves as a major international gateway for the Northern Trinidad region with major foreign carriers including American Airlines, Westjet, United Airlines, Conviasa, Surinam Airways and Air Jamaica.
Roads
Major roads
- The Churchill–Roosevelt Highway is Arima's busiest roadway.It is also the region's longest and busiest highway. The highway begins in Barataria and ends in Wallerfield.
Travel
Arima is a central hub from which you can visit many of the outlying housing settlements such as Malabar, La Horqueta, Santa Rosa, Bye pass and Brazo to name a few.
References
- Anthony, Michael (2001). Historical Dictionary of Trinidad and Tobago. Scarecrow Press, Inc. Lanham, Md., and London. ISBN 0-8108-3173-2.
External links
- Arima Borough Corporation Official website
- Articles from Nalis marking Arima's 112th anniversary as a borough.
- Article from Nalis marking Arima's 109th anniversary as a borough.
- Some pictures of Arima from TriniView.com showing many streets.
- Cleaver Woods at wcities.com
- Santa Rosa Carib Community
- Newsday: Arima Carnival Results
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