Arima

Arima, Trinidad and Tobago
City-Borough
The Royal Chartered Borough of Arima

Aerial view of the Central Business District of Arima, Trinidad & Tobago
Coordinates: 10°37′N 61°16′W / 10.617°N 61.267°W / 10.617; -61.267Coordinates: 10°37′N 61°16′W / 10.617°N 61.267°W / 10.617; -61.267
Country  Trinidad and Tobago
Metro Area East-West Corridor
County Saint George County
Royal Borough August, 1888
Government
 • Mayor Her Worship Councilor Lisa Morris-Julian
 • Governing body Arima Borough Corporation
Area
 • Total 12 km2 (5 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total 33,606[1]
 • Density 2,801/km2 (7,250/sq mi)
Time zone Atlantic (UTC-4)
Area code(s) +1 (868)-664, 667
Website www.arimaborough.gov.tt

Arima is the easternmost and second largest in area of the three boroughs of Trinidad and Tobago. It is geographically adjacent to Sangre Grande and Arouca at the southcentral 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, Chaguanas and San Fernando). The census estimated it had 33,606 residents in 2011.[1]

In 1887, the town petitioned Queen Victoria for municipal status as part of her Golden Jubilee celebration. 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 became the largest town in the country.

Geography

Climate

The borough has a tropical wet and dry climate (Köppen Aw) climate characterized with little seasonal variations due to its close proximity to the Northern Range. Temperatures typically range from 19 to 33 degrees. The wet season lasts from June to November and the dry season lasts from December to May of the following year. Hail has occurred in the town but is rare.

Culture and entertainment

Broadway, Arima.

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.

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, Tumpuna Road and O'Meara Road which links neighborhoods around the town to the Town Center.

Transit

Arima plays an important role for North Eastern Trinidad. It is a Multi-Modal Transportation Hub for many of the towns and neighborhoods on the East Coast. A bus terminal provides service by the PTSC Bus network to Sangre Grande, Mundo Nuevo, Blanchisseuse, Carapo, Malabar, Morne La Croix, La Horquetta, Brasso Seco and to the capital Port of Spain.

Maxi taxis , private, owner-operated minibuses, operate throughout Trinidad and Tobago as a kind of semi-public transport. They operate along fixed routes, and have fixed fares and meeting points. But they do not operate under a timetable. They provide services from the town center to Port of Spain, and stop along the East-West Corridor as well as 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 neighborhoods around the Borough have their own sporting complexes and community swimming pools.

The three (3) major sporting arenas in Arima are:

Attractions

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 licenses 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 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.

Schools

Primary

Secondary

Post-secondary Institutions

References

  1. 1 2 "Trinidad and Tobago 2011 Census" (PDF). Ministry of Planning and Sustainable Development. November 30, 2012.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Arima.
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