City Hall- San Fernando

San Fernando City Hall June 1995 | Photograph: Courtesy Geoffrey MacLean

The City Hall of San Fernando is located at the corner of Harris Promenade and Penitence Street. In 1834, at this same location a wooden structure was built and called the Town Hall. Ninety six years later in 1930 a foundation stone was laid by the Governor, Sir Alfred Claud Hollis and a new building constructed in 1931. The design of the building, which consists of three floors, is neo-Classical in design, distinguished and symmetrical in form (MacLean 2010). The structure today has not changed much; the design remains the same however the colour of the building has changed. Over the years, the original building has been extended to cater for the San Fernando City Council's expanding functions.

The location of the City Hall is ideal as San Fernando developed quickly and earned the title of the “Industrial Capital” of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the headquarters of San Fernando’s administration called the San Fernando City Corporation. They are responsible for the cleaning and maintaining of the city as well as small construction such as pavements building and fixing of the promenade as shown in the previous post.  City Hall is also the base for the mayor, currently Kazim Hosein.

A City Hall is essential in a city to maintain the quality and daily running of a city. The municipal corporations of a city provide emergency services to residents of the city such as fire, police and medical services. They maintain parks and open spaces such as the Harris promenade, provide public transport and are responsible for public works such as sewer systems, streetlights and construction projects.

References:

Lawrence, George. eHow. http://www.ehow.com/list_6507735_functions-city-government_.html (accessed 2016).

MacLean, Geoffrey. Citizens for Conservation Trinidad & Tobago. 2010. http://citizensforconservationtt.org/main/index.php/builtherit/builtcolonial/106-san-fernando-city-hall (accessed 2015).