Laventille

Laventille is a Ward of Trinidad and Tobago.

Etymology

The name Laventille hearkens back to colonial times, especially when the French dominated the cultural traditions of the island.^{[citation needed]} One etymological derivation of the name is due to the fact that the northeast trade winds come to this part of the island of Trinidad before reaching any other part of colonial Port of Spain - hence the metaphorical name La Ventaille ("The Vent"). Geographically, it is the source of Orographic precipitation for the capital city.

Community and Culture

Laventille has poor communities (slums) covered with squatter settlements, tenement yards and apartments .^{[citation needed]}

Laventille is home to Desperadoes Steel Orchestra, one of the world's oldest steelbands existing today. It is also the place where steel pan was born, and it is the birthplace of innovators and world renowned tuners like the late Rudolph Charles, Bertie Marshall and Roland Harrigin. It is the heart of the steelpan world, where pioneer Winston "Spree" Simon lived and created one of the century’s new acoustical musical instrument. It also houses several other bands such as Laventille Hilanders, Courts Laventille Sound Specialists, etc.

Laventille is also the home or birth-place of many people involved in community work and other types of cultural activity in Trinidad & Tobago. Soca artiste Destra Garcia was born at Desperlie Crescent in Laventille.

The name has also been used as a general term for the poor neighbourhoods of eastern Port of Spain, including not only Laventille "proper" (Success Village, Trou Macaque, Never Dirty) but also East Dry River, John-John, Sea lots, Beetham Estate Garden, Caledonia, Maryland, Mon Repos, Chinapoo and Morvant.

Crime

See also: Crime in Trinidad and Tobago

Laventille has some of the highest crime rates in Trinidad and Tobago, with drugs, gangs, and murders being the main problem in this community.^{[citation needed]}

References

• "Laventille" (1965) is the name of a poem by Derek Walcott.
• Laventille is also mentioned in the song "Boyz" by M.I.A. on her second album, Kala: "Hey now lemme go hey now can we go riding up a dirty track up to Laventille."
• Laventille was the subject of a song by the same name performed by David Rudder.
• Laventille was the subject of a song by the same name sung by Mr. King.
• Laventille was the subject of a short documentary made by Jakob Daschek and Kate Cunningham for the SFOTE http://www.sfote.org/Media_Video.htm