A Trinidad and Tobago content creator has sparked discussion about the growing number of plazas across the country, questioning whether the convenience they provide could come at the expense of traditional shopping districts, small businesses and the character of towns and cities. TikTok user goldengirl85 said she began thinking more deeply about the issue after visiting Wick in the Scottish Highlands during a recent vacation. She described walking through Wick’s traditional high street and being struck by the number of closed and boarded-up businesses. According to her, the experience helped her better understand what had been bothering her about the continued growth of plaza-style shopping in Trinidad and Tobago. She argued that when shoppers become accustomed to getting groceries, clothing, meals, household products and other goods from a handful of large retailers and shopping centres, smaller independent businesses can struggle to compete. Drawing a comparison with Trinidad, she questioned whether the country’s traditional commercial centres could eventually experience a similar decline as shoppers increasingly move towards plazas. San Fernando’s High Street was one example she highlighted. She recalled a time when someone visiting High Street for a particular item might also browse another store, purchase something from a street vendor or unexpectedly spend money at another nearby business. With more consumers instead driving directly to plazas or large retailers, she believes those secondary purchases are disappearing. “You miss the trickle-down business,” she explained, arguing that the effects extend beyond individual stores to vendors and other businesses that depend on pedestrian activity. The creator also questioned whether plaza development necessarily produces a net employment benefit if several smaller businesses disappear while a larger retailer hires fewer workers. Accessibility was another concern. She noted that some plazas are designed primarily around vehicles, potentially making them more difficult to access for pedestrians and people who depend on public transportation. However, she acknowledged why many consumers prefer plazas. They can provide convenient parking and allow shoppers to access several businesses in one location. Her concern is whether that convenience is being achieved at the cost of variety and the distinctive character of Trinidad and Tobago’s traditional commercial areas. She questioned whether greater attention could instead be placed on revitalising downtown districts, improving their appeal and addressing social problems that discourage people from shopping there. The creator stressed that she was not arguing that people should be prevented from constructing plazas, but said she does not believe every new development should automatically be viewed as progress. For her, the larger question is what Trinidad and Tobago wants its towns and cities to look like in the future. “Have we won? Have we developed? Is this the right way to develop?” she asked. Her argument ultimately comes down to a trade-off increasingly visible across Trinidad and Tobago: the convenience of plazas versus the variety, pedestrian activity and character traditionally associated with downtown shopping districts.
