PORT OF SPAIN

also spelled Port-of-spain, capital city and chief port of Trinidad and Tobago, in the southern Caribbean Sea. It is on the western coast of Trinidad island below the northern peninsula on the Gulf of Paria, which separates the island from the northeastern coast of Venezuela. The city itself is laid out in geometric patterns with parks and squares, and on the hills behind Port of Spain are residential suburbs. The business district near the Gothic Holy Trinity Cathedral and Queen's Park Savannah is at the centre of the old city on Woodward Square. From it radiate many of the most important streets, and around it are several buildings of historical and architectural interest, including the former government house, which stands in the grounds of the Royal Botanical Gardens; Whitehall, which houses the office of the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago; the palace of the Roman Catholic archbishop of Port of Spain; Knowsley House, which accommodates some government ministries; All Saints Church; and the neo-Renaissance Red House, built in 1906, which houses the Supreme Court and government offices. There are Muslim mosques and Hindu and Jewish temples in the city. Among educational institutions are Queen's Royal College, Fatima College, and St. Mary's College. One of the campuses of the University of the West Indies is situated at St. Augustine, 8 miles (13 km) east of the city. Port of Spain is not dependent on tourism, as are many Caribbean islands, but has a diversified industrial base, including the production of rum, beer, margarine and oils, cigarettes, plastics, and building materials. There are also sawmills, textile mills, and citrus canneries. Angostura Bitters, known around the world, is produced only in Port of Spain, its formula a closely guarded secret. Technical institutes train workers for various industries. Port of Spain is linked by good roads with other parts of Trinidad. The port has a key position on world shipping routes and is a centre of trade within the West Indies. During the 1970s the container and berthing facilities were modernized, and office high-rises were constructed. At Piarco, 16 miles (26 km) east of the city, is the chief airport of the Caribbean. Pop. (1991 est.) 51,076.