an inability to improve existing housing amenities.
The housing problem was of greater concern to the members of the older age group. Younger community members did not view housing as a major problem. This was understandable, since the youths' greater concern was unemployment, and they were not responsible for supporting entire families.
The lack of funds was the common cause of poor housing conditions. Without money, residents found it impossible to construct new homes or repair damaged and dilapidated structures. As a result, most of the houses were old wooden structures, except for the few recent concrete or brick houses. The provision of housing facilities is developmental rather than a social welfare service, and as such, must be considered the responsibility of government authorities. In the case of Laventille, government officials totally neglected the housing problem, and in so doing, denied the people of this community one of the basic human needs for survival.
SOCIAL STIGMA
The community was found to have inherited a social stigma, said to have originated because of the violence in the area. From all accounts the community was said to be a peaceful one, until the early forties when steelband members in the community began fighting with steelband members of other communities.
The community became known as the most lawless in the country. The members of the steelband in the community were deemed barbaric and primitive. The area was avoided by members of other communities who held themselves to be "decent people," that could not associate with the hooligans from the hill. This stigma permeated the community and surrounding communities. It became a destructive, dehumanizing element devouring the social fabric of the Trinidadian society. The problems of poverty and unemployment in the community helped to perpetuate the stigma. As a result, the people from the Laventille community suffered from a negative self-image, a high degree of frustration, aggression and isolation.
VIOLENCE
According to reports, violence in the community came out of the early steelband members who lived and survived by their violent acts. Violence in the area was also seen as an avenue for releasing pent-up frustration harboured by the unemployment situation. Violence was also seen by many, as a means of attracting political attention. The lack of proper political representation and any sign of community improvement, was seen as responsible for the aggressiveness and bitterness in the people of Laventille.
Although many agreed that violence was part of the community, it was felt reports of violence were exaggerated. It was also stated that most of the gangs were started by members of other communities. The general consensus was, the people in the Laventille area had a right to defend themselves at whatever the cost.
STEELBAND
The study revealed that the steelband had its origin in the Laventille area. According to persons interviewed and other data collected, the Laventille community had a `tamboo-bamboo' band. "The three outstanding tamboo-bamboo bands of the late 1930's were `calvary' bamboo band which later became `Alexander's Ragtime' band, `Hell Yard' bamboo band which was to become `Cross of Lorraine', and today is known as `Trinidad All Stars', and the `Dead End Kids'19
"The `Dead End Kids' must be considered in the tamboo era for, although they made no significant contribution in the early days as far as pan or steelband is concerned, their members were later leaders in the steelband movement. This band later became the `Desperadoes Steelband' and is still a considerable force in the steelband world today.20
The steelband was a direct descendent of the `tamboo-bamboo' bands. These tamboo-bamboo bands were comprised of several `pieces of bamboo of different lengths and sizes cut at special times of the moon, and in the hands of these make-shift percussionists, were made to create the same atmosphere of primitive abandon. So was born the tamboo-bamboo band, from `tambour', french for drum."21
Later, when it was discovered that the bamboo was not only used for instrumental purposes, but as implements in the inter-districts fights that had replaced the old organized tribal rivalries, the tamboo-bamboo bands were banned by the police.22
In the 1930's, the garbage can cover,23 pots, oil drum, and biscuit tins, all provided the new means of rhythm.24 The biscuit tin was said to be the first true pan. These tins were produced by the Rising Sun biscuit company.25 The tin was hung around the player's neck upside down, and the base, now uppermost, was struck drum-style with the edge of an open palm or with a closed fist.26
In the mid-1950's the steelband in the Laventille community took on a new image. A group of young men calling themselves 'Spike Jones' started a small steelband in the central Laventille area. This band was later incorporated into the original Desperadoes steelband. The merging of these two bands developed into the best steelband in the country.
It was this band that developed and modernized the steelband in the Laventille area. It eventually became the catalyst for the changes that occurred in the community.
SERVOL ORGANIZATION
The study revealed that in September, 1970, Father Gerald Pantin and Mr. Wesley Hall, a West Indies test cricketer, officially began a project in Laventille known as 'Servo!, (Service Volunteered For All). It was done with no advance publicity and no set plan in mind. They went into the depressed area reputed to be the biggest trouble area of the territory, and major source of the 'Black Power Riots' of February to April of 1970. The primary reason was to establish contact with the people and try to identify, at first hand, the problems of the area. They were primarily concerned with contacting the limers' (young men who hung around the street corners in small gangs because they were unemployed).
They realized that they were meeting a cynical, disillusioned, suspicious group and so they had to break down the barrier before they could obtain information and offer help.
"In February, 1971, Father Pantin made a formal request of the Commanding Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Forces, that some volunteers be assigned to work with him in a development program in Laventille."27
"Subsequent contacts with overseas foundations in Holland, Canada, the United States of America and England, and money obtained through local fund raising ventures, enabled full-time employees to be added to the staff."28
The general approach by Servol was to establish intimate contact with the people in every aspect of their daily lives, and to set up a model for development which could be examined and analyzed over a three-year period.29
Servol was interested in the self-development of the disadvantaged people in Laventille. The Organization saw itself as a catalyst for the social changes initiated by the success of the steelband in the area. It was in this context 'Serve developed in the area, and was responsible for a variety of programs that helped to alleviate the many problems of the poor in Laventille.
