Diego Martin
| Diego Martin, Trinidad and Tobago | |
|---|---|
| Region Capital / Town | |
| Country | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Regional Corporation | Diego Martin Regional Corporation |
| County | Saint George County |
| Government | |
| • Type | Regional Corporation |
| • Regional Governor | Anthony Sammy |
| Ranked | |
| Time zone | AST (UTC−4) |
| Postal Code | 120110 |
| Area code(s) | 632, 633, 637, 694, 695 |
Diego Martin is an urban commercial center and capital city of the Diego Martin Region in Trinidad and Tobago. Its location in the region is just on the south eastern border of Diego Martin Region, West of the capital city of Port of Spain and east of the town of Carenage. The Diego Martin Town in the Northern Range was once filled with a number of small valleys but is now a densely populated area. It was named after a Spanish explorer Don Diego Martín.[1] The area was settled by French planters and their slaves in the 1780s. It consists of a cluster of communities including Congo Village, Diamond Vale, Green Hill, Patna Village, Petit Valley, Blue Range, La Puerta Avenue, Four Roads, Rich Plain, River Estate, Blue Basin, Water Wheel, West Moorings, Bagatelle and Sierra Leone.
Petit Valley extends from the Four Roads area all the way through the hills of the Northern Range crossing over into Maraval. The Maple Leaf (Canadian) International School is located in Petit Valley. Petit Valley is the birthplace of West Indian cricketer Learie Nicholas Constantine.[2]
"Patna" reflects the settlement of Indo-Trinidadian indentured labourers, while "Congo" and "Sierra Leone" refer to free African indentured labourers.[1] Places to visit include the historical Waterwheel and the Blue Basin waterfalls, especially the magnificent Blue Basin waterfall.
The town area is administered by the Diego Martin Regional Corporation and is the birth home of Empress Shebah 'Ra III[3] and the home town of Miss Universe 1998, Wendy Fitzwilliam.
Climate
The climate of Diego Martin is tropical, and temperature varies little between the wet and dry seasons. Diego Martin Town Holds The Lowest Temperature In the Region of Diego Martin Being 9 °C (48 °F). Also holding the highest for the Diego Martin Region at 98 °F (36 °C).
| Climate data for Diego Martin,Trinidad and Tobago | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °F (°C) | 85 (29) |
86 (30) |
87 (31) |
88 (31) |
88 (31) |
89 (32) |
89 (32) |
89 (32) |
89 (32) |
88 (31) |
87 (31) |
86 (30) |
87.6 (31) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 63 (17) |
65 (18) |
68 (20) |
73 (23) |
75 (24) |
75 (24) |
75 (24) |
74 (23) |
72 (22) |
70 (21) |
68 (20) |
65 (18) |
70.3 (21.2) |
| Average rainfall inches (mm) | 2.799 (71.1) |
1.701 (43.2) |
1.201 (30.5) |
1.799 (45.7) |
4.402 (111.8) |
10 (254.0) |
9.799 (248.9) |
9.402 (238.8) |
7.201 (182.9) |
7 (177.8) |
7.799 (198.1) |
5.799 (147.3) |
68.902 (1,750.1) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 12 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 253 |
| Source #1: The Weather Channel (records)[4] | |||||||||||||
| Source #2: World Weather Online [5] | |||||||||||||
Places of Interest in Diego Martin
St. Dominic's Pastoral Centre
The home of the Order of Preachers in Trinidad and Tobago is located in Diego Martin at the St. Dominic's Pastoral Centre.
In 1972 according to the details on the front wall of the House in Diego Martin, there was a handing over to Trinidad and Tobago of the property. Over the years priests from the community in Ireland have visited and ministered in Trinidad and Tobago, joining with locals who have been ordained into the priesthood.
In 2016, the local (Trinidad and Tobagp's) Order of Preachers joined with their colleagues around the world in celebrating the Jubilee 800 - 1216-2016
There are several Roman Catholic Churches which are located in Diego Martin some of which are: St. Finbar's, St. Anthony's, Crystal Stream, (St. Augustine) are all administered/managed by priests of the Order of the Preachers.
St. John, the Evangelist which is located in Diego Martin and is accessed from the Diego Martin Main Road is administered separately to the other churches.
Over the years the site of the Order of Preachers in Diego Martin, Trinidad and Tobago has been developed/redeveloped to house the following:
~ St. Catherine of Siena Adoration Chapel
~ Roman Catholic Church - St. Finbar's R.C.
~ Auditorium and a school. The school is located above the auditorium. The school is to have 'state of the art audio visual facilities.[6] Some of the activities which have been held at the auditorium are as follows:
- Catholic Religious Education Development Institute's (CREDI')s first graduation ceremony in September 12, 2011. The graduands consisted of students in the Post graduate programme "Masters in Educational Leadership course with UD" (University of Dayton Ohio) and "five of the seven persons who completed the 2010 Social Justice online course with the UD, in partnership with CREDI – The Catholic Institute, and CCSJ"...[7]
- The launch by CREDI of its East Port of Spain Project on April 11, 2015 at its 2015 CREDI-table conversations on Equity in Education in Trinidad and Tobago. [8]
- Wedding Receptions
- Plays and other events
- Meetings for various purposes such as to accommodate "break out" sessions at conferences
~ Parish Office
~ St. Martin de Porres Outreach Centre
~ Book Store and Aquinas Altar Wines - Aquinas Altar Wines sells unconsecrated host and wine which is transformed into the "Body and Blood of Jesus Christ" during the Holy Mass.
~ Presbytery
In close proximity to the St. Dominic's Pastoral Centre is the Finbar Ryan Geriatric Home. This Home for the aged is managed by the Society of St.Vincent de Paul of Trinidad and Tobago.[6]
Christ Child Convalescent Home
This home was founded by the Corpus Christi Carmelites who ccame to Diego Martin in 1945. "In 1946 the Mother Foundress opened the Christ Child Convalescent Home to take care of the poor children both in the community and outside of the community who were convalescing from illness. This was the first Children's Home in the country".[9]
Corpus Christi College
"Corpus Christi College was founded on September 8, 1959 by Corpus Christi Carmelites at the request of then Diego Martin parish priest, Fr Cyril Ward, CSSp. The first intake of students totalled 36, including Sr Petronilla, then known as Gloris Joseph".[9]
Cemeteries
According to "BURIAL GROUNDS, CEMETERIES & CREMATION SITES (TRINIDAD) Arranged by Ward/District" there are two cemeteries which are located in Diego Martin. The names of the cemeteries are as follows:
~ Diego Martin Catholic Cemetery, Cemetery Street. This cemetery is also referred to as "St.John's the Evangelist Catholic Cemetery" and is located on Cemetery Street, Diego Martin.[10] According to the St. John's website, "St. John's R. C. Cemetery has been in existence as far back as 1880. Records show a Ms Mary Fuller was buried in October of that year".[11]
~ St. Michael's Anglican Churchyard Cemetery
Businesses
The Diamond Vale Industrial Park, currently under management by E-Teckparks has spaces for approximately 30 tenants.[12] This industrial park is one of the older parks having been established as far back as the 1980s, with one of its reasons being to take advantage of tax incentives which allowed the companies to operate in certain zones under The In Aid of Industry Act.
There is at least one Mall which is located in Diego Martin, Starlite Plaza.[13] This mall was established as far back as the 1980s and was one of the earliest ones to have branches of at least three banks, Republic Bank Limited, Scotia and RBTT, as well as a supermarket, a gym, pharmacy and other stores. The location of the mall made it an easy drop in place on the way home for the pick up of groceries or to deal with one's personal affairs.
Persons of Interest in Diego Martin
Priests
In 2013, Rev. Matthew Martinez O.P. was ordained a deacon in Ireland.[14] In July or August 2014, Rev. Matthew Martinez O.P. was ordained a priest at St. Finbar's R.C. Church on the "feast of Blessed Jane of Aza, mother of St Dominic, founder of the Dominican Order".[15] "Fr Joseph Harris CSSp, Archbishop of Port-of-Spain, was the ordaining bishop. He was assisted by Robert Rivas OP, Archbishop of St Lucia and a former member of the Irish Dominicans, as well as Bishop Jason Gordon of Barbados, and Bishop Malcolm Gault, bishop emeritus of Barbados".[15]
Sport Achievers
Ms. Fana Ashby who was born in Petit Valley has represented Trinidad and Tobago at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics in the one hundred (100) metres and the four x one hundred metres (4 × 100 m) relay.[16]
Ms. Enid Browne was born in Diego Martin, attended Providence Girls in Belmont and in 1963 represented Trinidad in England at the Workd Championships. "Her stellar performances on the courts led her to be named T&T captain ahead of the second World Championships in 1967 in Australia. Her exploits Down Under were heralded by the Australian Press, when T&T finished fourth in the eight-team tournament".[17]
Mr. Chris Braithwaite was born in Maraval, Diego Martin in 1948, represented Trinidad and Tobago at international meets. His first appearance was "at the 1970 Central American and Caribbean Games. He later competed at that event in 1982. His other major competitions were the 1975 and 1984 Pan-American Games, the inaugural 1983 World Athletics Championships, and the 1978 and 1982 Commonwealth Games. Brathwaite attended several schools in the United States, starting at Eastern New Mexico in 1972, moving to Spokane Community College in 1973, and then do most of his studies at the University of Oregon (1974-77), from which he graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees in sociology." [18] Mr. Braithwaite died in 1984.
References
- 1 2 "The early days in Diego Martin". Trinidad Express. February 13, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
- ↑ "Baron Constantine Profile". ESPN Cric Info. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
- ↑ "Empress Shebah 'Ra - Queen of Nubia".
- ↑ "Monthly Averages for Diego Martin,Diego Martin – Temperature and Precipitation". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2013-01-07.
- ↑ "Monthly Averages for Port of Spain – Precipitation". World Weather Online. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
- 1 2 Legacy to the Irish Dominicans - Renovation of the Church and expansion of Services in the Compound http://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/fitting-legacy-to-irish-dominicans-26902248.html
- ↑ The Catholic Commission for Social Justice congratulates graduates of online Social Justice Programme http://rcsocialjusticett.org/2.0/2011/09/12/ccsj-congratulates-graduates-of-social-justice-online-course/
- ↑ CREDI Table Conversations 2015 http://credi.edu.tt/news-events/2015-credi-table-conversations
- 1 2 St Johns RC - The Corpus Christi Carmelites in Diego Martin http:// stjohnsrc-com.webs.com/carmelites
- ↑ St. John's The Evangelist Catholic Cemetery https://foursquare.com/v/stjohns-the-evangelist-catholic-cemetery/5275608f11d2b62ff7a32b9d
- ↑ St. Johns's RC Cemeteryhttp://stjohnsrc-com.webs.com/cemetery
- ↑ E-Teck Parks - Diamond Vale Industrial Center http://www.eteckparks.com/apps/parks/info/eparksmain.aspx?articleid=32&zoneid=5
- ↑ Starlite Plaza https://www.trinigo.com/trinidad-tobago/shop/victoria-gardens/mobile-phone-outlet/bmobile-starlite-shopping-plaza/
- ↑ Fr. Dwight Black's blog - ordination to the Diaconate of Matthew Martinez O.P. http://dwightop.blogspot.com/2013/02/there-is-new-decon-in-town.html
- 1 2 Catholic Ireland - Dominican Ordination http://www.catholicireland.net/dominican-ordination-irish-province/
- ↑ Fana Ashby Summer Olympic results http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/as/fana-ashby-1.html
- ↑ Netball's 2nd World Championships in Australia 1967 http://www.sportarchivestt.com/athletes/enid-browne/
- ↑ Chris Braithwaite athlete http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/br/chris-brathwaite-1.html
- Anthony, Michael (2001). Historical Dictionary of Trinidad and Tobago. Lanham, Md., and London: Scarecrow Press, Inc. ISBN 0-8108-3173-2.
External links
Coordinates: 10°43′N 61°34′W / 10.717°N 61.567°W