High angle view of cityscape against sky

How creative thinking and bold action are transforming Port of Spain

In the sixth episode of The City Citizen, Joel Martinez, Mayor of Trinidad’s Port of Spain, talks to EY’s Meghan Mills about applying innovative approaches to rejuvenate the city.

With its rich cultural heritage, beautiful surroundings and thriving industries, Port of Spain has a lot to offer residents and tourists alike. But even in idyllic locations like Trinidad and Tobago, capital cities have challenges to address ⏤ including how to transition to a smart, sustainable future.

In this episode, Port of Spain’s Mayor, Joel Martinez, describes how he’s rejuvenating the city by building on its strengths and increasing civic pride. He tells Meghan Mills, EY Strategy and Operations Leader – Government and Public Sector, about some of the innovative ideas the city has implemented. These include becoming a UNESCO Creative City in the field of music, and reclaiming an area that was previously a landfill site.

Key takeaways:

  • To be progressive, city governments need to use technology as part of an ecosystem that helps citizens live and work better.
  • “Beautifying” a city by restoring monuments, widening pavements and planting trees will encourage business and build civic pride.
  • Younger citizens may need some help to become aware ⏤ and proud ⏤ of the city’s cultural or sporting history.

You can also listen to this podcast on Amazon MusicApple Podcast and Spotify.

A full text transcript of this podcast is available­­­­­­ too. Read the transcript.

Presenters

Meghan Mills
EY Global Government & Public Sector Strategy & Operations Leader; EY Global Sustainability and Green Economies Leader and Future Cities Co-Leader

Podcast

Episode 6

Duration 10m 48s

In this series

Series overview
(Event List - Manual)

How creative thinking and bold action are transforming Port of Spain

In the sixth episode of The City Citizen, Joel Martinez, Mayor of Trinidad’s Port of Spain, talks to EY’s Meghan Mills about applying innovative approaches to rejuvenate the city.
Podcast

Episode 6

Duration
10m 48s

Presenters

Meghan Mills

EY Global Government & Public Sector Strategy & Operations Leader; EY Global Sustainability and Green Economies Leader and Future Cities Co-Leader

How hosting the Olympics is helping a fast-growing city meet its needs

In the third episode of The City Citizen, Adrian Schrinner, Lord Mayor of Brisbane, talks to Meghan Mills about realizing the opportunities of hosting the 2032 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games.
Podcast

Episode 3

Duration
22m 09s

Presenters

Meghan Mills

EY Global Government & Public Sector Strategy & Operations Leader; EY Global Sustainability and Green Economies Leader and Future Cities Co-Leader

How one city used leadership, culture and collaboration to drive change

In the second episode of The City Citizen, Meghan Mills shares the secrets of Helsingborg’s sustainable transformation with its former Mayor, Peter Danielsson, and Gerald Babel-Sutter, co-founder and CEO of Urban Future.
Podcast

Episode 2

Duration
17m 56s

Presenters

Meghan Mills

EY Global Government & Public Sector Strategy & Operations Leader; EY Global Sustainability and Green Economies Leader and Future Cities Co-Leader

How sustainable city projects can have a ripple effect beyond borders

In the first episode of the City Citizen podcast, Asli Pasinli, CEO of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Turkey, shares her passion for urban sustainability.
Podcast

Episode 1

Duration
15m 45s

Presenters

Meghan Mills

EY Global Government & Public Sector Strategy & Operations Leader; EY Global Sustainability and Green Economies Leader and Future Cities Co-Leader