Are we loosing our roots? Is Charlotte Street becoming inefficient?

Urban efficiency comprises many attributes, some distinct such as the efficient use of land in high rise buildings and some subtle like the aesthetics of pigeons in the street. However many forget the importance of the local producer/supplier of produce, to the urban efficiency. Picture a bright sunny morning, still chilled with the morning dew, the city is still asleep. You are at the bottom of a street, vegetable stalls are set up on each side of the roadway, the smell of fresh vegetables, seasonings and fruits fill the air. This is what  a Tuesday morning used to look like on one of the busiest streets in the city of Port-of-Spain, Charlotte Street. As you walked through the mall and onto the street you could have seen people examining the goods, squeezing, smelling and simply looking, choosing what they think is 'best for there buck'. It's an experience that is, to me, one that represented an aspect of the city's efficiency in bringing the countryside to the town. Many of the working class citizens, like myself, have shopped on these streets on a weekly basis. Charlotte street was the ideal location if you want all your fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices. I don't feel this enthusiasm when I visit the city anymore. I think Charlotte street is loosing its appeal. It is now becoming a place where imports are traded rather than locally produced food.