Penal

Penalis a town in southTrinidad,Trinidad and Tobago. It lies south ofSan Fernando,Princes Town, andDebe, and north ofMoruga,Morne DiabloandSiparia. Penal is noted as a heartland ofHinduandIndo-Trinidadianculture.
Up to the 19th century the area was calledPeñeraalby the thenSpanish government. After British colonization it remained uninhabited until the late 19th century to around the early 20th century when formerIndianindentured laborersused the cash they received, in lieu of return passage toIndia, to buy and developcrown land, in what is today Penal, for agricultural use by draining the swampy land. They called itPinjalinTrinidadian HindustaniandPengyalinTamil.The Penal Hindu Mandir was built in 1888 byBairagi mahantsof theRamanandi Sampradayafrom India.The Patiram Trace Shiva Lingam Mandir, a major Hindu pilgrimage site in Trinidad, was established at the turn of the century when aswayambhu(self-manifested)Shivalingamemerged when the land was being cleared.By 1905, aCanadian Presbyterian Missionschool and church was set up and amasjidand public cemetery in Batchyia Village were established.
Further development came in 1913, when theTrinidad Government Railwayextended their route further south ofSan Fernando, allowing for agricultural produce from Penal to be transported elsewhere for sale.
In the 1930s oil was discovered around Penal, leading to the influx ofAfro-Trinidadian and Tobagonianoil workers from around the country who established a settlement near the half-mile mark of Penal Rock Road. In 1939, a small power plant was built to supply the town with electricity and a dam was built to supply the facility with water. Also in 1939, Sunbeam Cinema was established primarily showingBollywood films, while the Regent Cinema that came in the 1940s primarily showedHollywood films.
In the 1950s a market was built replacing the makeshift one at Penal Junction. In 1962 Penal broke from the Siparia Parish with the establishment of aRoman Catholicchurch and school in Penal.A government primary and junior secondary school were later established. Several Hindu and Muslim denominational schools came after. TheSanatan Dharma Maha Sabhaestablished the Shiva Boys' Secondary School in 2001. From the 1960s to 1980s, Penal continued to grow, becoming a centre for rice and cocoa production and the nearby oil fields. In 1990, Penal ceased to be part of the Ward of Siparia and became incorporated into the Penal-Debe Regional Corporation. Penal is now a rapidly expanding and developing town, and a major commercial centre and cultural hub of south Trinidad. The population is 12,281.
The communities of Abdool Village,Aquart Village,Backar Yard, Bakhen, Batchyia Village,Boodoo Trace, Clarke Road, Charlo Village,Dil Mohammed/Dabiedial Road, La Costena Gardens,Mendez Village,Digity Village, Katwaroo Trace, Lachoos Road, Laltoo Trace, Mohess Road, Penal Rock-Bunsee Tr. Village,Penal Quinam Road Village,Rochard Road, Sadhoowa, Sou Sou Lands,Suchit Trace, and Syne Villageare located in Penal.
Penal is administered by thePenal–Debe Regional Corporation. Penal is a part of the Siparia and Oropouche West parliamentary constituencies.
The heart of Penal contains many businesses while the outskirts focus on agricultural development. Penal has a market, police station, branches of three banks (Scotiabank,Republic BankandFirst Citizens Bank) health facilities, grocery stores, convenience stores, bars,fast food restaurants, service stations,restaurants, puja stores, an Indian expo, and clothing stores.
Penal plays a major role in the energy supply to the nation's populace.Petrotrin, the national oil company, has a major sub-unit in Clarke Road and the National Gas Company has gas lines running through Penal that links the gas fields of the South East Coast and the industrial estates. One of the countries three major power generating plants owned by Powergen Ltd is located at Syne Village to the west of Penal.
TheTrinidad and Tobago national cricket teamhave played matches holdingfirst-classandList A statusat theWilson Road Recreation Ground.