Govt:
UNC intended to go 'smelter' way
By
Anna
Ramdass
Trinidad
Express
Port
Spain
Petroleumworld.com
07 02 06
Government yesterday pointed fingers at the UNC
in the ongoing controversial issue of the establishment
of aluminum smelters in this country, saying that
the party, when it was in office, had also intended
to make such an investment.
Public Utilities Minister Pennelope
Beckles made this point in her contribution to a
motion that calls on the Government to strengthen
its environmental regulations immediately, with
respect to water pollution, air pollution and hazardous
waste.
Beckles said that in 1997, the UNC
Cabinet had agreed to the establishment of a smelter
plant and the metric tonnes per annum from that
proposed smelter plant far exceeded the metric tonnes
of the Alutrind and Alcoa smelter plants proposed
under the PNM.
She further argued that at that
time, there were no environmental policy framework
and no rules and regulations in place.
Beckles said although the water
and air pollution rules are currently not implemented,
the Environmental Management Authority's Certificate
of Environmental Clearance (CEC) policy would ensure
that there are not threats to the environment or
public health with the establishment of the smelters.
She said no CEC has yet been granted
and added that the EMA has the right to ensure that
the standards are met for the establishment of a
smelter.
"The absence of these rules
does not mean that the EMA cannot put in place acceptable
standards," said Beckles.
She added that the establishment
of smelters could reap large economic benefits and
Government would ensure that there is a thorough
exam to ensure the health of the people and that
the environment is protected.
However, Couva South MP Kelvin Ramnath
lashed out at Beckles, criticising her for saying
that the EMA could ensure environmental standards
are met without the proper framework and rules.
He said the EMA is expected to act
on standards that are approved by Parliament. These
rules, he added, need to be urgently implemented
as the EMA cannot stop anyone from polluting the
environment without regulation.
Ramnath also said the rules for
hazardous waste management are also crucial, as
with an aluminum smelter there would be a lot of
toxic waste and pollutants.
He
said a lot of mercury is dumped into the Gulf of
Paria while hazardous gases are released into the
air, and yet the rules to polluting the air and
water were left unattended.
Trinidad & Tobago Express
Saturday, July 1st 2006
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