The
smelter issue remain alive
By
Kim
Boodram
Trinidad
Express
Port
Spain
Petroleumworld.com
08 27 06
NATIONWIDE
upheaval has been caused by the Government's decision
to build two aluminium smelters on the Southern
Peninsula. After years of steady industrial development,
this project has caused uproar. Many insist that
the smelters are inappropriate for this country
and in the long-term will not be worth the environmental
sacrifices, the impacts of which are being questioned.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Patrick Manning has made
it clear that nothing will stop this project. International
company Alcoa and Alutrint, which is co-owned by
the Government and Venezuelan company Sural, will
be the players.
Two
week ago, Alcoa's application for a Certificate
of Environmental Clearance (CEC) was accepted by
the local governing body, the Environmental Management
Authority (EMA). Alcoa followed with attempts at
soil-testing in Cap-de-Ville, where 1,500 acres
have been earmarked. This was followed by days of
protest and a hunger strike by some Chatham women.
Former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj
last week led an eight-day march from Chatham to
Port of Spain, to protest the smelter among other
things.
The
issue is especially alive among those who feel agriculture
is in its death throes.
At
a recent seminar entitled "Agriculture in Crisis"
held by UNC Leader Winston Dookeran, presentations
were made for the revival of the industry. Dr Rafael
Sebastien, head of the Cedros Peninsula United (CPU),
has proposed an "environmentally sustainable
economy for the Peninsula" based on agriculture,
eco-tourism and fishing. The seminar was held at
the Rudranath Capildeo Learning Resource Centre
in McBean, Couva. Sebastien proposed more fishing,
more eco-tourism and better ties with Venezuela.
"In
a world where natural capital is rapidly diminishing
- shrinking forests, desertification, collapsing
fisheries, mineral depletion, erosion of soils and
coastlines, deterioration and shrinkage of agricultural
lands etc. - vis à vis man-made capital,
the Cedros Peninsula is one of the few areas in
Trinidad that is still blessed with abundant natural
capital," Sebastien said.
He
added that miles of untouched beaches, fertile agricultural
lands, abundant water resources will satisfy the
needs of the local community if properly managed.
He stressed that the Peninsula is ideal for eco-tourism,
citing exotic flora and fauna and a diversity of
eco-systems and wetlands that thrive from a symbiotic
relationship with the Orinoco Flow.
He
also listed as assets - untouched oil and gas resources
in the Plataforma Deltana field off the Soldado
Field and rich sea beds nourished by the Orinoco,
which though being raped by the Deep Sea Trawling
Industry, can readily self-replenish through proper
conservation measures.
"Added
to the above is its strategic location to the South
American mainland, making it the shortest route
to the riches of the South American continent, an
invaluable economic asset that is yet to be officially
explored," he went on.
He
suggested that this trait alone may be worth more
than limited oil and gas reserves. Sebastien also
called for closer ties with Venezuela.
"The
proposals have very strong conflict resolution considerations
built into the paradigm, all to be facilitated on
a pueblo a pueblo basis with adequate state support
on both sides," he said.
The
CPU is also proposing that the Soldado Security
Outpost be jointly manned by T&T and Venezuela,
that a joint venture for fish farming of the gulf
be considered and a joint venture University Campus
and Hemispheric Language and Cultural Institute.
Following
are more proposals by the CPU -
(i)
Intensive development of agricultural infrastructure,
including incentives.
(ii)
Immediate rescue of the small fishing industry,
including developing legislative framework for conservation
and preservation of the sea-beds and for halting
pollution of the Gulf of Paria; reactivating the
legal permission framework that would allow local
fishermen into Venezuelan waters; building the appropriate
repair, berthing and marketing infrastructure for
small fishermen.
(iii)
Making the entire Cedros Peninsula - from Cap-de-ville
to Icacos - into a Nature Resort involving conservation,
preservation and enhancement of its naturalness.
Appropriate infrastructure for eco-tourism would
have to be developed.
(iv)
Intensive inshore and offshore aquaculture with
international assistance - this should be tied in
with a Sea Defence Program, given global warming
and the fact that the Cedros Peninsula is mostly
flat, with wetlands below sea level and other areas
below flood-tide level.
(v)
Making Cedros a Duty Free Port, capitalising on
its proximity to South America. This would enhance
its natural tourist potential.
(vi)
Making Cedros into an arm of the University of Trinidad
and Tobago (UTT), catering to T&T and South
America. A natural base for agricultural, marine
and eco-tourism research, etc.
"Our
development strategy is founded on the proven, time-tested
premise that development via one's own natural and
human resources, accessing foreign assistance only
where absolutely necessary, and safeguarding oneself
as much as possible from the vagaries of international
market and other forces, is the surest route to
sustainable development and the one from which our
people and country shall reap greatest rewards,"
Sebastien said.
"Wealth
generation in the community, for the community,
by the community in harmony with the resources of
the community itself, wherever possible, in which
the state is an active facilitator is the surest
way to promoting self-sufficient, sustainable community
development and strengthening the national economy."
Dookeran
has adopted an anti-smelter position. Endorsing
a recent private study of the issue, Dookeran has
listed among his concerns the secrecy surrounding
the plan, the nation's capacity to monitor such
an industry, the fact that community rights appear
to have been ignored and the fact agricultural lands
are not sacred.
"There
are over 200,000 people in our little country who
are dependent directly or indirectly on the fortunes
of the agriculture sector," Dookeran said.
"And
beyond that the entire population has to live with
the success or failure of the agriculture sector
as it reflects itself in our cost of living and
in our ability to maintain a decent standard of
living."
Dookeran
said he agreed with Sebastien that agriculture has
been plagued by a particular local mind-set.
"I
have sat in Parliament, this time around, for the
last four years and on every debate, what I hear
are excuses. I hear the Government blaming the farmers
for the high food prices. I hear them blaming the
merchants for the soaring prices in raw materials.
I hear them in the newspapers blaming the church
for the crime situation and every time I listen
to a Government Minister, I hear excuses and blame
to someone else," he said.
Trinidad Express
Thursday,
August 24th 2006
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©2006 Trinidad Express . All Rights Reserved.
