TT's
Public Utilities Minister 'Smelter consultation
is the law'
By Juhel Browne
Trinidad Express
Port
Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
11 12 06
Consultation on the construction of an aluminium
smelter or any other such plant in Trinidad and
Tobago is mandated by law, says Public Utilities
Minister Pennelope Beckles.
"The
people of Trinidad and Tobago can be assured that
there is a process enshrined in the laws of our
nation for venting the environmental merits and
demerits of locating smelters in Trinidad and Tobago,"
Beckles said.
She
made the statement on Friday evening near the end
of the sitting of the House of Representatives at
the Red House, Port of Spain.
Beckles
did so eight days after Prime Minister Patrick Manning
announced his administration had instructed the
National Energy Company to host a seminar before
the end of this month on the smelters proposed for
construction in south Trinidad.
Manning
said emotions were running too high on the issue
in light of the months of often heated protests
against the proposed smelters by those living in
the areas where they are scheduled for construction.
In
response to a motion raised by St Augustine MP Winston
Dookeran on the issue, Beckles indicated the Government
could not make a unilateral decision on the construction
of a smelter industry in Trinidad and Tobago.
"Mr
Deputy Speaker, the Member of Parliament for St
Augustine spoke about his concern about the absence
of consultation. I would just like again, to reiterate,
that the laws of Trinidad and Tobago as it relates
to the establishment of a smelter or other similar
activities specifically requires consultation,"
she said.
Beckles
also said the process for the approval of any Certificate
of Environmental Clearance (CEC) allows for such
a dialogue.
"Mr
Speaker, the CEC process is designed to allow for
challenges by any member of the public, the applicant,
non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders,"
she said.
"It
is critical that this process be effectively utilised
to allow for proper consideration for all the potential
and significant risks."
Trinidad
Express
Sunday, November 12th 2006
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