YEStt
slams 'by invitation only' smelter symposium
By Kimberly Mackhan
Trinidad Express
Port
Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
11 26 06
A decision by the State-owned National Energy Corporation
(NEC) to invite only selected candidates to a symposium
on the construction of two aluminium smelter plants
earmarked for South Trinidad has provoked a non-partisan
group to brand the meeting as an illegitimate consultation.
YEStt
chairman, Stephen Cadiz, yesterday criticised NEC
and the South Trinidad Chamber of Industry and Commerce,
who will be collaborating to host a public meeting
on December 6 on the establishment of the smelter
plants, for limiting the meeting to strictly invited
members.
"It
is absurd that the public meeting on the smelters
for interest groups by means of a symposium, organised
by the NEC, is by invitation only," Cadiz said.
"This
symposium on the smelters is yet another smoke screen
by the Government and cannot be considered a legitimate
consultation."
He
added: "The South Chamber of Commerce now says
that 350 persons could attend the symposium but
by invitation only. Who is the person making up
the 'guest list' and what could possibly be the
criteria for getting 'picked' for this all inclusive?"
Cadiz
made reference to comments that were previously
made by Prime Minister Patrick Manning. He pointed
out that Manning had indicated that "Government
has looked very carefully at the situation and believes
the time has come to make some kind of positive
intervention to ensure that the situation is clarified
in the public domain".
Cadiz
also stressed that Manning had publicly stated that
Government had decided to ensure that the public
would be properly informed in a forum that discussed
the issue dispassionately.
He
added that there was supposed to be a debate in
Parliament following these public consultations.
Cadiz
emphasised that YEStt was "totally against"
the development of any aluminum smelter industry
in Trinidad and Tobago.
"We
must explore other options of development which
would ensure sustainability for our country,"
he said.
"The
Keith Noel 136 Committee, through its referendum
earlier this year, got just under 50,000 respondents
saying that for major projects-such as the construction
of a smelter plant-there should be full disclosure
before any decision is made. A select group of 350
persons does not, by any means, represent full disclosure
and transparency."
Trinidad
Express
Friday, November 24th 2006
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