No surprises in smelter saga
PORT SPAIN
Trinidad & Tobago Express
Petroleumworldtt.com
06 17 09
They may not recognise it but the people of La Brea have scored a moral victory against the authorities.
The two hastily arranged sod turning ceremonies last week - the Power Plant at Union Estate and the new housing project at Hubertstown- were clear signs of a deliberate attempt by Government to quell the protests with promised solutions.
Be patient, better days are coming.
But, announcements sod turning ceremonies and project signposts are standard old tricks in the armory of all political parties.
The George Bovell Aquatic Centre and the new Eddie Hart Sports Pavilion and Sports Facility are current examples.
The people of La Brea are also very familiar with them.
A sign marking the site of the new Sobo Government School was erected prior to the 1986 General Elections.
Though battered by the elements and nearly overgrown with bush, it remains standing as a potent reminder to citizens that political statements should be taken with more than a pinch of salt.
In the same vein, Prime Minister's reported statement that the La Brea protesters are no more than the usual anti-smelter crowd was no surprise.
In fact, last week's column anticipated that involvement of anti-smelter protesters would "cast a political cloud over the legitimate concerns of the people of La Brea".
As indicated last week, these protests are centered on genuine people issues of jobs, relocation and the environment.
The Prime Minister's statement also betrays Government's anxiety to get new plant construction going so as to avoid a protracted decline in the economy.
In that context, people issues have been placed on the back burner.
The facts around the issue of relocation provide ample evidence in support of this view.
Information coming to hand suggests that two primary sites- Pier Road, La Brea and Hubertstown, Guapo- were identified for the purpose of constructing homes for relocating people of Sobo, Square Deal and Union whose homes fell within the smelter's buffer zone. The numbers vary but about 80 families in the Square Deal, Sobo area were earmarked for relocation in order to comply with the conditions laid out by the EMA in the Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC).
The sod turning ceremony at Huberstown Town allowed the national community to know that to date no houses have been built in the area.
Reports suggest that work on the Pier Road has ceased since last year, as a result of the cuts in Government fiscal expenditure.
The result is that more than 70 per cent of households in the targeted communities remain there, although work has started on the smelter. They are there not because they do not want to move but because no homes have been built for them in the designated sites.
How long these citizens are expected to endure the dust and noise pollution typically associated with large plant construction is still unknown.
Do residents not deserve to know precisely the timing of their relocation?
The health and environment issue seems to be another case of misinformation and or non information.
Take for example the case of Vessigny Beach.
It is one of few in Trinidad and Tobago with proper beach facilities.
It is a major recreation space for the people of La Brea and visitors alike!
Now information has surfaced that the beach might be closed temporarily , while others are saying that permanent closure is an option. One could understand that angst of La Brea residents, particularly with vivid memories of what happened in Point Fortin when Clifton Beach was closed temporarily to facilitate laying of a natural gas pipeline.
The beach never recovered.
Is Vessigny to suffer a similar fate?
The controversy around the Medical Monitoring Plan may well be the most intractable for the authorities.
Alutrint news advised in December 2007, that a team had been established to develop the MMP.
A proud Alutrint stated that this MMP will be the first of its kind to be undertaken in the Caribbean and it will provide the medical monitoring guidelines for employees and residents in the project affected communities.
The detailed information now reaching residents has created alarm and near panic in the area.
The story is told of an ardent smelter supporter who broke down in tears on hearing the number of tests she would have to undergo before and after the smelter gets going.
A mechanism that was designed as a means of risk mitigation for the 4,000-odd people in the baseline communities is now seen as proof that the smelter poses high risks of cancer and respiratory diseases.
This information has now triggered a fresh wave of anti smelter protesting by the people of La Brea themselves.
The root cause is poor communication or deliberately deceptive public relations.
Much more than sod turning ceremonies may be required to suppress the protests now.
Story by Energy Correspondent from Trinidad & Tobago
Express
- energyczartt@yahoo.com
Trinidad & Tobago Express
Wednesday, June 17th 2009
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