Anti-smelter activists: Time running out for talk

Saturday, June 6th 2009
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161487352

Anti-smelter activists are calling for a meeting with Energy Minister Conrad Enill warning that the time for talking was drawing to an end.

The statement was made during a press conference held by activists Dr Peter Vine and Wayne Kublalsingh outside the Financial Complex in Port of Spain.

Vine was arrested earlier this week during a demonstration at the Alutrint aluminium plant in La Brea.

The press conference was also attended by representatives of several communities where there is opposition to the smelter-La Brea, Chatham, Cedros and Claxton Bay among them-as well as by activist Hazel Smith of Laventille, representing the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Rights Association, and Gary Aboud, head of Fishermen and Friends of the Sea.

As La Brea residents continue to protest at the plant site, demanding jobs and better relocation programmes, activists have demanded that the Government produce a cost analysis of the smelter.

"How can you make an investment without a cost analysis?" Kublalsingh asked.

"We are asking, very politely, that the Energy Minister and Philip Julien of Alutrint meet with us to discuss the benefits of this plant. You cannot make a blind investment into a project this massive. Therefore, there must be a cost analysis and we would like to see it."

Kublalsingh also stated that the anti-smelter movement was not prepared to accept much more delay.

"This is the State's last chance for dialogue," he said.

"We want to make it clear that any smelter that goes up in La Brea will be deconstructed."

Activist Hazel Smith accused the Government of "taking advantage of the ignorance" of some La Brea residents, who she said would not have accepted the smelter had they been better informed of its health risks.

Vine expressed similar sentiments, saying that the entire project has so far been exploitative.