A battle is won but...the war goes on

Kim Boodram
Wednesday, June 17th 2009
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161492191

"The war" continues but these will be good days for residents of Square Deal, La Brea.

Celebrating in Woodford Square, Port of Spain, yesterday, a few dozen residents thanked God for what they saw as "a victory not only for Square Deal but for the people of Trinidad and Tobago".

"Finally, we got a square deal and a not a raw deal," said Abigail Modeste, who has spent the last few years protesting the smelter plant and the Government's plans to relocate her community.

"Before, I was annoyed, angry, worried...today victory is ours. We were all very nervous but justice has been served. We know this is not the end of the war but we won today's battle."

Similar feelings came from the others residents, many of whom shed tears on hearing the news coming out of the High Court.

"The move would have seriously affected us," said Summers DeLeon, 26.

"Those who had businesses and close family in the La Brea area would have suffered. We want the country to know that our community is not one of squatters with no future. Most of us live in good houses and have jobs and small businesses. Most of us did not want this smelter."

Activist Dr Peter Vine, who was arrested two weeks ago while protesting outside the La Brea plant, shared the elation of the residents, saying, "No smelter, no problem".

Cathal Healy-Singh, also an activist, said that while opposition to the plant will remain strong, as it is expected that the Government will appeal yesterday's ruling, there is hope that the plant will never come into operation.

"Considering the grounds on which they lost, we don't see that they will be able to win an appeal," Healy-Singh said, a sentiment that was shared by fellow activist, Dr Wayne Kublalsingh.

Healy-Singh added that investigations should now be conducted into several industries related to the smelter, such as the power plant that would have fed the facility and the planned industrial port at Claxton Bay.

"Also, the Chinese workers connected to Alutrint should be dealt with in a humane way. They should be adequately compensated and repatriated," he said.

Head of the National Food Crop Farmers' Association (NFFA), Norris Deonarine, said that "community healing" will now be a priority.

"The Alutrint issue has caused many rifts in what used to be a very tight community," Deonarine said. "The most important thing will be to bring the people back together. We also feel that it is time for a focus on agriculture in the community."