Claxton Bay fishermen angry over smelter

By Richardson Dhalai Sunday, July 5 2009
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,103224.html

Fishermen, environmental activists and Pranz Gardens residents have accused the National Energy Corporation, (NEC), of misrepresenting the facts surrounding the establishment of a port and steel manufacturing facility at Claxton Bay.

At a press conference held at a makeshift jetty which was constructed by Claxton Bay fishermen, they also burnt a brochure distributed by the NEC in which the company claimed that some 6,000 jobs would be made available during the construction period of both the port and steel plant.

Environmental activist, Dr Wayne Kublal-singh, one of the leading voices against the establishment of Alutrint’s aluminium smelter at La Brea, said the NEC’s flyer, which was distributed some two weeks ago, contained a number of flaws concerning the proposed facilities.

“It says here the proposed port will serve the community by providing 6,000 jobs, this is patently inaccurate, it’s a misinformation of the highest order... the accurate figure is eight hundred and something according to the official statics which was submitted to the EMA,” he said.

“What’s going to happen with the establishment of a steel mill is they are going to remove parts of the Claxton Bay mangrove system. They are going to destroy parts of the sea grass beds, they are going to impact negatively on the sea grass community, the fishing community and they are also going to impact negatively on the health of the residents,” Kublalsingh said, adding the steel mill would also affect the health of residents since it would be sandwiched between seven communities in the Claxton Bay area.

“There is a whole lot of buttons and mirrors and beads development, it’s just like the days of slavery, they are trying to get people to buy into a project which is unsustainable,” he added.

Meanwhile Pranz Gardens resident Sylvester Craig also described the NEC pamphlet as filled with “inaccuracies” and cited both the number of jobs which would be made available and the proposed number of berths saying this figure was fluctuating with each day.

“We are fed-up with their lies and we want the public to know what’s going on.. They are saying they are submitting three berths and on the CEC they are saying nine berths,” he said.

In full agreement was president of the Claxton Bay Fishermen’s Association, Kishore Boodram who said their livelihood would be severely affected if the mangrove was destroyed to make way for the new port facilities.

Meanwhile, environmental activist and agricultural physicist, Dr Peter Vine, said the board of the Environmental Management Authority, (EMA), should tender their resignations since the board was not acting in the interest of the public or protection of the environment.