Fishermen ready to go to court over Claxton Bay port

Carolyn Kissoon South Bureau
Tuesday, July 7th 2009
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_business?id=161501236

Claxton Bay fishermen opposed to the construction of an industrial port are prepared to go to court to stop it if the State does not pull the plug on the project, Kishore Boodram, president of the Claxton Bay Fishermen's Association, said yesterday.

Boodram said the fishermen have been holding workshops to sensitise residents on how construction of a port at Claxton Bay will affect their lives.

He said the fishermen have been ignored by the National Energy Corporation (NEC).

The port facility is intended to be the supply point for raw material to supply the Essar steel complex that may be built at nearby Pranz Gardens, Claxton Bay.

"They hosted a consultation outside of Claxton Bay and have started dropping pamphlets in mailboxes trying to tell people that what they are doing is right. But everything they are saying is misleading," he said.

The fishermen burned a copy of the document during a press conference on the man-made jetty at Claxton Bay on Saturday.

"We are not going to allow them to come in and take over our space just like that. If it means taking the matter to court, then we will have to do that," he said.

Boodram said there had been no discussion between NEC and the fishermen.

"And we are not going to contact them. They are working on their own and we will do what we have to," he said.

The document outlined several benefits of constructing a port and steel manufacturing facility at Claxton Bay.

Environmentalist Dr Peter Vine said the fishermen have been seeking legal advice since the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) had not given the all-clear for construction to begin.