Hitching themselves to anti-smelter bandwagon

Published: 8 Jul 2009
http://guardian.co.tt/commentary/letters/2009/07/08/hitching-themselves-anti-smelter-bandwagon

There are few issues in T&T that so clearly demonstrate the hypocrisy of our society as the so-called smelter issue. The matter has now become a cause celebre for those citizens who always seem to be looking for an opportunity to publicly demonstrate their love and concern for the poor and downtrodden as long as they can do so safely and without much personal sacrifice.

So although the people of La Brea have been poor and downtrodden for years, they are suddenly the beneficiaries of concern and attention from people who never visited them before and who will certainly disappear now that the smelter has been stopped. They travelled in their cars on an excursion to the distant village and joined a handful of frustrated residents in a great battle for the people’s freedom. “People power” screamed the newspaper headlines although the pictures on the front pages clearly showed that there were very few people from La Brea in the forefront of the “struggle.”

Now that the smelter has been stopped, the “outsiders” can return to their comfortable homes in north and east Trinidad, satisfied that they have “saved” the people of La Brea from the evils of a smelter. But anyone familiar with that part of the country would know that it is the drug trade that is killing the communities and destroying the youths. How come there is no protest to stop the drugs that come from South America and pass trough Cedros, Chatham and La Brea en route to North America?

Another group of opportunists are the self-serving politicians who are constantly looking for a bandwagon to jump on. It is no surprise therefore that several officials of a certain political party are at the forefront of the anti-smelter struggle. One failed candidate for a Port-of-Spain seat in the last election was clearly seen on television jumping on the back of a pick-up and pounding on the vehicle but has there been any condemnation of this blatant act of violence?

Isn’t it ironic that the only death to occur at the smelter site was caused when protesters blocked the road and a baby could not get to hospital? But this death has evoked little sympathy from those who claim to be committed to the people of La Brea. Did anyone attend the funeral or assist with expenses?

Like true vultures or corbeaux, the politicians have now swooped down on the anti-smelter issue, hoping to gain cheap political mileage. Included in this group are a former Prime Minister and an Attorney General who in 1998 were both signatories to the construction of a huge aluminium smelter to be built in central Trinidad.

Now all of a sudden a smelter is death and there is a great desire to see the cumulative impacts of the project. How come no one has asked for the cumulative impacts of the several ammonia, urea and petrochemical plants in Point Lisas? Or is it that central Trinidad is too busy enjoying the wealth and economic benefits from the Point Lisas Industrial Estate to care about the environment.

Finally, there is the media, the so-called protectors of democracy and the small man. It seems strange that in a region where the population is over 10,000 people, the media can only find the same two or three people from La Brea to protest the smelter. One protester from Square Deal even had the good fortune to appear in studio on the same morning television show twice within three days.

The media have also ignored (intentionally?) the obvious contradiction that if people are protesting for jobs on the smelter project they certainly cannot be classified as “anti-smelter.” The reality is that a mere handful of La Brea residents, together with some activists and opposition politicians, have been able to stall a project that the vast majority wants.

D Wiltshire
Arima