Lee Yuen: All of T&T must be part of smelter fight

Ariti Jankie South Bureau
Monday, June 8th 2009
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161487967

Calling for a halt to Alutrint smelter plans in La Brea, deputy political leader of the Congress of the People, Wendy Lee Yuen, said the fight must not be left to the residents of La Brea alone.

The smelter plant, she said, would affect the lives of all citizens.

At a media conference following the COP national council meeting held at Gaston Court, Chaguanas, on Saturday, she said that all citizens must get involved to stop the construction of an Alutrint smelter plant in La Brea.

Over 4,000 residents expressed outrage when told that they would have to be tested for cancer before and after the plant's construction.

The tests forms part of a Medical Monitoring Plan contained in Alutrint's application for a that is part of Certificate of Environmental Clearance to the Environmental Management Authority (EMA).

In addition, the closure of Vessigny Beach also took the residents living in the borderline communities by surprise.

Lee Yuen called on government to stop plans for construction of the smelter plant.

She said that it posed health risks to the people of La Brea and would result in a destruction of the environment.

"Government has been fooling the people of La Brea with a promise of jobs and general upgrading of the area but failed to tell them the truth," she said.

She said that despite the global economic meltdown, government insisted on building the multi-billion-dollar plant when it should be investing in solar power and green industries for a more healthy lifestyle.

"Government has signed a $2.4 billion loan agreement to build a smelter to provide aluminium that is no longer competitive," she said.

Lee Yuen pointed out that Sural of Venezuela who had a 49 per cent shareholding in the smelter plant ducked out of the arrangement.

"We must join the people of La Brea before it is too late," she said.