MP 'disappointed' over ruling against EMA

Camille Bethel cbethel@trinidadexpress.com
Wednesday, June 17th 2009
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161492183

Fitzgerald Jeffrey, MP for La Brea, yesterday mourned the High Court ruling that deemed unlawful the Environmental Management Authority's (EMA) Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) granting Alutrint permission to construct its smelter plant.

Jeffrey said he was disappointed but not bitter.

The ruling does not affect construction of the power plant that would fuel the smelter. Prime Minister Patrick Manning attended last week's official launch of construction of the power plant, and dismissed a protest against the smelter as the work of environmental activists, none of whom lived in La Brea.

Jeffrey said of the judge's decision: "I felt very bad about the judgment because I did so much research on this project. It is unfortunate."

He said the smelter was a positive for not just La Brea, but also for the country.

"When you look at all of the illiteracy in La Brea and the unemployment situation, I saw it as a way to get the them out of the gutter.

"The smelter really wasn't for me. Look at my age. I not looking for work. I was thinking about the community," he said.

In an e-mailed response, Josieann Richards, corporate communications manager at Alutrint, said: "Alutrint will comment on the High Court ruling in due course."

She added: "The CEC awarded for construction of the power plant is not related to this (court) matter, and as such the judgment does not affect the construction of the power plant which falls under the aegis of Trinidad Generation Unlimited."