New port plans for Claxton Bay

By Camille Bethel
Wednesday, July 22nd 2009
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_business_mag?id=161507465

The National Energy Corporation (NEC) has shrunk the size of the port facility it intends to build at Claxton Bay.

But despite promises not to destroy the mangrove or river, residents of the area still oppose the project.

The NEC's new plans are contained in a document mailed out to Claxton Bay residents recently. The residents burned the letter during protest action two weekends ago.

As a result of the new plan, the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) returned to investigate the potential environmental impact of the project on the community, before considering whether to grant a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC).

The EMA's communications officer Nayantara Hassan said: "After reviewing the comments of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) we have sent them the report and they are yet to respond." The original design called for the use of about 972 acres of reclaimed land. The new design requires only 22.2 acres. The change of plan came because of concerns by residents, the NEC stated. "This new design significantly reduces the environmental impacts which were likely to be caused by the original master plan," the mailed letter stated. Fishermen dismissed the reasons given. "They only saying what they think we want to hear but we know they want to cut down the mangrove and we not in agreement with that," Kishore Boodram, president of the Claxton Bay Fishermen's Association told the Business Express. The port facility at Claxton Bay is to be used as a supply point for the ESSAR steel complex that has been put on hold due to the present global economic situation. The pamphlet states that the original master plan for the Point Lisas South and East Industrial Port comprised: - 10 berths,255 hectares (612 acres) of land to be reclaimed for storage and laydown yard and for material handling infrastructure. - 150 hectares (360 acres) of land to be reclaimed; land set aside for the mangrove recolonisation, an approach channel and turning basin. The new alternative design for the Point Lisas South and East Industrial Port now consists of: - 3 berths, 9 hectares (22.2 acres) of reclaimed land for storage and laydown and for material handling infrastructure. - A causeway approximately 935 metres long that will connect the port to the proposed Point Lisas South and East Industrial Estate. - An approach channel 1.2 km long and turning basin with a depth of 12.8m With this new design, there will be no requirement for mangrove recolonisation, nor the realignment of the (LNG) River. This new design also includes significant improvements and upgrades to the Claxton Bay Fishing Depot. The proposed site takes into account an environmental space beyond which emissions, effluents and noise do not exceed the permissible limits set by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA). The overall design is intended to ensure that the new port project co-exists in harmony with surrounding communities.