PM: No stopping smelter plant

Richard Lord
Published: 18 Jun 2009
http://guardian.co.tt/news/general/2009/06/18/pm-no-stopping-smelter-plant

Prime Minister Patrick Manning is insisting that construction of the Alutrint smelter plant in La Brea will continue. He gave that assurance in response to questions from reporters yesterday.

High Court Judge Mira Dean-Armorer on Tuesday made an order quashing the Environment Management Authority’s (EMA) certificate of environmental clearance, which was issued to Alutrint for the project on April 2, last year. Asked if the project will stop in the wake of the order, Manning told reporters, “The answer to that is no, it will not stop.” Manning was questioned after a 90-minute tour of the Tucker Valley mega farm in Chaguaramas yesterday.

Manning said he discussed the matter with Energy Minister Conrad Enill for hours on Tuesday night. But the PM admitted that the ruling was being looked at. “We are looking at analysing exactly what took place in the courts so that we can have a full appreciation of it,” he said. Asked if work on the project was likely to stop as a result of the ruling, Manning said, “No, no, no, no, no, no.”

Several anti-smelter activists celebrated the ruling, saying it was a victory for the people of T&T. But Manning, Enill and Planning and Environment Minister Emily Dick-Forde have maintained that the project was being established in the best interest of the people of the country and will come to fruition in due course. The Government is expected to appeal the ruling.