Save-the-mangrove goes online

Published: February 28th, 2009
Ken Ali | 8:30 pm
http://guardian.co.tt/news/general/2009/03/01/save-mangrove-goes-online

The Save-The-Mangrove campaign at Claxton Bay has gone international. Popular Internet Web sites YouTube and Facebook are now featuring an environmental drive to seek to preserve some 85 acres of mangrove along the western coastline of Trinidad, in the Gulf of Paria. The cause is also being highlighted on several other Web sites, in addition to being featured by Greenpeace, the global environmental organisation.

There is also a local blog (claxtonbaymangrove.worldpress.com), and other electronic linkages, including an online petition, aimed at whipping up support against destroying the wetland trees. The campaign is an integral part of the thrust to discourage construction of the Essar steel plant, other industrial ventures and a supporting port. The Indian-based Essar company recently indicated that it has simply delayed—and not shelved—erection of the US$2 billion plant, while plans are ongoing for construction of the deepwater harbour.

Activists of the group, residents and fishermen of Claxton Bay, including Dr Wayne Kublalsingh and Dr Peter Vine, are continuing to agitate to “save the pristine environment in T&T.” They have lobbied senior government officials, including their parliamentary representative Christine Kangaloo, and got an audience last December with President George Maxwell Richards. They have held four community consultations and are particularly vocal when the National Energy Corporation (NEC) comes around with its own talk shops. The NEC discussions are required as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The state-owned company has been exhaustively researching such issues as the impact of the projects on water courses, fish reserves and water levels. The aim is to obtain a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) from the Environmental Management Authority (EMA). An EMA official explained that an EIA is a protracted exercise that “could take months, even years, to be completed.” But the Claxton Bay lobbyists are not easily appeased. They insist that the destruction of the mangrove would result in wrecking marine-rich sea grass beds and mudflats and destroying schools of mullet.

Claxton Bay would become a “polluted hellhole,” they insist, and the lives of some 100 fishermen would be affected. They argue that the coastline would suffer major and permanent negative fallout and that a recreational site would be laid waste. The lobby group has written to Essar chairman Shashi Ruia and vice Chairman Ravi Ruia seeking a meeting either in Trinidad and Tobago or India. “It is clear that the economic strategies of the people of Claxton Bay and environs…are not known to you,” the activists wrote.
They have not received a reply.

1,000th person signs

William Orr of the United Kingdom has become the 1,000th person to sign a petition that is canvassing against destruction of the mangrove. Friends and Fishermen of Claxton Bay is hoping for 50,000 electronic signatures. The petition is to be presented to Prime Minister Patrick Manning.

Port work being planned

The Point Lisas South and East Port Project is the official name of the venture being planned by the National Energy Corporation (NEC). The port is one of several announced as support for a number of gas-based projects revealed by Prime Minister Patrick Manning. The port is scheduled to have a 12.8-metre deep channel, and be 150 metres wide and 1,500 metres in length.

The turning basin is projected to be 450 metres. The aim is to ultimately have nine berths. Brighton and Galeota are among other areas for which ports are earmarked. Essar Steel and related industrial development would be bounded by Rivulet Road, Solomon Hochoy Highway, Southern Main Road and Cedar Hill Road. The entire estate would be 1,725 hectares, of which 200 have been allotted to Essar.

EMA grants more than 1,000 CECs

The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) has granted more than 1,000 Certificates of Environmental Clearance (CEC) since its formation in 2001. An EMA official stated that a CEC demonstrates that proper measures were taken to develop a project that would not put the environment or public health at risk. The EMA receives about 40 CEC applications a month.

The 2,000th application was received back in August 2007. The EMA granted a CEC to Essar steel, based on certain assurances. They include that cleared areas and stockpiled aggregate are to be wet regularly to prevent the negative effects of dust on ambient air quality or public health. The muddied wheels of vehicles are to be washed before they exit the site onto public roads, to prevent caked mud and dust. Exposed stockpiles are to be covered with tarpaulins. In addition, they are to be sprayed with dust suppressants.