Vine, resident arrested

More La Brea smelter protests
Camille Bethel cbethel@trinidadexpress.com
Wednesday, June 3rd 2009
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161485693

Government's five-year public relations campaign to get residents of La Brea to agree to the building of its billion-dollar aluminium smelter appears to be unravelling in the face of growing resistance by residents.

Last week's protest for jobs on the industrial site has now grown to include issues of relocation, health concerns, compensation for loss of land, and reports that Vessigny Beach is to be closed.

Protesters were joined on Monday by several anti-smelter activists, including Dr Peter Vine.

Vine and dozens of residents blockaded the entrance to the smelter construction site again yesterday and faced off with heavily armed police officers.

Vine and resident Kervin Edwards were arrested, before police cleared the barriers to allow access to the site. Vine claimed he was grabbed by the police for beating a drum. Edwards was allegedly held for calling someone a "clown".

Police charged Vine with obstruction and assault. Edwards was charged with using abusive language. Their arrests only fuelled the protest, with a crowd gathered at the police station and Point Fortin Magistrates' Court for their appearance.

They were defended by attorneys Prakash Ramadhar, Clyde Weatherhead and Suneesh Singh.

They pleaded not guilty. Vine was granted bail of $2,000 and Edwards $500.

Last week, protesters stalled the project for two days, and were able to get a guarantee of more than 100 jobs on the work site.

But on Monday, residents of Square Deal Corner took similar protest action, demanding relocation homes in San Fernando, and rejecting what they said were sub-standard houses accepted by a few in Debe.

Yesterday, they were joined by residents demanding answers to reports that they would have to submit to medical tests for cancer every two years, and asking for compensation for homes being damaged by preparation work on the smelter site.