Check this Kaiso made in Square Deal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR3bdBmJDsk

Deliberate Negligence Causes Judicial Crisis?

In a move that, at best, shows seriously poor public administration, the Environment Commission of Trinidad and Tobago has been effectively shut down, so there is no environment court at this time.

Justice is shut down until the Environment Commissioners (EC) are reappointed, or new Commissioners are appointed.

Although all of the terms of appointments for all of the EC expired on Thursday December 31st 2009, no new appointments have yet been announced and as of January 1st 2010, there has been no functioning environmental court in our country, while taxpayers continue to pay the budgeted 7.877 Million TTD per annum, $30,000.00 per working day.

One of the matters scheduled to be heard in the environment court on Wednesday January 6th 2010 involves the Head of the Quarry Association of Trinidad and Tobago vs. the EMA and FFOS. The quarry operator illegally engaged in major works on the once paved Cumaca Road and dumped millions of tons of debris into the Turere River, thus destroying one of the main suppliers of the North Oropuche Watershed Basin, a once protected and major feed station for the supply of safe drinking water for Arima/ Sangre Grande and environs.

Quarrying is seriously environmentally destructive and there used to be some mitigation measures required, such as that all top-soil was to be saved and re-spread on the denuded area after quarrying stopped at that site, thereby allowing some vegetation re-growth and in some small measure, reducing flooding.

That silt traps are built etc. The mitigation measures used to cost only a fraction of what the quarry operators earn from the quarry. Today there are no enforced regulations.

The largest quarry owners are also the largest road paving companies in this country. They receive billions worth of road paving contracts annually, and are alleged to be major contributors of campaign funding on all sides of the political spectrum. This PNM removed quarries from the Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) Designated Activities Order in January 2009, so that quarries are now free to operate without EMA regulation.

Road works however, still need a CEC.

But now, the Environmental Commission, like the Integrity Commission, is in-operable. Better must be done considering the importance of the Judicial process in a democracy. Of course the President is the man who takes some of the blame, since the EM Act states at Sect 82 (2) that the chairman and deputy chairman of the Commission "shall be appointed by the President." But who appoints the other Commissioners? Where is the Minister of the Environment?

As an arm of the Judiciary, and with all of the incumbent remedies of the High Court, these appointments should be influenced by the Chief Justice, but are not. Is it not a conflict of interest that the appointment of the Environment Commission comes under the jurisdiction of the President and Minister of the Environment and not the Chief Justice?

Is it influenced, accidental or deliberate that the Environment Commission and its court has been left to languish by the failure to appoint the Environment Commissioners?

It is evident that our Prime Minister and Cabinet have no apparent interest in preserving our natural and sustainable water sheds so that billions can instead be made by privately owned energy guzzling and polluting desalination facilities while the environment is left neglected and our water tables are destroyed for all time?

What is to happen to the matters now before the environmental court? Such chaotic delay, where is the President, busy selecting his Carnival costume?

FFOS call on the President and Prime Minister to publicly discuss and find remedies to this crisis without further delay.

Why the silence? Have the positions been advertised? Have the appointments been reviewed or vetoed?

Have all candidates refused the post? Is the quarry lobby influencing this delay?

After all, a politically appointed Environment Court is still better than no Court at all.

One must wonder about 2020 vision if public office is serving private interests.

Sustainably yours,

Gary Aboud.

Secretary.

Terrence Beddoe,

President.

Fishermen and Friends of the Sea, FFOS.

What Hugo Chavez said in Copenhagen "If the Climate was a Bank it would have been saved already"

Copenhagen , Kingdom of Denmark
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , Hugo Chávez:

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, Excellencies, friends, I promise that I will not talk more than most have spoken this afternoon. Allow me an initial comment which I would have liked to make as part of the previous point which was expressed by the delegations of Brazil , China , India , and Bolivia . We were there asking to speak but it was not possible. Bolivia 's representative said, my salute of course to Comrade President Evo Morales, who is there, President of the Republic of Bolivia .

She said among other things the following, I noted it here, she said the text presented is not democratic, it is not inclusive.

I had hardly arrived and we were just sitting down when we heard the president of the previous session, the minister, saying that a document came about, but nobody knows, I've asked for the document, but we still don’t have it, I think nobody knows of that top secret document.

Now certainly, as the Bolivian comrade said, that is not democratic, it is not inclusive. Now, ladies and gentlemen, isn’t that just the reality of the world?
Are we in a democratic world? Is the global system inclusive? Can we hope for something democratic, inclusive from the current global system?

What we are experiencing on this planet is an imperial dictatorship, and from here we continue denouncing it. Down with imperial dictatorship! And long live the people and democracy and equality on this planet!

And what we see here is a reflection of this: Exclusion.

There is a group of countries that consider themselves superior to us in the South, to us in the Third World, to us, the underdeveloped countries, or as a great friend Eduardo Galeano says, we, the crushed countries, as if a train ran over us in history.

In light of this, it’s no surprise that there is no democracy in the world and here we are again faced with powerful evidence of global imperial dictatorship. Then two youths got up here, fortunately the enforcement officials were decent, some push around, and they collaborated right? There are many people outside, you know? Of course, they do not fit in this room, they are too many people. I've read in the news that there were some arrests, some intense protests, there in the streets of Copenhagen , and I salute all those people out there, most of them youth.

Of course young people are concerned, I think rightly much more than we are, for the future of the world. We have - most of us here - the sun on our backs, and they have to face the sun and are very worried.

One could say, Mr. President, that a spectre is haunting Copenhagen, to paraphrase Karl Marx, the great Karl Marx, a spectre is haunting the streets of Copenhagen, and I think that spectre walks silently through this room, walking around among us, through the halls, out below, it rises, this spectre is a terrible spectre almost nobody wants to mention it: Capitalism is the spectre, almost nobody wants to mention it.

It’s capitalism, the people roar, out there, hear them.

I have been reading some of the slogans painted on the streets, and I think those slogans of these youngsters, some of which I heard when I was young, and of the young woman there, two of which I noted. You can hear among others, two powerful slogans. One: Don’t change the climate, change the system.

And I take it onboard for us. Let’s not change the climate, let’s change the system! And consequently we will begin to save the planet. Capitalism is a destructive development model that is putting an end to life; it threatens to put a definitive end to the human species.

And another slogan calls for reflection. It is very in tune with the banking crisis that swept the world and still affects it, and of how the rich northern countries gave aid to bankers and the big banks. The U.S. alone gave, well, I lost the figure, but it is astronomical, to save the banks. They say in the streets the following: If the climate were a bank it would have been saved already.

And I think that's true. If the climate were one of the biggest capitalist banks, the rich governments would have saved it.

I think Obama has not arrived. He received the Nobel Peace Prize almost the same day that he sent 30 thousand soldiers to kill more innocents in Afghanistan , and now he comes to stand here with the Nobel Peace Prize, the president of the United States .

But the United States has the machinery to make money, to make dollars, and has saved, well, they believe they have saved the banks and the capitalist system.
Well, this is a side comment that I wanted to make previously. We were raising our hand to accompany Brazil , India , Bolivia , China , in their interesting position that Venezuela and the countries of the Bolivarian Alliance firmly share. But hey, they didn’t let us speak, so do not count these minutes please, Mr. President.

Look, over there I met, I had the pleasure of meeting this French author Hervé Kempf. Recommending this book, I recommend it, it is available in Spanish – there is Hervé - its also in French, and surely in English, How the Rich are Destroying the Planet. Hervé Kempf: How the Rich are Destroying the Planet. This is what Christ said: it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. This is what our lord Christ said.

The rich are destroying the planet. Do they think the can go to another when they destroy this one? Do they have plans to go to another planet? So far there is none on the horizon of the galaxy.

This book has just reached me, Ignacio Ramonet gave it to me, and he is also around somewhere in this room. Finishing the prologue or the preamble this phrase is very important, Kempf says the following, I’ll read it:

“We can not reduce global material consumption if we don’t make the powerful go down several levels, and if we don’t combat inequality. It is necessary that to the ecological principle that is so useful at the time of becoming conscious, ‘think globally and act locally,’ we add the principle that the situation imposes: ‘Consume less and share better.’”

I think it is good advice that this French author Hervé Kempf gives us.

Well then, Mr. President, climate change is undoubtedly the most devastating environmental problem of this century. Floods, droughts, severe storms, hurricanes, melting ice caps, rise in mean sea levels, ocean acidification and heat waves, all of that sharpens the impact of global crisis besetting us.

Current human activity exceeds the threshold of sustainability, endangering life on the planet, but also in this we are profoundly unequal.

I want to recall: the 500 million richest people, 500 million, this is seven percent, seven percent, seven percent of the world’s population. This seven percent is responsible, these 500 million richest people are responsible for 50 percent of emissions, while the poorest 50 percent accounts for only seven percent of emissions.

So it strikes me as a bit strange to put the United States and China at the same level. The United States has just, well; it will soon reach 300 million people. China has nearly five times the U.S. population. The United Status consumes more than 20 million barrels of oil a day, China only reaches 5-6 million barrels a day, you can’t ask the same of the United States and China .

There are issues to discuss, hopefully we the heads of states and governments can sit down and discuss the truth, the truth about these issues.

So, Mr. President, 60 percent of the planet’s ecosystems are damaged, 20 percent of the earth's crust is degraded, we have been impassive witnesses to deforestation, land conversion, desertification, deterioration of fresh water systems, overexploitation of marine resources, pollution and loss of biodiversity.

The overuse of the land exceeds by 30 percent the capacity to regenerate it. The planet is losing what the technicians call the ability to regulate itself; the planet is losing this. Every day more waste than can be processed is released. The survival of our species hammers in the consciousness of humanity. Despite the urgency, it has taken two years of negotiations for a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol, and we attend this event without any real and meaningful agreement.

And indeed, on the text that comes from out of the blue, as some have called it, Venezuela says, and the ALBA countries, the Bolivarian Alliance say that we will not accept, since then we’ve said it, any other texts that do not come from working groups under the Kyoto Protocol and the Convention. They are the legitimate texts that we have been discussing so intensely over the years.

And in these last few hours, I believe you have not slept, plus you have not eaten, you have not slept. It does not seem logical to me to come out now with a document from scratch, as you say.

The scientifically substantiated objective of reducing the emission of polluting gases and achieving an agreement on long-term cooperation clearly, today at this time, has apparently failed, for now.

What is the reason? We have no doubt.

The reason is the irresponsible attitude and lack of political will from the most powerful nations on the planet. No one should feel offended, I recall the great José Gervasio Artigas when he said: “With the truth, I neither offend nor fear.” But it is actually an irresponsible attitude of positions, of reversals, of exclusions, of elitist management of a problem that belongs to everyone and that we can only solve together.

The political conservatism and selfishness of the largest consumers, of the richest countries shows high insensitivity and lack of solidarity with the poor, the hungry, and the most vulnerable to disease, to natural disasters. Mr. President, a new and single agreement is essential, applicable to absolutely unequal parties, according to the magnitude of their contributions and economic, financial and technological capabilities and based on unconditional respect for the principles contained in the Convention.

Developed countries should set binding, clear and concrete commitments for the substantial reduction of their emissions and assume obligations of financial and technological assistance to poor countries to cope with the destructive dangers of climate change. In this respect, the uniqueness of island states and least developed countries should be fully recognized.

Mr. President, climate change is not the only problem facing humanity today. Other scourges and injustices beset us, the gap between rich and poor countries has continued to grow, despite all the millennium goals, the Monterrey financing summit, at all these summits as the President of Senegal said here, revealing a great truth, there are promises and unfulfilled promises and the world continues its destructive march.

The total income of the 500 richest individuals in the world is greater than the income of the 416 million poorest people. The 2.8 billion people living in poverty on less than $2 per day, representing 40 per percent of the global population, receive only 5 percent of world income.

Today each year about 9.2 million children die before reaching their fifth year and 99.9 percent of these deaths occur in poorer countries.

Infant mortality is 47 deaths per thousand live births, but is only 5 per thousand in rich countries. Life expectancy on the planet is 67 years, in rich countries it is 79, while in some poor nations is only 40 years.

Additionally, there are 1.1 billion people without access to drinking water, 2.6 billion without sanitation services, over 800 million illiterate and 1.02 billion hungry people, that’s the global scenario.

Now the cause, what is the cause?

Let’s talk about the cause, let’s not evade responsibilities, and let’s not evade the depth of this problem. The cause, undoubtedly, I return to the theme of this whole disastrous panorama, is the destructive metabolic system of capital and its embodied model: Capitalism.

Here’s a quote that I want to read briefly, from that great liberation theologian Leonardo Boff, as we know a Brazilian, our American. Leonardo Boff says on this subject as follows:

“What is the cause? Ah, the cause is the dream of seeking happiness through material accumulation and of endless progress, using for this science and technology with which they can exploit without limits all the resources of the earth.”

And he cites here Charles Darwin and his “natural selection”, the survival of the fittest, but we know that the strongest survive over the ashes of the weakest.

Jean Jacques Rousseau, we must always remember, said that between the strong and the weak, freedom is oppressed. That’s why the Empire speaks of freedom; it’s the freedom to oppress, to invade, to kill, to annihilate, and to exploit. That is their freedom, and Rousseau adds this saving phrase: “Only the law liberates.”

There are countries that are hoping that no document comes out of here precisely because they do not want a law, do not want a standard, because the absence of these norms allows them to play at their exploitative freedom, their crushing freedom.

We must make an effort and pressure here and in the streets, so that a commitment comes out of here, a document that commits the most powerful countries on earth.

Well, Mr. President, Leonardo Boff asks... Have you met Boff? I do not know whether Leonardo might come, I met him recently in Paraguay , we’ve always read him.

Can a finite earth support an infinite project? The thesis of capitalism, infinite development, is a destructive pattern, let’s face it.

Then Boff asks us, what might we expect from Copenhagen ? At least this simple confession: We can not continue like this. And a simple proposition: Let’s change course. Let's do it, but without cynicism, without lies, without double agendas, no documents out of the blue, with the truth out in the open.

How long, we ask from Venezuela , Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, how long are we going to allow such injustices and inequalities? How long are we going to tolerate the current international economic order and prevailing market mechanisms? How long are we going to allow huge epidemics like HIV/AIDS to ravage entire populations? How long are we going to allow the hungry to not eat or to be able to feed their own children? How long are we going to allow millions of children to die from curable diseases? How long will we allow armed conflicts to massacre millions of innocent human beings in order for the powerful to seize the resources of other peoples?

Cease the aggressions and the wars! We the peoples of the world ask of the empires, to those who try to continue dominating the world and exploiting us.
No more imperial military bases or military coups! Let’s build a more just and equitable economic and social order, let’s eradicate poverty, let’s immediately stop the high emission levels, let’s stop environmental degradation and avoid the great catastrophe of climate change, let’s integrate ourselves into the noble goal of everyone being more free and united.

Mr. President, almost two centuries ago, a universal Venezuelan, a liberator of nations and precursor of consciences left to posterity a full-willed maxim: “If nature opposes us, let’s fight against it and make it obey us.” That was Simón Bolívar, the Liberator.

From Bolivarian Venezuela, where a day like today some ten years ago, ten years exactly, we experienced the biggest climate tragedy in our history (the Vargas tragedy it is called), from this Venezuela whose revolution tries to win justice for all people, we say it is only possible through the path of socialism!

Socialism, the other spectre Karl Marx spoke about, which walks here too, rather it is like a counter-spectre. Socialism, this is the direction, this is the path to save the planet, I don’t have the least doubt. Capitalism is the road to hell, to the destruction of the world. We say this from Venezuela , which because of socialism faces threats from the U.S. Empire.

From the countries that comprise ALBA, the Bolivarian Alliance, we call, and I want to, with respect, but from my soul, call in the name of many on this planet, we say to governments and peoples of the Earth, to paraphrase Simón Bolívar, the Liberator: If the destructive nature of capitalism opposes us, let’s fight against it and make it obey us, let’s not wait idly by for the death of humanity.

History calls on us to unite and to fight.

If capitalism resists, we are obliged to take up a battle against capitalism and open the way for the salvation of the human species. It’s up to us, raising the banners of Christ, Mohammed, equality, love, justice, humanity, the true and most profound humanism. If we don’t do it, the most wonderful creation of the universe, the human being, will disappear, it will disappear.

This planet is billions of years old, and this planet existed for billions of years without us, the human species, i.e. it doesn’t need us to exist. Now, without the Earth we will not exist, and we are destroying Pachamama as Evo says, as our indigenous brothers from South America say.

Finally, Mr. President, and to finish, let’s listen to Fidel Castro when he said: “One species is in danger of extinction: Humanity.”

Let’s listen to Rosa Luxemburg when she said: “Socialism or Barbarism.”

Let us listen to Christ the Redeemer when he said: “Blessed are the poor for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, we are capable of not making this Earth the tomb of humanity. Let us make this earth a heaven, a heaven of life, of peace, peace and brotherhood for all humanity, for the human species.

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much and enjoy your meal.

Translated by Kiraz Janicke for Venezuelanalysis.com

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/5013

Real terrorists Thursday, December 17th 2009

The truth is out. The true terrorist on the planet is not Osama bin Laden, waging the war of his life to protect Islamic space. It is not Fidel Castro, who has fought to protect his people, the planet, from capitalist consumerism and consumption, who tore down the United Fruit Co., to plant forests. It is not Hugo Chavez who stopped destructive trawling in the Gulf of Paria and gave hundreds of boat engines to the pueblos. It is not nuclear unarmed Iran, struggling against the snarls of Western Europe and the US who own tens of thousands of nuclear warheads.

The true terrorists of the planet are at the global climate talks in Copenhagen. And when Lumumba Di-Aping the head of the G77 plus China, representing the interests of 136 developing nations, realised who were the true historical terrorists of the planet, he walked out. It is these denizens of global terror-the ones who seized the space of the New World peoples, for example, killing millions, destroying their ideologies and practices of sustainability- with their military and industrial camps across the planet, sworn to consumption and consumerism, who have seized the throat of the climate talks.

And the top notch guy of this agenda of terror is Obama. In one week he accepted a Nobel Prize which he agreed he didn’t deserve; threatened a war with Iran after having spread a dirty war to Pakistan; enriched America consumerism with 30,000 troops in Afghanistan; promised less than eight per cent cuts in carbon emissions while the planet wants to promise between 25 per cent and 40 per cent.

The 60,000 activists on the streets of Copenhagen have a historical duty. As Obama and his posse arrive in Copenhagen, these anti-terrorists must Drummit to the Summit. As for our Prime Minister? We know what side he is on.

Wayne Kublalsingh

Naomi Klein Kick-Starts the Activism at Copenhagen with Call for Disobedience

"If Seattle was the coming out party, this should be the coming of age party", Klein told the Klimaforum09 last night

The Copenhagen deal may turn into the worst kind of disaster capitalism, Naomi Klein said last night. In her speech to Klimaforum 09 the "people's summit" she told the thousand or so campaigners and activists that this was a chance to carry on building the new convergence, the movement of movements that began "all those years ago in Seattle, fighting against the privatisation of life itself". Here was an opportunity to "continue the conversation that was so rudely interrupted by 9/11".

Speaking at Klimaforum09's opening ceremony in Copenhagen Naomi Klein told the audience: 'Let's not restrict ourselves to polite marches and formulaic panel discussions.' (Photograph: Mark Knudsen/Klimaforum09)

"Down the road at the Bella Centre [where delegates are meeting] there is the worst case of disaster capitalism that we have ever witnessed. We know that what is being proposed in the Bella Centre doesn't even come close to the deal that is needed. We know the paltr emissions cuts that Obama has proposed; they're insulting. We're the ones who created this crisis... on the basic historical principle of polluters pays, we should pay."

Around the city, opening events were kicking off a fortnight of negotiations, debate and protest. In the morning Rajendra Pachauri, the chair of the IPCC, and Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the prime minister of Denmark, opened the conference with a plea for action.

Later, in the centre of town special UN envoy Gro Harlem Brundtland and climate change UN chief Yvo de Boer declared the heavily branded Hopenhagen open, as a globe bearing a large Siemens logos was illuminated. The popular Danish band Nephew kicked off (to bigger cheers than Brundtland or de Boer).

And in the evening Klein joined with Henry Saragih, the general convenor of the Via Campesina movement, and international Friends of the Earth chair Nnimmo Bassey, to declare Klimaforum09 the "real event in Copenhagen".

Saragih called for food sovereignty - greater power for small farmers - and said that changes to agricultural practices could reduce carbon emissions by up to 50%.

Bassey said that crude oil only appeared cheap because we do not pay the true price, and told the audience; "Leave the oil in the soil, leave the coal in the hole, leave the tarsand in the land". And Klein finished up:

We have to be the lie detectors here. Let's not restrict ourselves to polite marches and formulaic panel discussions. If Seattle was the coming out party, this should be the coming of age party. And, as a friend of mine called John Jordan says, I hope that we have grown up to be even more disobedient. Why are thousands of us burning fossil fuels to get here? Because we have to build a global mass movement that will not allow leaders to get away with what they are trying to get away with. Think of it as the mother of all carbon offsets.

Reproduced from Guardian News and Media Limited

NEWS Brazilian firm partners with Govt on Alutrint

Thursday, December 3rd 2009

A Brazilian industrial group will join the Government of Trinidad and Tobago as its equity partner in Alutrint's aluminium smelter plant. Votorantim Metais, the company which will sign the project agreement for the Alutrint smelter today, is the largest primary producer of aluminium in Brazil and is mainly focused on zinc and electrolytic nickel production in Latin America, the Ministry of Energy said in a statement yesterday. In business since 1955, the company produces alumina from bauxite to the manufacture of primary auminium to downstream products. These products include ingots, billets, slabs, floor plates, coils, rods and bars. Earlier this year, Energy Minister Conrad Enill announced that theVenezuelan firm Sural had pulled out as a partner in the Alutrint smelter project. The ministry said yesterday that in addition to the equity partnership, Votorantim Metais will work with Alutrint in the development of its downstream projects in the production of aluminium foil, sheets, cables, billets and rods. The formal signing ceremony of the project agreement is scheduled to take place at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad hotel in Port of Spain today.

"Panit 2 Planet: Drumit 3" - The Greens on Picadilly Street, East POS

The 3rd 'Drumit' took place on 28th November to coincide with the CHOGM Heads of Government meeting. Thousands of emails and flyers were distributed. The turn out was small. Our efforts to get the attention of the foreign press were not successful. Very few international NGO representatives attended. In many regards it was not successful, the DJ with the public address system was several hours late. The medium sized pan sides who had committed to being there did not show up...there was no 'pan' at the 'panit'.

The local press was there early. They left before we got started. Some 64 persons attended most were part of a core progressive group involved in social activism. Speakers included persons from La Brea Concerned Citizens United, Rights Action Group, Jubilange People's Community Co-operative Society Limited, National Joint Action Committee, National Food Crop Farmers Association, Claxton Bay Fishermen's Association, Clyde Weatherhead, Clive Ninez. Burton Sankeralli performed several songs.

Despite the disappointing turnout, a relationship was initiated between the La Brea and Laventille community groups, one fighting against a proposed toxic industry (Alutrint) and the other fighting against neglect, poverty and the vulnerability of youth to easily accessible drugs and guns.

Both groups pledged to gain better understanding of each other and work together.

No Community Voices of Dissent allowed at CHOGM

During CHOGM the People's Space at the Savannah was largely empty. On the three occasions that I visited there seemed to be more entertainers that visitors.

The La Brea Concerned Citizens United were encouraged by Steve Theodore to participate in the People's Space. Initially they were to present a 'skit' on 23rd November. This was shifted back to the 29th (note that the NGO, Business and Youth Fora took place from 23rd to 26th November).

When LBCCU showed up on the 29th the police denied them entrance to the People's Space. According to Elijah Gour, President of Union Village Council "the police told us we were protesters and we were not allowed to enter the People's Space with any anti-government sentiment".

According to the Newsday (November 30th) 'At the time of the minor dispute at the entrance, spouses of the several foreign dignitaries here for CHOGM were enjoying a cultural presentation inside. The contingent, led by Minister of Local Government Hazel Manning, arrived at the show over three hours after the scheduled time. Hazel Browne, Head of the Network of Non-Governmental Organizations and a member of the Organizing Committee that it was a "case of a mix-up". She assured that "the organizers did not take the position that the team from La Brea were protesters". She explained that the police "made that judgement call on their own" According to Browne "I think they were turned away for security reasons". Brown "accepted responsibility for the mis-communication".

What the people of Trinidad and Tobago need to understand from this lesson is that dissent is not tolerated by Manning's Regime. Orders were given to prevent anti-smelter expressions even at the "People's Space". This should come as no surprise. The Minister of Energy, Conrad Enil, said that he is under "no obligation" to justify the economics of the smelter to NGOs". he said "so what" when the press said that a group of NGOs led by Kublalsingh had been seeking cost-benefit information on Alutrint for over 4 years.

When foreigners are here T&T must present a facade of a thriving democracy galloping towards developed nation status using oil and gas assets. This is a shame! There is no democracy here. There is no justice. There will not be peace!

22nd November, 2009, People's Democracy Rally Woodford Square, POS

Various groups highlighted some of the major problems that affect us today:

• Crime and violence
• The Property Tax - No Taxation without Representation
• Continuing high food prices and the neglect by the Government of food production by our farmers and fisherfolk
• The lack of regard for transparency and accountability as evidenced by the scandals surrounding the Integrity Commission and the Uff Enquiry into UDeCOTT.
• The mis-use of our patrimony to pursue mega projects rather than address the basic needs of citizens (health care, education etc) and communities (flooding, water etc)
• Disregard for the dignity of labour and the attacks on the institutions of labour and of the co-operative sector
• The lack of concern for the well being and welfare of the elderly (decent pensions etc)
• An attempt to further entrench a concentration of power in the hands of the Executive as evidenced by the proposals for reform of the Constitution and Local Government.

The La Brea Concerned Citizens United (LBCCU) was represented by Anslem Carter. He spoke about the suffering of Square Deal residents for the last five years exposed to dust and noise coming from Union Industrial Estate. He said that they had been betrayed by the State since it was only after Alutrint got permission from the EMA to build their smelter, did the information that some 4000 residents living within 2km had to be routinely tested for cancer. The Rights Action Group also spoke at this Rally.

The Issues and Demands presented by the People's Democracy include the following: (i) "The government, as a first step, immediately stop the buildingof an aluminium smelter in La Brea and stop the building of a steel mill and port in Claxton Bay, (ii) Immediately take steps to develop a cluster of industries centered around renewable energy technologies; and to mobilize the national community to find ways to develop industries which generate safe and clean jobs; projects which create wealth, not death and destruction. And that these plans should be developed through a participatory process".

View from the floor at 'Sit Down' at Ministry of Energy: Groups Call again for Alutrint Cost-Benefit Information

On Thursday 19th November, Wayne Kublalsingh led a 'sit down protest' at the entrance to the Ministry of Energy & Energy Resources seeking cost-benefit information on the viability of Alutrint, the State proposed aluminium smelter. He was joined by Environmental Engineer, Cathal Healy-Singh and Square Deal Residents Abigail Modeste and Leon Modeste.

Just before being removed by police, the Minister of Energy, Conrad Enil, who was attending a Cabinet Meeting, agreed to meet us. We met 20 minutes later in his plush board room on the 17th floor of one of the brand new 'Waterfront Towers' which houses the Ministry.
Accompanying the Minister were his Communications Officer, and legal and infrastructural advisers. After shaking hands all round and sitting down, Wayne asked for the cost information. The Minister said he "did not have it and could not give it". Wayne stood up and left immediately.

Leon and Abigail stayed on to tell the story of the remaining Square Deal residents (45 households) - left to suffer in the buffer zone of Union Industrial Estate, from relentless dust, noise and 24 hour lighting due to the construction activities of TGU, the 760 MW power plant to service Alutrint.

Cathal reminded the Minister that 'sustainable development' was a necessary balance between social, ecological and economic trade-offs. The assessment of the social and ecological impacts had been "quashed" by the High Court when it ruled that the decision by the Environmental Management Authority to award environmental clearance to Alutrint was "outrageous...irrational...procedurally irregular" (June 16th, 2009). If there was no economic information at all then one could only conclude that the proposed smelter was unsustainable.

Further, Cathal pointed out that the perception in the country is that the State is seeking to strip itself of social and ecological responsibilities - as evidenced by the deregulation of the quarrying sector - which was destroying the ecology and drinking water resources of the Northern Range.

After about an hour of cordial discussion Cathal, Abigail and Leon left. The Minister promised to convene a meeting of all stakeholders to address relocation of remaining Square Deal Residents.

When we went back downstairs we were ushered out of the building right away. Wayne had resumed his seated position on the floor. By about 6pm he was lifted out of the building.

Playing for Change.............PANIT 2 PLANET DRUMIT 3

Come and hear Voices of the People

On: Saturday, November 28, 2009

From: 1PM to 6PM

Venue: The Piccadilly Greens, Picadilly Street, Port of Spain

Hear what the CHOGM’s “Partnering for a More Equitable and Sustainable Future” has in store: energy insecurity, forced industrialization, aluminium smelters, cancer testing, breakdown of climate, displaced fishermen and farmers, water for profit, destruction of bio-diversity, systemic corruption, assault on worker’s rights, runaway crime and shutdown of “Sidewalk Radio”.

Panit2Planet is a Verbal, Musical and Visual CELEBRATION of the voice of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. It is a tribute to the planet expressed in the Steel Pan and culture of the People. We speak with Pan, Rhythm Sections, Drums, Poetry, Art, Rapso and Authentic Voices from La Brea to Laventille.

The Panit2Planet is Hosted by La Brea Concerned Citizens United, Rights Action Group, Food and Fuel Forum, Block Up Inc. and National Food Crop Farmers Association.

Contact: 290 1130 or 356 2445 or 774 1276 ///

Visit: drummit2summit.blogspot.com and foodandfuelforum.blogspot.com

Join the Dots...Balco to Alutrint.... Moratorium on smelters in India and Trinidad now. People are being destroyed. Who is paying for this?

Three arrested in Vedanta plant deaths probe

By Amy Kazmin in New Delhi (reproduced here with respect and solidarity with victims)

Published: November 17 2009 14:42 | Last updated: November 17 2009 14:42

Indian police have arrested an executive and two other officials from the Indian subsidiary of Vedanta, the UK-listed mining company, for alleged negligence in connection with the collapse of a power plant chimney that killed 41 construction workers.

The chimney collapsed in a storm in late September, as Vedanta’s Bharat Aluminium Company (Balco) was building a aluminium smelter at its Korba complex.

The collapse unleashed a flurry of recriminatory finger-pointing, as Vedanta officials insisted that Balco, which is 51 per cent owned by its subsidiary Sterlite Industries India, and 49 per cent owned by the Indian government, was not responsible for the deaths.

Vedanta said the arrests of Balco’s vice-president overseeing the project, the associate general manager at the site, and a graduate engineer trainee for culpable homicide “comes as a surprise”, as the company was “co-operating fully” with the investigation.

Vedanta has said in the past that Balco was not responsible for the collapse.

The collapsed chimney was part of a 1,200 megawatt power plant being built for Balco by China’s Shandong Electric Power Construction Corp (Sepco), which employed at least 80 Chinese citizens at the project.

The chimney’s construction was outsourced to another Indian engineering group, Gannon Dunkerly.

Chinese executives and engineers from Sepco were also questioned immediately after the disaster, but none have been arrested or charged in connection with the deaths.

A Gannon Dunkerly project manager was arrested earlier on several charges, including the use of substandard materials.

Authorities in the state of Chhattisgarh are carrying out an independent judicial probe into the accident.

The disaster – one of the most serious industrial accidents in India in years – and this week’s arrests are the latest setback in India for Vedanta, which has come under fire for its plans to build a bauxite mine in the eastern state of Orissa in a mountain sacred to a small, animist tribe .

This week’s arrests come against the backdrop of growing controversy over the practices of India’s mining industry.

Orissa authorities last week shut down 64 iron, manganese and limestone mines, unconnected with Vedanta, for allegedly operating without any legal permits or licences.

Separately, Indian tax officials and investigators from other agencies are carrying out a probe into Madhu Koda, the former chief minister of the eastern state of Jharkhand.

He has been questioned by the authorities over bribes allegedly made in exchange for granting lucrative licences for mines and steel plants in the state.

Mr Koda has denied any wrongdoing.

Eco-cide and Destruction of valuable water resources in Northern Range (Cumaca) continuing with pace

This is what you have to thank Penelope Beckles, Elenor Dick-Forde Gaynor, Conrad Enil and Patrick Manning for. So hungry are they for quarry aggregate - they only see economic values - that they do not see the long term social-environmental costs. This is proof T&T is on anti-sustainable development path.
They are cutting the mountains down and filling the rivers. Gone are the fish. Gone is the usefulness of the water. They say 'no worries', they will build desalination plants - oh dear God - may Trinis rise and end this wicked and destructive rule.
Our children will rue these days.
(pictures taken June 2009 by Fishermen and Friends of the Sea).

Hypocrite!!!!!...My god how did we get like this?

This is a picture which appeared in a report by the Guardian Newspaper, dated 1st November, 2009, of WITCO Executive Director, Sheldon Taitt, Arima MP Penelope Beckles and Asa Wright Nature Centre's Chairman Carol James, together in a symbolic tree planting at the Centre on 23rd October.

I almost fell over when I read the story...Carol apparently said "stop the rape of the Northern Range to feed the construction sector"...and Penelope replied "lambasting indiscriminate quarrying". Oh please, "hold meh"...This is the same Penelope Beckles who DEREGULATED THE QUARRYING SECTOR IN 2007..."hold meh"..."stop please". It was Penelope when she was Minister of Housing, Planning and Environment who introduced the ORDER in parliament which removed quarrying from the EMA's list of 'Designated Activities' which legally required environmental accountability in the quarrying sector. Now there is no law. Quarry Operators can now do as they please lick up everything....Penelope you must feel that people real real real stupid. But I assure you, we are not as stupid as you are a hypocrite.

A local Newspaper rejected the following which were submitted as paid advertisements to counter Alutrint's daily propoganda. (Click to Enlarge)

Outside entrance to Union Industrial Estate

Alutrint put up scores of banners throughout La Brea 'thanking La Brea for "welcoming" Alutrint into their community.

In the second picture Alutrint's Family Day banner invites the public to "Hear what is really going on in La Brea from Real La Brea residents".

Anti-smelter communities of Sobo, Vessigny, Vance River and Union Villages responded with "Cancer Zone". Some 4,100 persons live in these Villages which are within 2km of Union Industrial Estate. Residents of these Villages formed La Brea Concerned Citizens United. They are the ones targeted for for cancer testing

Union 'No Smelter' Team competing at Alutrint's Family Day on 26th September, 2009.

Six Teams registered to play. Three teams wore 'No Smelter' T-Shirts. These were teams from Union, Square Deal and Sobo Villages. Alutrint Officials made them turn their T-Shirts in-side out to hide 'no smelter'. Officials then made the anti-smelter Village Teams play against each other. Union made it to the semi -finals but got "tief out" by being forced into a 'sudden death' penalty kick out against a team they had already beaten, according to players. Alutrint's cameras stayed away. This is one of the few shots taken of the small goal fracas which took place on the 'Family Day'

The Gas Stripping Slows...how empty the tank?

Camille Bethel of the Express Newspaper reported on 12th October that 'Trinidad and Tobago does not have enough gas to build a fifth Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Train, although the country has not suffered a drop in the production of LNG.'

It was during the World Gas Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina last week that T&T energy technocrats leaked to the international media that Train 5 was off. Director of Policy in the Ministry of Energy, David Small did the honours when he told Reuters News Agency "As of now, the gas is not all there for an expansion. It is not automatic that there will be a fifth train". (Recall that last November, Minister in Ministry of Finance Mariano Browne was telling the Express Newspaper that a fifth Train was "still in the cards").

Ms. Bethel reported that 'The latest Ryder Scott gas audit done by the Houston-based firm earlier this year showed that proven gas reserves, at 15.37 trillion cubic feet (tcf), reached an all-time low last year.'

Mr. Samarendra Das Invited to Trinidad by CBOs and NGOs (24th September to 4th October, 2009)

Mr Samarendra Das is an Indian national, global activist and research scholar based in London and Orissa. He has been involved for the last sixteen years in grassroots activism with the ‘Dongria Kondh’ and ‘Majhi Kondh’, tribal communities who have lived sustainable and self-sufficient lives for centuries in the mountains of Orissa.

Kondh values and their mountains are at risk from multinational companies seeking to capture iron ore and bauxite for the metal industries. Mr. Das has developed extensive knowledge of transnational corporations, NGOs and the institutional architecture of the global elite who wield power over the earth’s resources.

His academic background includes a ‘first’ first class honours in mathematics and a master of computer science with distinction.

Samarendra has co-produced films with his brother Amarendra, published books, and written over 200 papers in his mother tongue, Oriya. His work is both technical and artistic, covering, culture, identity, conflict and political economy.

His recent film with Amarendra, Sept, 2005, ‘Wira Pdika’ (Earth Worm: Company Man) is a feature-length campaign-documentary on the resistance of the Orissa Kondhs.

His most recent book, co-authored with Dr. Felix Padel, titled ‘Out of This Earth: East India Adivasis and The Aluminium Cartel ’, is to be published later this year by Orient Blackswan.

Samarendra was invited to Trinidad by La Brea Concerned Citizens United, Rights Action Group and Fishermen and Friends of the Sea. He spent several nights in La Brea where he held community workshops and screened his film 'Earth Worm Company Man'. Samarendra appeared on IETV's 'One on One' with Vernon Ramesar, on Power 102.1 Radio - the 'Power Drive' with Anil and Sprang, on 'The Morning Edition' (TV) with Andy Johnson. He also met with a cross-section of interested individuals and groups.

Samarendra also visited Maracas Falls, the pristine mineral rich streams of Ortinola, Acono and the Indian Caribbean Museum in 'Waterloo'.

We are all very grateful to have had Samarendra in Trinidad. We continue to ruminate on the richness of his presence and the valuable information that he shared.

Small Maths: What % of the current domestic demand for electricity will Alutrint consume? ( 5 marks)

240 MW Alutrint Phase I demand (to smelt 125,000 metric ton/year)
1180 MW (Total National electricity demand)
Residential Customers demand 28% of 1180 = 330.4 MW (info. sources: papers)

Answer: Alutrint's % of Domestic Demand = 240/330.4 x 100% = 72%

Conclusion: Alutrint Phase 1 will consume almost 3/4 of the total amount of electricity presently consumed by householders in the Republic.

Electricity rates have gone up twice this year.
All electricity is produced from burning natural gas.
Last year we had 12 years left of 'proven' natural gas reserves at existing demand rates.
We are awaiting this year's Scott Ryder Report update on remaining reserves.

What % of gas is liquified by Atlantic LNG and shipped away?
Alutrint intends to double the size of its smelter in a Phase II

Questions: How much more will householders have to pay for electricity when Alutrint comes on stream in 2012?
How many years less will electricity be available to households in Trinidad & Tobago if Phase I is built? If Phase II is built?

$TT 100 for the answer to the last question. Trini awake and do yuh sums!

Update on Smelta Wars 18th September, 2009

Local Newspapers reported that on September 11th, workers on the controversial 760 MW power plant (Trinidad Generation Unlimited) being built on Union Industrial Estate to supply power to the equally controversial Alutrint smelter were locked out by management. The power plant is being built by E Pihl & Sons, (pihl) a Danish company. The job was subcontracted to them by MAN FERROSTAAL (MF), a German Company. MF's majority shareholder is the Government of Abu Dabai.

Locked out workers have pitched two tents outside the entrance to Union Industrial Estate. On the other side of the road is the anti-smelter camp. Earlier in the week, pihl warned workers against illegal industrial action. Workers are demanding better working conditions - including health and safety. According to one worker "within the past two weeks, four people have suffered injuries on the job. The company is saying that what we are doing is illegal, but as long as it is over health and safety issues, we are within our rights to strike,"

There is also concern over National Insurance deductions on their payslips. "We are supposed to be paying $134 a fortnight, but we are paying up to $400 a fortnight,". Workers are also claiming that they are not being paid properly for overtime.

Pihl had warned workers against illegal industrial action, stating that any breach of contract would "result in dismissal". One worker claimed "the project manager said he does not have to listen to our problems". Newspapers reported that pihl's Project Manager, Hansen, could not be reached by the press for comment.

Chinese workers on the adjacent Alutrint smelter were supposed to have downed tools since the June 16th Judgment when the High Court "quashed" Alutrint's Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) issued by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA). Chinese workers have expressed frustration to local anti-smelter protestors camped out side.

Over this last week Alutrint has spent a fortune in 'Public-State' funds on public relations, seeking to convince the national population that their smelter poses no health risks (they remain mum on its economic viability). Harriet May-Phillips, (of 'SENES' a Canadian based consulting firm) and author of the very controversial Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment (HEERA) which formed part of Alutrint's CEC submissions has been on the radio (several stations) every day this week. Alutrint is planning a big fete in La Brea this weekend for the 'community' where rum will flow, noise will make, flags will wave and no doubt many a young man will stumble home in a drunken stupor.

For the record, the EMA hired Jaques Whitford (a consulting firm also from Canada) to perform a supposedly 'independent' review of the HEERA prepared by SENES. Had the EMA bothered to look, they would have found that SENES and JW have a history of close collaboration with each other.

Concerned citizens of Trinidad and Tobago do not accept that JW can with impartiality and neutrality, professionally review the work of of SENES. The internet makes for interesting reading on a paper mill in Canada where these two companies were involved in reviewing each others work.

In any event, the EMA remains at fault for fragmenting and "staggering" the CECs for the smelter, power plant and port facilities. These are essential components of Alutrint's Smelter Complex. An integrated Environmental Impact Assessment should have been carried out for this infrastructure. We the People of Trinidad & Tobago are left with the vexing situation of a 'quashed smelter', a 'striking power plant' and a port still under construction. What a mess! Undeterred however, the 'State' continues to say 'smelta coming'. We are on-the-ground 'playing for change'.

A Release from the other Side (published in T&T Guardian 17th September, 2009)

Alutrint official: "Aluminium smelters no cause of cancer"
by Dixie Ann Dixon

Acting chief executive officer of Alutrint Phillip Julien says it is a myth that aluminium smelters can cause cancer. Julien made the statement at the launch of the brochure entitled the Aluminium Industry in T&T, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port-of-Spain, yesterday.

“The issue of human health in regards to aluminium smelter all around the world has never been an issue...The greatest myth out there is the issue of cancer,” he said. He added that there had never been any reported cases of incidences of cancer.

Julien noted that the recent report of cancer and other health issues arising from a smelter plant in China was due to lead smelting and not aluminium smelting. He said the whole issue of cancer arose in certain areas of the workplace (aluminium plant) like working very closely with the anode—(part of the process in making the aluminium). Julien said the anodes were made of pitch and the pitch gave off something called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which was a potential cancer-causing agent.

Aluminium ProductsAluminium is a silvery-white, supple lightweight metal with appearances ranging from silvery to dull grey. It is a non-magnetic, non-sparking and is easily recognised by the symbol Al.The chief source of aluminium is bauxite ore which is processed by aluminium refineries into alumina. Some products made from aluminium include cellphones, aircraft, pots, roofs, CDs, power lines, cars, wheels, the lining of milk cartons and foil.

Phillip Julien is CEO of Alutrint.

Community TRUTHS vs Alutrint LIE

Alutrint LIE
“The Medical Monitoring Plan (MMP) was volunteered as a best practice and proactive show of concern for the community. Aluminium smelting does not demand any special health monitoring for the surrounding community” (Alutrint Media propoganda)

TRUTHS
1. The World Bank in April 2007 revised their Environmental, Health and Safety guidelines for Smelting. Workers as well as Community Residents HAVE to be monitored. Alutrint's Medical Monitoring Plan recommends some 4,080 residents living within 2 km of the proposed smelter be tested every two years for cancer. Non-administrative workers are to be tested every six months. Alutrint has never mentioned these recommendations to the some 10,000 people living within 4km.

2. OSH ACT 2004 states that periodic medical testing is required in areas where there are HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.

3.”The OBJECTIVE of the MMP is to identify health effects at an early and potentially reversible stage”. (Quote from Alutrint's Medical Monitoring Plan).

CAN YOU REVERSE CANCER?
DON’T BE FOOLED AGAIN.

labreacitizensunited@gmail.com

Resolution at Symposium on 'Economics of Alutrint' at St. Mary's College 12th September, 09

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS:

We are in a position where our proven gas reserves are declining;
We do not have the higher order factors to develop the downstream industries related to the smelter;

We need to prioritise the use of incomes from energy to uses other than those, like the Aluminum Smelter project, whose viability is very much in doubt;

And having recognised,
The large carbon emission and the related health risk to our society, in particular to the 4080 residents who live in a radius of 2km from the proposed smelter and the cost of monitoring those most at risk;

The demise of a quality human existence in the neighbouring communities;
The environmental and ecological losses;

That there is no basic information on the actual returns to the country, financial or otherwise;

BE IT RESOVED THAT:
The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago release immediately to the people of TT the rationale for the Aluminum Smelter, including detailed costs of natural gas and other inputs and expected revenues over the next 20 years and, in the event that this information is not forthcoming, that the GORTT suspend with immediate effect the Aluminum Smelter project.
Symposium Panelists: Ms Mary King, Mr Reg Potter, Mr Makesi Jones
Symposium Chairperson: Professor Patrick Watson

10th July, 2009, the day Manning came to turn sod at Alutrint's Power Plant on Union Industrial Estate

Photos from 'One Voice' Rally 7th July, 2009 at Skinner Park La Brea Concerned Citizens United came out

IMPORTANT EVENT

Symposium

The Economics of Alutrint

St Mary's College

Pembroke St Entrance

Saturday 12th September 2009

9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Chair: Professor Patrick Watson

Contributions: Ms Mary King, Professor Dennis Pantin,

Mr Reg Potter

and others

For all officials in the energy industry, state officials,

students, media, members of the public

LUNCH PROVIDED

Alutrint's self-imagery - an illusion, virtual reality, possible in cyber space

Computer imagery found on Alutrint's non-functioning website is alien to the on-the-ground truth of destruction. The virtual river is supposed to represent what was once Vessigny River (see below aerial photo). After clearing almost 1000 acres of topsoil nothing could be grown. The "Buffer Zone Management Plant" failed because the trees planted by Eden Shand's 'Tropical Re-Leaf Foundation' had nothing to grow in.

Alutrint's 40% Joint Venture Partner is a Paper Company

Renda Butler

Sural (Barbados) Limited was incorporated by Barbados Attorney Stephen A. Lashley on 16th August, 2006 (Company No. 27588) as an "International Business" under the International Business Companies Act, 1991-24".

The address provided for Sural (Barbados) is that of the registering Attorney, "Sherwood", Strathclyde Crescent, St. Michael, Barbados. There are two appointed Directors with the following 'residential' addresses: Alfredo Riviere Villamizar, President Grupo Sural CA of Calle el Lindero, Cerro Verde, Caracas, Venezuela and Renda Butler of Loefling Plaza, Apartment 15B, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela.

On the day that Alutrint received a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) from the Environmental Management Authority (2nd April, 2007) Renda Butler was the CEO of Alutrint. [Alutrint's current CEO (acting) is Phillip Julien, son of T&T's "energy czar" Ken Julien].

It was Butler's letter dated 28th March, 2007, to the EMA, which had attempted to address stakeholder concerns over 'cumulative impacts' of the port, power plant and smelter complex. A month earlier, on February 27th 2007, in an interview with Trinidad Express, Butler had claimed "that the company has been in the forefront of raising the bar in environmental and social stewardship for new industrialization".

It was the EMA's acceptance of Butler's "raised bar" and failure to take a "hard look" at the cumulative impacts of the port, power plant and smelter complex on human and environmental health, which led Justice Dean Amorer to rule that their decision to award a CEC to Alutrint was "procedurally irregular, irrational and made without regard to relevant consideration".

Creation of Union Industrial Estate (picture taken 2005)

This picture was taken before any construction started. The green strip running through cleared area on the right was Vessigny River. All trees have since been removed. The River is gone. West of the cleared site run-off follows what was once Vessigny River's path to the sea - now a mud bowl.

The power plant presently under construction, lies to the south of the 'green strip'. The proposed smelter lies to the north. The cleared land south-west is currently being used to coat gas pipes (it is rumoured these pipes will bring gas to Cove Industrial Estate in Tobago).

Cloud covers proposed port location on coast north-west of 'green strip'. Total cleared area is about 1000 acres which once included secondary forest, three dams, hunting, fishing, recreation and agricultural areas, as well as abandoned Petrotrin oil wells.

Stop Tax payer Financed Propaganda by State Corporations Start Dialogue on Alternative Industries

29th July, 2009

Alutrint and the National Energy Corporation’s (NEC) advertisement in the Express on Tuesday 28th July, in response to an article by Andy Johnson which appeared on 23rd July, titled “Alutrint on Trial”, can only be described as "tax payer financed propaganda".

All propaganda avoids truth and fact. To demonstrate this and in direct reference to Alutrint/NEC’s full page colour advertisement, we quote from the written “offer” dated 16th December, 2008, from ROW Services (retained by NEC to manage the relocation of residents within the buffer zone of the proposed Alutrint aluminium smelter) to residents of Square Deal as follows:

“NEC wishes to advise that though issues surrounding your compensation/relocation and the terms and conditions of your title…are yet to be finalized…we are pleased to offer you one (1) of the houses at the Pier Road site…Please note that this offer is valid only for five (5) days. The NEC reserves the right to rescind this offer for any reason. Please also note that all information regarding the terms and other matters contained in this letter shall be confidential and shall not in any manner be disclosed or otherwise divulged by you to any third party, person, firm, company or organization. We look forward to your prompt cooperation” (their emphasis).

This letter contradicts the stipulated ‘negotiated relocation’ of buffer zone residents. All families relocated so far have no legal title to the houses they occupy nor are their names on the water and utility bills. This is causing growing anxiety and has effectively silenced any housing complaints or opposition to the smelter from those already relocated.

One recipient of ROW’s letter, a Mr. Cornwall (named in Alutrint/NEC’s advertisement) responded the following day, as President, and on behalf of the Square Deal Development Committee, by writing to the NEC and Environmental Management Authority (EMA) “…we are not happy with the way things are going with relocation…it appears the NEC wants to bully us without understanding our concerns and issues…the request that the letter be kept confidential is also very worrisome…we are confused as to who is responsible for relocation”.

The traumatic conditions under which Mr. Cornwall accepted forced relocation into NEC’s new home for him has resulted in him becoming isolated from the community he left behind. This letter is a sample of NEC’s raw deal tactics for Square Deal residents. The EMA did not bother to get involved.

The NEC/Alutrint tax payer financed propaganda conveniently omits that the NEC shamefully lied to the surrounding communities in 2004 when it claimed to be bringing equipment to cap wells when NEC was about to began fast-track bulldozing of 900 acres of forest to make way for Union Industrial Estate. All forms of wildlife were slaughtered with impunity.
The NEC got permission for this destruction of community assets from the EMA. They were allowed to clear that land BEFORE applying to the EMA for permission to USE that land for aluminium smelting! This vulgar show of force against our defenseless communities by state corporations has not been forgotten by ‘bona fide’ residents. How can we now trust them now with the health of our families?

The NEC/Alutrint tax payer financed propaganda advertisement conveniently omits that in August and September2005, buried in the Annexes of the Social Impact Assessment and NEVER disclosed publicly in any of the so called “consultations” held by NEC, are notes on three separate meetings, with the Institute of Marine Affairs, the Forestry Division and the Fisheries Division, where a consultant hired by NEC stated clearly that Vessigny Beach would be “restricted for security reasons” including “a 5 km radius from the port and 1km off the turning basin” and “access to the Vessigny Beach would eventually be cut off and that the extension of the Brighton Port would most likely result in the loss of other nearby beaches”.

A representative of the forestry division present at one of these meetings said “Trinidad is a beach bathing country and that government taking this away from the people could cause them to become bitter”. The consultant conducting the meetings replied “this has already taken place”. No mention is made of “UAN plants”. The Brighton Port is presently under construction.

Alutrint/NEC’s advertisement claims that they will “continue to maintain direct contact with ‘bona fide’ residents in the ‘project affected communities’ to listen to their concerns and to assist them in their efforts to improve their livelihoods and standards of living”.

Alutrint/NEC’s claims of “direct contact” and “listening to bona fide residents” somehow prevented them and the EMA, from disclosing the February 2008 ‘Alutrint Aluminium Complex Medical Monitoring Plan’ which identifies 4,070 residents living within 2 km of the Buffer Zone to be tested routinely for cancer. Quoting from this Plan “Potential primary disease indications usually associated with aluminium smelters with pre-bake technology include: Industrial Asthma, Chronic pulmonary disease, Pulmonary Fibrosis and Lung and Bladder Cancer”.

It is therefore impossible for La Brea residents to interpret Alutrint/ NEC’s behavior to be a “commitment to Building the Community, Building the Nation”. We are fed up with the propaganda.

La Brea Concerned Citizens United comprises ‘bona fide’ residents of La Brea. We have developed an outline plan to restore a portion of Union Industrial Estate (UIE) and to introduce alternative industries there, ones that would not compromise the health of the some 9,000 residents that live within 4 km of the UIE.

Alutrint’s “trial” is over. The ‘project affected communities’ of Vance River, Vessigny, Union and Sobo have found them guilty of catastrophic planning, wanton destruction of the environment, deceit, community contempt, concealment of truth and conspiracy to cause further damage.
The economic neglect of La Brea over the last 30 years may have shrunk our pockets but it has not dulled our intellect nor destroyed our dignity. We say end the propaganda. Start meaningful dialogue with us towards community driven alternative industrial development.

La Brea Concerned Citizens United

SOLIDARITY STATEMENT FROM TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO ON DAY OF GLOBAL ACTION TO STOP VEDANTA MINING BAUXITE IN ORISSA INDIA

17th July, 2009, Union Village, La Brea

We the La Brea Concerned Citizens United are actively engaged in a struggle against the introduction of Alutrint - a 125,000 MT/year State owned aluminium smelter, into our communities in South West Trinidad & Tobago. This smelter is being financed and built by the Chinese government at an estimated cost of $US 1.3B.

A fragmented, flawed and deceptive approvals process began more than five years ago to make way for Alutrint to gain permission to commence construction. Permission was granted on 2nd April, 2007. However, in June 2009, in a land mark decision, we were successful in halting construction when our high courts ruled through a ‘judicial review’ process, that the decision by our Environmental Management Authority (EMA) to grant approval to Alutrint, when considering disposal of hazardous wastes and cumulative impacts, was: “outrageous…irrational…procedurally irregular…and shrouded in secrecy”. The appeals process begins next month. Irrespective of outcome, the case will end up in the London based Privy Council.

Some 10,000 persons live within 2.5 miles of the proposed smelter. Already 1000 acres of our most valuable forests, animals and freshwater dams are destroyed. This was carried out in 2004 without our knowledge or consent. Since then we have been living next to a dust bowl. Our river is now a mud hole. Recently, medical monitoring documents concealed by Alutrint and the EMA were brought to our communities which show they plan to test some 4000 residents who live within a mile of the proposed smelter for cancer every two years. Workers on the smelter are to be tested every 6 months.

Our government declares aliminium and steel smelting in our small island to be “sustainable development”. Recent attempts by Essar Steel in collusion with our Government, to destroy the Claxton Bay mangoves in the mid-West of our island were met with great resistance by local fishermen, farmers and residents. Unfortunately some 500 acres of prime agricultural lands were clear cut for Essar before they decided to withdraw.

Trinidad & Tobago has natural gas which is fast being depleted. We have about twelve years left at present extraction rates. Foreign demand comes first. The State has no inclination towards future energy security far less concern for global warming and consequent breakdown of climate. Our struggle to make our people conscious of the imperative to recover and wisely use sovereign gas assets continues.

The La Brea Concerns Citizens United have been receiving information on the battles over bauxite mining in the Mountains of Khondistan in south Orissa and north Andhra Pradesh. We understand that the people who inhabit the Niyamgiri range, the most densely forested of these mountains, are in the midst of a life or death battle. We recognize and deeply respect the spiritual and material value of the Khondistan Mountains to their people and the profound value to them of keeping these mountains intact and productive for generations to come. We strongly oppose ‘Vedanta’ destroying them to capture alumina.

We wish to note the absurdity of Vedanta’s claims to a “greenfield aluminium refinery” and the vulgar abuse of the meaning of the word “Vedanta”, to name a company responsible for ending the spiritual and material experience of the indigenous peoples of Orissa.

The La Brea Concerned Citizens United of South-West Trinidad in the Caribbean and the Dongria Konds of the Niyamgiri Range of Orissa, India, despite our differences, share a common enemy - greed and short-sightedness of our leaders.

Today, on this 27th July, 2009, we wish to declare our solidarity with you on your Day of Global Action against ‘Vedanta Aluminium Limited’, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources PLC, which is responsible for catastrophic actions against the material nature and spiritual values of the people of Orissa.

Great is the solidarity of collective humanity. May it always prevail!

FFOS calls on Prime Minister for Smelter Referendum

Dear Editor,

Alutrint is a $9,000 Million(9B) loan before cost overruns, that remains unexamined in terms of its economic feasibility, or in terms of a "cost - benefit" analysis despite calls for transparency by several sectors of our country. Have we not learnt from 1978 when Eric Williams ominously announced 3 Plipdeco pioneer industries, including the Iron ans Steel Company of Trinidad & Tobago, which cost us three devaluations, and 20B in losses by the end of the 1980's, and which were sold for one twentieth of what they cost this treasury? The architects are the same this time. But does it matter whether Alutrint will make money to buy private jets, high rises and 3M of the worlds most expensive curtains for the PM if there is a cancer risk to the innocent?

Contrary to the reported statements made by the Right Honourable PM that the "modern industrial state... presents no un-manageable threat either to the environment or the health of the population", there is a sense that Mr. Manning is deliberately misleading the population since according to the unedited Medical Monitoring Report produced by the Caribbean Health Research Council for Alutrint, " there is no certainty that the Pre Baked (Chinese) technology, will not cause cancer".

The Medical Monitoring Report for Alutrint is specific that thousands of workers and residents will need to be checked for degenerative diseases such as cancer, including blood tests and chest x-rays: bi-annually for non administrative workers, and annually and every other year for the 4100 stranded residents. Several powerful issues arise, such as whether these residents are entitled to a right to life as enshrined in our Constitution.

Will the Ministry of Health pay "collateral damage" compensation to parents with dying children, and shut down the scheme if there is a cancer outbreak? Or will the Government escape liability and hide the statistics?

Matters are worsened since the EMA have a reputation of orphaning affected communities, and La Brea knows how the Point Fortin communities downwind of Atlantic LNG have never had any independent EMA investigation/compensation into the Ministry of Health’s Statistics of a 534% spiked increase in Asthma after the establishment of Train II, which was the main subject of the FFOS Vs EMA/ALNG Train IV Judicial Review of the EMA's approval of Train IV.

Does Mr. Manning have the moral authority to endanger vulnerable communities and threaten their lives?

If Mr. Manning’s Alutrint has the nation’s support as he openly boasts, then surely he will rise to our call for a Referendum on "the experimental uncertain risks of Chinese technology smelting La Brea and of turning La Breains into experimental Lab Rats".

Instead of bullying frightened and neglected citizens as he hides cowardly behind tinted glass and machine gun riot police, Patrick Manning must face the truth and call a referendum.

Gary Aboud
Secretary
Fishermen and Friends of the Sea

Minister of Housing Asks Buffer Zone Residents to Voluntarily Apply for Houses

The Junior Minister of Housing, Ms. Tina Gronlund-Nunez, held a meeting yesterday together with MP Fitzgerald Jeffery in La Brea and told residents of the Alutrint “buffer zone” that because of the court decision she cannot discuss relocation but that she wanted all residents to know that the HDC has houses available and that they can “voluntarily” apply to the HDC to get houses that are available. This came on the heels of telling residents that they had lost their chance of getting a house because of the people who are opposing the construction of the smelter complex.

One of the major requirements for the progress of the Alutrint Smelter is the relocation of all residents living within 100 m of the plant site known as the “buffer zone”. The now quashed CEC that was granted to the EMA required that all negotiations and acquisitions of property be settled before ANY works commenced on the site. This did not happen before Alutrint started pile testing and other works on the site, a matter that has been repeatedly emphasized in local protests.

The EMA acting together with Alutrint has recently appealed the court case and has asked for the appeal to be heard as soon as possible. The Government clearly intends to build the smelter and if this intention remains then its necessity to relocate residents must also remain, as the smelter cannot be operated without the relocation requirements being met. Thus is it puzzling that the Minister of Housing would visit the community and make buffer zone residents feel that they have now lost out on relocation.

The La Brea Concerned Citizens United had expressed in a press release to the media since early June that citizens protests were not only against the smelter for health concerns but also for the fair relocation and compensation of buffer zone residents, many of whom have been severely affected for some time by all the works Union Industrial Estate. The Minister appeared to be attempting to divide the community by making buffer zone residents feel that they are being disadvantaged through the rejection of the smelter by residents of the “beltline”, who live within 2km of the smelter and have to be tested for cancer and other diseases.

The La Brea Concerned Citizens coordinating group did not officially attend the meeting, which was attended by some 16 residents of the area. We had requested an invitation and agenda in writing. However, the MP said he was unable to provide a written agenda or a written invitation. We find this practice nontransparent. Thus the current representatives on the coordinating group decided not to engage in such a forum. We are, however disappointed that the meeting turned out to be an attempt by Mr. Fitzgerald to herd the community further towards accepting the smelter rather than using the opportunity listen to residents' concerns about the smelter.

When Mr. Elijah Gour, in his capacity as President of the Union Village Council, raised the facts on the health effects of modern smelters as stated in Alutrint’s own Medical Monitoring Plan he was cut off and the meeting was brought to a close. The MP for the area circulated a document at the meeting, which among other things, quotes from the Prime Minister’s speeches to assure residents that there were no health risks to the smelter. It does not address the factual material contained in the Medical Monitoring Plan prepared for Alutrint by the Caribbean Health Research Council and International Institute for Healthcare and Human Development.

We are in agreement with the Govermnment’s objective of development, however, we will like to take it one step further; SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. Employment, educational enhancement and economic growth are all desirous but NOT at the expense of our health, our community, our environment, our natural resources and most importantly, our children's future.

Smelter appeal to be heard in September (T&T Guardian Newspaper, 14/07/09)

by Francis Joseph

The appeal against the construction of the aluminium smelter plant at La Brea has been deemed urgent and will be heard sometime in September. Madame Justice Alice Yorke-Soo Hon, presiding in the Court of Appeal, also ordered that the Attorney General be made a party to the appeal. On June 16, Madame Justice Mira Dean-Armorer, presiding in the Port-of-Spain High Court, granted an order of certiorari, quashing the decision of the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to issue a certificate of environmental clearance on April 2, 2007, to Alutrint, the developer.

Dean-Armorer said, “It is my view that the decision of the defendant, EMA, was procedurally irregular, irrational, and made without regard to the relevant consideration, that is to say, the consideration of the cumulative impact of the three related projects—the power plant, the aluminium complex, and the port facility.” Dean-Armorer remitted the matter to the EMA for consideration, meaning that the EMA must go over the entire process for the construction of the smelter plant. The case was filed by three public interest groups, People United Respecting the Environment (Pure), Rights Action Group (RAG) and the Smelter Karavan.

But the EMA did not appeal against the three groups. The EMA appealed against PURE, although lawyers for the three groups appeared at the Court of Appeal yesterday. PURE was represented by Marina Narinesingh. The first application was for the Attorney General to become a party to the appeal, although the AG asked that he would not be liable for costs at the end of the matter. Representing the AG were Russell Martineau SC and Stuart Young. Alutrint, which was represented by Deborah Peake SC and Kerwyn Garcia, sought and was granted a stay of the payment of costs. Ian Benjamin represented EMA.

There was no application to stay the judgment of Dean-Armorer. The EMA asked that the appeal be deemed urgent. Soo Hon agreed that the appeal be deemed urgent, and that the appeal be expedited and be fixed on a date in September. The 2008-2009 law terms ends on July 31 and the new law term will open on September 21 with the ceremonial parade.

Brief on Smelta Wars Trinidad & Tobago (1st July, 2009)

On June 16th 2009, in the High Court of Justice, Port-of-Spain, Justice Mira Dean-Armorer ruled that the decision on 2nd April, 2007, by the State’s Environmental Management Authority (EMA), to grant a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) to Alutrint Limited, a State Corporation, to construct a 125,000 metric ton per year aluminium smelter was, with respect to handling of hazardous wastes and cumulative human health and environmental impacts, outrageous”…“irrational”…”shrouded in secrecy”… and… “procedurally irregular”. The CEC was duly “quashed”.

Justice Dean-Armorer ruled on one of the three separately filed but jointly heard applications for leave for judicial review of the EMA’s decision to grant Alutrint a CEC. Hearings had taken place in November and December 2008. The Judicial Review applied only to the decision making process used by the EMA and not whether an aluminium smelter was a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ form of development for T&T.

Present for the ruling were the ‘who’s who’ of T&T’s legal profession - the handsomely paid attorneys who had represented the EMA, Alutrint, the Attorney General’s Office and the pro bono attorneys representing the claimants – disadvantaged individuals, community based organizations and environmental NGOs. The courtroom was packed, mostly with residents of the communities surrounding Union Industrial Estate, the proposed location for Alutrint’s smelter in South West Trinidad. A request for a stay of judgment pending appeal by the defendant was denied.

Outside there was jubilation. The Judiciary of T&T had demonstrated independence. In the days leading up to the judgment Alutrint had placed four page colour advertisements in the local newspapers extolling the benefits of their smelter. In downtown Port-of-Spain’s Woodford Square, on June16th, just prior to the reading of the judgment, some 80 residents of Sobo, Vessigny, Square Deal, Vance River and Union Villages - located within 2 Kilometers of the proposed smelter - carried out a ritual burning of the environmental reports and assessments submitted by Alutrint to gain permission from the EMA. Some 4,100 persons live in these villages. An additional 5,000 persons live within a 4 Kilometer radius.

But jubilation was short-lived. Two days later, when asked by the press if the ruling would result in stopping smelter construction, Prime Minister Patrick Manning answered “no” six times. The Ministers of Energy and of Planning, Housing and Environment similarly insisted that despite the ruling "the project was being established in the best interest of the people of the country and will come to fruition in due course".

Aluminium smelters have been at the helm of Manning’s heavy gas based industrialization agenda to achieve developed country status by year 2020. Smelters are intensive energy consumers and T&T has gas. Manning’s planned industrial agenda will require a doubling of existing electrical power production.

Construction of the Alutrint smelter began in late 2008. Some 200 plus Chinese nationals may have temporarily paused work on Alutrint due to the judgment, and while Manning contemplates his next move. However, works on the related 720 mega watt smelter power plant, port facilities, harbour dredging and gas supply lines continue. Permission for this related infrastructure was sought and granted separately by the EMA. The fragmented approvals process designed by the EMA prevented cumulative health and environmental impacts from being properly assessed and thwarts the consequence of the judgment.

On Easter weekend 2004, the National Energy Corporation (NEC) “ambushed” the local community and began clearing 800 acres of forest under the guise of drilling a new oil well. The forested area provided recreation – hunting, fishing, farming and animal husbandry. It contained three dams where locals fished, swam and had ‘cook ups’. For locals it was “Eden”. For the NEC it was a “brownfield” site containing abandoned and capped oil wells.

Permission to clear the land to make way for Union Industrial Estate was obtained through an Environmental Impact Assessment prepared by the Institute of Marine Affairs (a state organization) and approved by the EMA. The forest was clear cut prior to the processing of applications by potential industrial tenants including Alutrint. This gave the impression that construction of the smelter was a foregone conclusion. Health risks from future industrial pollution were to be managed by new technologies. Jobs were promised. Everyone would benefit.

But things changed. Surrounding communities, although economically neglected for three decades and keen for new jobs, are increasingly aware of the smelter’s health risks. Five years of dry season dust blowing off 800 acres coupled with more recent construction noise and vibrations is causing widespread bitterness. Word got out that negotiations for relocation of all households within Alutrint’s ‘buffer zone’ - a 300 foot radius from the smelter - were to have been concluded prior to commencement of construction. Global aluminium prices have collapsed. Sural, a Venezuelan private ‘downstream industry’ company with 40% equity in Alutrint pulled out of the partnership. T&T’s proven gas reserves are less than 13 years at existing extraction rates. Repeated requests to government to provide a cost benefit analysis for Alutrint continue to fall on deaf ears. The Chinese government is providing 100% financing, labour and equipment. This means no local jobs or service opportunities.

In February 2008, a Medical Monitoring Report for Alutrint’s operations was prepared by the Caribbean Health Research Council and the International Institute for Healthcare and Human Development. The Report acknowledged the significant human health risks associated with aluminium smelters and proposed x-rays and cancer testing every 6 months for workers and similar testing for the 4,070 residents within a 2 Kilometer radius of the plant. This information remained concealed from the communities by the EMA and Alutrint and only came to light when concerned citizens shared it a few weeks ago.

Also concealed was the intended closure of Vessigny Beach, the last remaining major recreational asset for miles, once the Industrial Estate becomes operational. Polls show repeatedly that citizens of T&T are overwhelmingly opposed to aluminium smelters for a variety of reasons. There is a fight going on right now between local residents unwilling to be tested like “laboratory rats” for cancer and a government committed to an agreement to supply cheap gas to Alutrint to produce aluminium metal to repay the loan from the Chinese government for supplying and constructing the smelter.

On July 1st, after commenting on the need for a Caribbean Court of Justice to be the final appellate court for Trinidad & Tobago, and in response to a question on what would happen if the appeal process of the Alutrint judgment reached the Privy Council, Prime Minister Manning admitted that the London based court “might rule in favour of environmental preservation rather than sustainable development”, stating that “the UK is a developed society with standards that are relevant to them but not relevant to us”.

The appeal process may not be appetizing for the Prime Minister. Technocrats in Alutrint and the EMA are probably already working on a draft terms of reference to kick-start a brand new process for Alutrint to gain environmental clearance.

In any event, a younger generation has defined aluminium smelting in T&T to be “anti-sustainable development”. A line is clearly drawn in the sand. The writing is on the horizon, the winds of change are gathering across blue Caribbean Seas.

EMA Appeals Judgement (reported Guardian Newspaper 8th July, 2009)

The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) has appealed the judgment of Justice Mira Dean-Armorer, which quashed the decision to grant a certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) to Alutrint for construction of an aluminium smelter in La Brea.

The notice was filed on Monday against the June 15 judgment. A release issued yesterday by the EMA said, “The EMA through a notice filed on July 6, has appealed against the decision by the EMA to grant a CEC to Alutrint for construction of an aluminium smelter in La Brea.”

The EMA said it was acting independently on behalf of the public by “balancing environmental considerations with economic ones.” It defended its decision to “grant the CEC after thorough and qualified review over a period of more than two years, involving consultation with the public.”

The EMA further stated that it was satisfied it had discharged its statutory duties, took appropriate precautionary measures to prevent serious and irreversible damage to the environment, “and the learned judge erred in reaching her conclusions.”

EMA's Website Misleading

Under the caption “EMA Responds to ALUTRINT Judicial Review” posted on EMA’s website, the EMA attempts damage control and outright deception in describing the outcome of the judgment against them for granting a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) to Alutrint to construct an aluminium complex at Union, a Brea.

One would not know from the EMA’s posting that on June 16, 2009, in the High Court in POS, Trinidad, Justice Mira Dean-Armorer used the terms “outrageous”, “irrational”, “procedurally irregular” and illegal manner” when describing the EMA's actions in granting a CEC for work to start on the construction of the Alutrint smelter plant at La Brea.

With regard to the ruling, the EMA merely states “the court has issued its ruling and the EMA’s legal team is reviewing the judgment in detail”. The EMA continues by claiming that “stakeholder concern was pivotal in this matter and validates the essential democratic nature of the process”. This could not be further from the truth.

In respect of disposal of the toxic waste residue from the smelter - the spent pot liner - the judge ruled that “it was outrageous of the decision made (by the EMA) to leave such issues unresolved before the CEC was granted”. Justice Armorer found that “a reasonable decision maker would have insisted that the information sought would have been settled before the CEC was granted…as long as the CEC is granted the door is forever shut to the public input”.

Furthermore, with regards to ‘cumulative impacts’ - the potentially harmful impacts - of the smelter, the port infrastructure and the power plant acting together - on human and environmental health, Justice Armorer ruled that in her view “there was no evidence transparent or otherwise" to prove the EMA took a "hard look" at the cumulative impact of the three parts of the project”. Justice Armorer continued “for no apparent reason the March 28th report (on cumulative impacts submitted by Alutrint) was shrouded in secrecy. Not only did it escape the Administrative Record, it was never placed on the National Register. It seems that it is no answer to say that the EMA had no time to place it (the report) in the public domain”.

The EMA’s website claims that stakeholder concerns were “pivotal” and that the process was essentially of a “democratic nature” are delusional and deceptive.

The EMA goes further to claim the “EMA has performed well in its attempt to achieve “balance between the economic factors and environmental factors in achieving the goal of sustainable development”. But this patently untrue because the EMA at no time required Alutrint to provide any evidence of “economic factors” in consideration of their application to construct a smelter. This in itself is an indictment of the CEC process as it is customary (in developed countries mind you) for development applications of this nature to provide a ‘cost-benefit’ analysis of the intended development. Had the EMA required this they might have been able to claim that they were seeking to determine if a balance between economic and environmental factors was at all possible with the introduction of an aluminium smelter into Union, La Brea.

The EMA is again deceptive in claiming that the CEC process was “a viable mechanism that provided a sufficient level of detail for the EMA and the public to understand the potential impact of the development”. In fact the EMA granted the CEC knowing full well that the smelter complex would require closing Vessigny Beach, a fact discussed during conversations between Alutrint’s consultants and three government agencies, the Institute of Marine Affairs, the Fisheries Division and the Forestry Division and noted in the Annex of the Social Impact component of the Environmental Impact Assessment. At no time did Alutrint or the EMA ever make this fact known to the public – for the obvious reason that Vessigny Beach is a cherished public recreational asset and closure would have soured local opinion on the smelter and raised concerns about health and well being.

EMA’s collusion with Alutrint continued after the CEC was awarded. Alutrint was allowed to commence construction works before the relocation of all households in the buffer zone was complete. When the Medical Monitoring Report, required as a conditionality of the CEC, was submitted to the EMA in February 2008, they never mentioned it to the public far less the ‘beltline residents’, the some 5,000 persons living within 2 Km of the proposed location for the smelter, the ones who the Report recommends need to be tested for cancer every two years.

The EMA’s callousness towards poor communities was well demonstrated when they allowed the NEC to clear cut 800 acres to make way for the smelter in April 2004, without even considering the impacts of the proposed industrial activities. The children of Vessigny and Square Deal have been suffering with asthma for 5 years. No EMA personnel go down to hear their persistent coughing.

La Concerned Citizens United Respond to Comments by Prime Minister in Newsday on 1st July, 2009

Dear Editor, In your July 1 article “PM: Smelter Work Won’t Stop”, The Prime Minister’s statements about the High Court ruling on the Alutrint Smelter CEC is misleading in several regards.

The Prime Minister states that that the court had objected to the process under which the CEC was granted and not to the smelter plant itself. The article has the effect of giving the false impression that the Court case was about the merits of the smelter and that, having considered these merits, “the courts did not object to the smelter, the courts just said the process needed to be beefed up in a certain area” and that’s what they were “seeking to do now”. We wish to clarify for the public that the Court case was never about the merits of the smelter. It was about the process followed by the EMA in granting permission to Alutrint. In this regard the judge found that the EMA acted in a manner that was “procedurally irregular” and “irrational”.

The real significance of this judgment is not that the EMA needed to “beef up” its process. The significance is that the courts found that towards the end, the process had been corrupted. The EMA was found to have acted “irregularly” not only with respect to the law but also with respect to its own track record on handling the CEC case. In the end, the battery of high powered lawyers representing the EMA, Alutrint, and The Attorney General, failed to satisfy the court that the EMA did its job with regard to its purpose as an agency and the laws of our country.

The Court found that the EMA had been following procedures all along for about 18 months but suddenly around March of 2007 their process became “irregular”. The EMA failed to consider the environment and human health effects of the Spent Pot Liners which the experts had identified as the type of waste that posed the greatest threat of harm to human health. The judge considered this failure “outrageous” given the responsibility that our country has placed in the EMA’s hands. The judge then found that the report on the cumulative impact of components of the smelter complex: the power plant, port, and smelter was “shrouded in secrecy”. In addition, there was the most abnormal behavior of the EMA, which received the report on March 27, 2009 and without proper independent expert review or public review, issued the CEC to Alutrint a mere five days later on April 2, 2007 (a weekend included).

Given the findings of the Court on the conduct of the EMA, it is not surprising, that the Prime Minister has stated that the EMA “is moving as fast as possible” to get Alutrint back on track. The Prime Minister, and apparently the EMA, before considering the serious matters of human health that were neglected along with the public’s views on these matters, know the conclusion will be a grant of a CEC to Alutrint.

This serves to fortify our view that the EMA lacks both the integrity and intention to conduct an independent CEC process. Aside from its failure in the CEC process for Alutrint, the EMA has ignored our complaints for about four years about serious effects of activities of the Union Industrial Estate on the environment and our health. The EMA has allowed the NEC to violate the CEC it granted for the Union Industrial Estate. You just have to come to Sobo, Vessigny, and Square Deal to see how we are covered in dust, the sickness, and the destruction of the Vessigny River. The EMA has allowed Alutrint to violate its CEC with respect to commencing works before settling relocation of residents that fall within the buffer zone. This Agency has been nothing short of hostile and blatantly unconcerned about our communities and the environment.
The EMA, Alutrint, and the NEC would have to be taking God out of their thoughts to come back here to La Brea for the planned pretense of “beefing up” or conducting a new CEC process. La Brea Concerned Citizens United

RELOCATION LIES Fact Sheet distributed by La Brea Concerned Citizens United

DON’T BE FOOLED AGAIN – Illegal Operations, Trickery in
Relocation Exercises - FACT!

1. Alutrint is conducting works in its site in violation of the Certificate of Environmental Clearance it got from the EMA. The Section of the Certificate on ‘Resident Relocation and Resettlement’, says:

“All final negotiations for the acquisition of all properties and compensation shall be completed before the commencement of all works” (page 4, Section I, Certificate of Environmental Clearance).

This Resettlement only applies to residents within 100 metres (300 feet) of the Buffer Zone of the Smelter Complex. Alutrint has not settled the negotiations on relocation and acquired all properties but it has commenced works on the site driving test piles and compacting the soil draining out the water. Residents can hear this day and night and have to eat and breathe dust day and night.

CAN WE TRUST THE COMPANY THAT BREAKS THE LAW? IF THIS COMPANY WENT FOR A CERTIFICATE OF CHARACTER, LIKE THE ONES BEING ASKED OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE BEFORE THEY COULD BE CONSIDERED FOR JOBS, WOULD IT QUALIFY FOR ONE?

2. Alutrint Is Violating the Guidelines in its permit for relocating residents as well as what it says in its own Resident Relocation Plan. Alutrint’s own Resident Relocation Plan says that it is following the World Bank Guidelines, which means it should relocate people to equal or better conditions, they should not lose their livelihoods, and Alutrint should negotiate with the people.

Instead of negotiating, Alutrint, through its valuation company Row and NEC, has disrespected and bossed around the residents and tries to move them to place as far as Debe where they cannot keep their jobs in La Brea and put them in pre-fab houses that are inferior. Now it decided to put them in Hubertstown without talking to the residents.

The residents have requested a formal meeting that is documented and cannot get one. Alutrint does not want to meet the residents in public meetings it wants to pick us off one by one and meet “leaders” so that it can give them hands outs and breaks our strength. Why doesn’t Alutrint want to come into the light?

3. Alutrint is trying to make the public feel that they are going along fine with relocation. THEY ARE NOT! Alutrint had a ceremony to turn the sod at Hubertstown and it was attended mostly by URP workers that they brought in to fill up the place. None of the residents that were supposed to be relocated attended except for one who went to speak to them about our cause.

ALUTRINT WANTS THE REST IF TRINIDAD TO BELIEVE THAT LOCAL PEOPLE ARE ALL HAPPY WITH ALUTRINT AND IT IS ONLY A SAMLL GROUP THAT IS UNHAPPY. THIS IS HOW THEY ARE HOPING TO SNEAK THROUGH AND BULID THE SMELTER TO SMELT ALL OF US IN SOBO, VANCE RIVER, VESSIGNY AND UNION.
ARE WE GOING TO LET THEM GET AWAY WITH THEIR TRICKERY AGAIN?

4. Alutrint is trying to pass off responsibility for relocation as if it is NEC’s responsibility. IT is NOT! The NEC transferred the certificate of environmental clearance to Alutrint since the beginning of 2008.

Alutrint is legally and soley responsible for everything concerning the smelter whether it is hiring people to build it or settling relocation. So whether it is NEC doing the relocation, or ROW, or people from another planet, Alutrint is still responsible to the residents and is responsible for doing it in accordance with what is in the Plans and requirement of the Certificate of Environmental Clearance. It is not doing this and when the truth comes out it tries to blame the NEC. What kind of people do that sort of thing?

ALUTRINT HAS PROVEN THAT IT CANNOT BE TRUSTED.
DO YOU TRUST ALUTRINT WITH YOUR LIFE?

GET THE FACTS. STAND UP FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY.
COME OUT AND JOIN OTHER VILLAGERS TO STAND UP TOGETHER.
EITHER THE SMELTER GOES AND RESIDENTS GET REGULARISED OR WE ALL GET RELOCATED

For more information come out to Meetings
Together We Will !!!

LOSS OF VESSIGNY BEACH Fact Sheet distributed by La Brea Concerned Citizens United

DON’T BE FOOLED AGAIN – The Loss of Vessigny and other Beaches FACT!

Our MP, Mr Jefferys sent a flyer around saying that the beach would not be closed because of the ammonia nitrate plant is not being put down at Union.

1. Here is the fact TAKEN FROM Alutrint’s own documents:
In the Annexes of the Social Impact Assessment for the Aluminium Smelter Complex prepared by Foster Solutions for Sustainable Ecosystem Development Ltd are a series of discussions between Government Agencies where the following is recorded:

[29th August, 2005, with Fisheries Division, Ministry of Food Production, Land and Marine Resources and Consultants]: “Dr. Khan stated that access to the beach adjacent to the industries would be restricted for security reasons. The restricted regions would include a 5km radius from the port and 1km off turning basin... Dr. Khan asked the Fisheries Division if they thought they would be any benefits from the development of the estates... Ms. Forte responded “there are major social impacts such as the loss of the beach”
5km on either side of the Port includes Vessigny Beach , Union Beach, Vance River and some of Guapo Beach. Up the other way it includes from Station Beach all the way up to Point Sabble.

BACK IN 2005 WHEN THEY HELD THE SO CALLED CONSULTATIONS WITH US, THEY KNEW VESSIGNY BEACH WOULD HAVE TO BE CLOSED AND THEY NEVER TOLD US. HERE ARE THE FACTS:

[24th August, 2005, MEETING with Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA), NEC and Consultants]: “Dr. Rocke made reference to the destruction of the Clifton Hill Beach and asked if a similar occurrence should be expected at Vessigny Beach. Dr. Khan stated that access to the beach would be restricted and that NEC intends to develop a recreational site in the region”.
Dr. Khan asked the IMA if they though the Union Industrial Estate would be beneficial to the people of the region. They stated that “this would be at the cost of the loss of some of their sources of recreation, for instance the Vessigny Beach”.

[20th September, 2005, with Forestry Division, NEC and Consultants]: Dr. Khan stated...that they also intend to develop the Vessigny Dam to develop it into a recreational facility to compensate for the loss of the beach. Mr. Ramnarine inquired about any loss of beaches. Dr. Khan explained that access to the Vessigny Beach would eventually be cut off and that the extension of Brighton Port would most likely result in loss of the other nearby beach. Dr. Khan stated that it was NEC’s intention to upgrade the Vessigny Dam in order to compensate for these losses.

Mr Ramnarine said that Trinidad is a beach bathing country and that the government taking this away from the people could cause them to become bitter. Dr. Khan stated that this had already taken place.”

We got fooled then. Are we going to allow ourselves to be fooled again?
This smelter is not here because they care about us.
It is here because they do not care about us.

We lost our forest, our gardens, our bees, and our fruit trees. Many of our children are sick from dust and many of us are sick from dust. Many of our houses are cracking and breaking up from and they haven’t even started building the smelter!
We have to give up our beaches too!

Why are they hiding the truth about the beach? Could it be that they are waiting for the smelter to be built first thinking we would not be able to stop it then?

GET THE FACTS. STAND UP FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY.
COME OUT AND JOIN OTHER VILLAGERS TO STAND UP TOGETHER.
EITHER THE SMELTER GOES AND RESIDENTS GET REGULARISED OR WE ALL GET RELOCATED

For more information come out to Meetings
Together We Will !!!

HEALTH Fact Sheet distributed by La Brea Concerned Citizens United

DON’T BE FOOLED AGAIN – Alutrint Smelter and our Health FACT!

Now here is an important fact. Alutrint was legally required to make a Social Engagement and Implementation Plan (SEIP). In this plan it claims to have a programme to meet regularly with residents.

This plan says that MONTHLY Forums are to be held with the Village Councils and representatives from organisations. It says that “The primary objective ... is to provide regular updates on the Alutrint Project... to obtain feedback from community representatives. This will also facilitate a direct assessment of any environmental and or socio-economic conflicts concerning the proposed project” (page 7 of the SEIP).

The SEIP says that “Public meetings will be held every quarter. These meetings will be publicised via a roving public address system throughout the project affected communities and advertisements in the daily newspapers” (page 10 of the SEIP).

Alutrint has known that we have to be tested for Cancer over one year now – since February 2008. You ever heard about a meeting where this was discussed with our representatives?
Have they told you? Have they told representatives at these Monthly Forums they claim to be having?

Has anyone ever heard of or attended a public quarterly meeting called by Alutrint?
In the news recently Alutrint says that at the right time they will roll out the Plan and its benefits to the community. You joking, right?

So this is a benefit? That they come here and put us at risk for Cancer and other diseases and the benefit is we get to go to a doctor every two years and check if we and our children are getting sick? If this is really benefit, why hasn’t Alutrint run out and told us?

Could it be that they want the smelter built first so we can’t stop it? Then they will leave us here fuh dead and to watch our sick children ten years from now, knowing we did nothing when we had the chance?

GET THE FACTS. STAND UP FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY.
COME OUT AND JOIN OTHER VILLAGERS TO STAND UP TOGETHER.
EITHER THE SMELTER GOES AND RESIDENTS GET REGULARISED OR WE ALL GET RELOCATED

For more information come out to Meetings
Together We Will !!!

In February 2008, the Caribbean Health Research Council and the International Institute for Healthcare and Human Development prepared a Medical Monitoring Plan (MMP) for the Alutrint Aluminium Smelter Complex. The following is taken directly from Alutrint’s Medical Monitoring Plan:

What will happen to those of us left here to live near the smelter?
The some Four Thousand and Seventy Seven (4,077) people living within two kilometres of the Smelter Complex – residents of Union Village, Vessigny, Vance River and Sobo – in what is termed the ‘Beltline Community’ would have to be tested for Cancer every two years
(page 11 of the MMP).

What is the truth about the technology Alutrint is using?
“It cannot be stated categorically that no adverse outcomes are expected from the pre-bake process. The published literature on cancer studies of pre-bake workers concluded... that the situation is unclear and further follow up with larger numbers of cases would clarify the issue” (page 31 of the MMP)

“Potential primary disease indications usually associated with aluminium smelters with pre-bake technology included: Industrial Asthma, (acute airway obstruction ‘pot room asthma’), Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary Disease/Chronic Bronchitis, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Lung and Bladder Cancer” (page 31 of the MMP)

“Workers employed in part of the smelter called “the anode baking process” may also be exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)... There is abundant scientific evidence that chronic exposure to PAHs have the potential to cause cancer in humans”
(page 32 of the MMP).

Let us see what exactly is going to happen to us:

“All Residents of the ‘Beltline Community’ are to be monitored every two years for Pulmonary Function Test, Chest X-Ray, Complete Blood Count, Clinical Chemistries, TB Test, Urine Fluoride Test” (page 58 of the Plan)... “All non-administrative workers to be monitored every six months using the same tests for Beltline Community, plus an “Audiology Test” (page 52 of the MMP)

The following residents are most at risk (page 36 of the MMP):
· Females of child bearing age
· Infants and children in development stages
· Persons diagnosed with pulmonary disease – these are asthma, chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, and hay fever
· Persons with specific cancers such as lung and bladder cancer
· The elderly with cognitive disorder
· Persons that smoke

What the Corporatist PM said after hearing the Alutrint Judgement

The local Guardian Newspaper of 18th June, 2009, reported that in response to questions from reporters on the Judgement by Justice Mira Dean-Amorer to quash the Certificate of Environmental Clearance issued to Alutrint by the Environmental Management Authority, the Prime Minister "insisted that construction on the smelter plant will continue". He gave that "assurance". Asked if the project will stop in the wake of the 'Order', Manning told reporters "The answer to that question is no, it will not stop". He however, admitted "we are looking at analysing exactly what took place in the courts so that we can have a full appreciation of it". Asked again if work on the project was likely to stop as a result of the ruling Manning responded "No, no, no, no, no, no" (six "nos"). The report goes on to say that Manning, the Minister of Energy and Minister emily Dick-Ford 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".