Friday, April 17, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Alutrint Port and Docking Facilities under construction
Although construction of the smelter was halted due to the High Court ruling which "quashed" Alutrint's Certificate of Environmental Clearance, works at the Power Plant and Port Facilities continue unabated
Arthur Forde, fervent Smelter Champion at Alutrint's Family Day
He has good knowledge of La Brea history and sees Alutrint as recommencing beneficial industrial development for La Brea
Alutrint Family Day
A fun time was had by all. Even 'Spidey' was there
Alutrint Family Day
'Senior Chinese' - Engineers, Project Managers, CMEC Company Officials enjoyed themselves
Alutrint Family Day
The MP for La Brea Fitzgerald Jeffries (red T-shirt) proudly appearing for Alutrint. Unfortunately he is hardly welcome in Vessigny, Vance River, Sobo or Union Villages
Alutrint Family Day (26th September, 2009)
Black Stalin sang for Alutrint. It was a Sad Day for cultural consciousness. LBCCU needs to do further outreach to cultural icons to educate them on issues and ask that they not be used by the state against the well-being of the people
Union Village 'Five-a-Side' at Alutrint Family Day
Six teams competed. Union, Sobo and Square Deal went on field with "No Smelter" T-Shirts. Alutrint sporting officials made them turn T-shirts in-side-out. Union made it to semi-finals. According to players they 'get tief out'.
Community Workshop 26th September, Vance River Community Centre
Samarendra Das goes through the value chain of aluminium from bauxite to metal usage
Mr.Leroy Mayers, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, Trinidad and Tobago
A juggler of many interests - on July 7th, 2009, Mr. Mayers revealed himself to be no ordinary PS. He is also Chairman of the Board of Alutrint, a Board Member of the National Energy Corporation (NEC), owner and landlord of UIE and a Board Member of Trinidad Generation Unlimited (TGU) - the power plant under construction at UIE to convert natural gas into electricity to sell to Alutrint. Mayers finds himself as a constant in the classical formula for conflict of interest, one which would prevent the PS from transparently carrying out his Permanent Secretary responsibilities - the ‘Chief Accounting Officer’ in the Ministry of Energy.
Interfaith Service organized by La Brea Concerned Citizens United
Saturday 27th June 2009, at the 'No Smelter, Alternative Industries' Camp site. Religious leaders said prayer and gave thanks to God for the court victory against the EMA and Alutrint
Residents of Vessigny, Union, Square Deal and Sobo in Woodford Square (16th June, 2009)
Prior to Judgement, Residents gathered in Woodford Square for a ritual 'burning' of all EMA - Alutrint documents (EIA, HEERA, CEC etc). These documents represent a betrayal of community rights and well-being. Documents were 'smelted' in community 'pot' in foreground. Aluminium wrapped crucifixes were placed behing the 'pot' to symbolize the graveyard that Alutrint represents
16th June, 2009, minutes after Judgement to "quash" CEC issued to Alutrint by EMA
Judge described aspects of the process as "outrageous...irrational...procedurally irregular and...shrouded in secrecy"
Victory Ride (16th June, 2009)
Union, Square Deal and Vessigny residents return home from Hall of Justice in POS after victory in court judgement against Alutrint.
Anti-Smelter Camp (11th June, 2009)
Square Deal and Union Village residents gathered in response to all night dynamic compaction noise which rattled houses and prevented sleep in Square Deal. Residents walked onto Industrial Estate demanding an end to compaction. Alutrint responded saying that compaction would be discontinued during the night time
Vessigny Beach (northern end) The Destruction has already begun (9th June, 2009)
In this picture some 4 to 5 acres of Beach headland was excavated and used to reclaim near shore. It is not clear what is taking place. Major discolouration of Vessigny Beach water has resulted. This operation would have required a CEC from the EMA. Investigations are in order
Police clear debris on main road in front of Union Village (9th June, 2009)
The Women of Union Village blocked main road in response to a policeman unnecessarily discharging fire arm while chasing youths through residential area. Youths had earlier blocked the main road
Two Ministers and an MP "Sods" turning Sods
On 8th June, 2009, Smelter devotees and Ministers in the Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing and Environment, Dr. Emily Gaynor Dick-Forde, Tina Gronlund-Nunez and La Brea MP, Fitzgerald Jeffrey turned sod at Hubert's Town, Guapo, the apparent relocation venue for Square Deal Residents. No residents from Square Deal attended.
Vessigny River, 60 meters from mouth
The River is a mud hole. No silt traps were installed to reduce sediment run-off from Union Industrial Estate - this violates CEC storm water management. A sign behind camera says "Beware Deep Water". Before construction began this river was 5 meters deep with clear water. Vessigny Beach water is highly turbid and not as pleasant as before to swim in.
Entrance to Alutrint Construction Site, La Brea, Trinidad
'Smelta Babylon' taken 7th June 2009
Pictures of the Drummit2Summit, April 18th, 2009 courtesy Triniview.com
Easter 2004, near 1000 acres cleared to make way for Alutrint - no advance notification
Two years later this resident sought to plant it back to signal opposition to the land grab which destroyed recreational and farming areas
Vessigny Beach before land was cleared to make way for Alutrint
One little secret buried in Annex III of the Alutrint EIA and shielded from residents is "“access to Vessigny Beach would be cut off and that the extension of the Brighton Port would most likely result in the loss of the other nearby beach". Alutrint and their hired EIA 'guns' thought this important to shield because thousands of locals consider Vessigny Beach as their most important recreational asset
Easter 2006 Bobolees
Culture Jamming Judas
2006 was year of Alutrint Bobolee
Ex-Chair of the EMA Board Agard also appeared as Judas
He refused written requests to meet with NGOs prior to the EMA granting environmental clearance to Alutrint. Chapter 7 of the EIA dealing with "Hazard Scenarios" states: “Overall, the results indicated that, while the release of hydrogen fluoride under abnormal conditions of operation could potentially have adverse health effects (injury or fatality) on the workers on site, human receptors living or working outside the 550m zone (outside the plan boundary) may not be exposed to concentrations above 3 ppm.”
Alutrint EIA: poor science, absent cost-benefit analyses, a Public Relations Gimmick
Members of Rights Action Group symbolicly burn EIA in Woodford Square (some time in 2007)
Aerial Impression of Manning's forced Industrial Future
Summit or Plummit?
The sign that Truth Drummer Michael Parris was arrested for putting up in Chaguanas, on the night of Thursday 15th April, 2 days before the Drummit2summiT Event
Summit of Power Plants and Smelters, thus spake the Prime Minister
Manning has no worries from his environmental 'authority'. They have already approved the Alutrint smelter. Approval came under the watch of ex-Chairman of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) Board, Dr. John Agard, self proclaimed "Caribbean Environmentalist". Dr. Agard turned up to deliver a 'Workshop' on environmental sustainability at the People's Summit organized by another ex-Board Member of the EMA, David Abdullah
Drummit2summiT - First Item on Agenda was to seat the Cuban Drum
Cuban Drum en route to take seat in the circle of American Drums - the Police intervened and prevented seating
"D People must B Herd' on the Brian Lara Promenade
They came St. James Amphitheatre to Drummit2summiT
Police stop Drummit2summiT saying it is illegal to "beat a Drum in Public"
Telfer explains that "colonial law against beating drums was repealed in 1992". De Lima negotiated with police on behalf of Drummit Event. He said eventually the police conceded that we broke no law, but insisted that Drummit stop based on "directive from above". We were live in the 'Gayelle'
Police insist that drummit2summit must shut down
Drummers step aside
MC Healy-Singh rallys the forces
" If the police are so concerned about protecting the peace let them secure the perimeter...we are here playing for change". Healy-Singh calls for the drums to play
Kublalsingh Responds - "I was born to drum"
"If we do not fight this battle today we will have to fight it some other day"
Springer responds "this is mine"
"Do not spit in the face of your ancestors...no one can tell me i can't beat drum in POS"
Truth Drummers pick up Drums
Invited Drummers who stepped off stage because of police directive left their drums behind to be drummed
The Police Receive a "Directive from Above" to shut down Drummit2summiT
St. James Police Officers acknowledged that Drummit2summiT "broke no law" they were following the directive
20th April, 2009, Michael Parris outside Couva Magistrate's Court
Charges against him for "placarding" on the night of the 16th April, were thrown out
The Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, a Geologist by training, he is a classic corporatist
Manning's Vision 2020 is based on rapid heavy gas based industrialization, led by aluminium smelters. He beamed “By 2012, we should be among the top three per capita users of electricity in the world,” to the Eighth summit of the African Union (AU) in Ethiopia (January 2007)
Manning will try and feather his cap with a 'green' Obama but the Emperor has no clothes
At the Powergen sod turning in Point Lisas he called opponents to his smelters “right wing environmentalist" (March, 2006). When responding to public outcry over more smelters and divining an island if necessary to accommodate them, he lamented “Anything that you want to do in this country there are always those who are against it, if you listen to them you will gain nothing. I would never be found guilty of inactivity”. (October, 2006, when he announced that Government has proposals for a third aluminium smelter to be constructed in the country).
Treatment of Small Farmers is Rough
Sonnylal Jagdeo and his brother Vijay say they have been farming at Bassie Street Extension, for about 16 years. NFFA said that the farmers had applied for the land, which has highest grade soil for farming, for more than a decade but were never regularised.
NFFA Research officer gazes at the destruction
NFFA has called for Government to: FIX WE FIRST - Fix our farmers who have provided this country with cheap food for decades, Fix our access roads and bridges, Provide an efficient marketing system with security for farmers and consumers, Fix our land titles and lease agreements, Fix these things now and in two years review our performance
Minister of Agriculture Arnoll Piggot, he is unaware of any food crisis
He is determined to "FIX" the 20,000 small farmers in T&T with the introduction of nine "mega farms". On 13th April, 2009, he announced to the 'Stabroek News', in Guyana: "T&T is inviting “proposals from suitably experienced and qualified local and foreign agricultural investors to design, finance, develop and put into production a total of nine commercial agricultural farms of a minimum of 100 acres each.”
Minister of Public Utilities, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid
He is making sure that water is neither a 'need' nor a 'right' but a 'profit' for private interests'
Graffitti outside Environmental Authority (some time in 2008)
It says: "Ensuring Manning's Agenda". Prime Minister Manning was Minister of Finance (2001 to 2007). He accelerated the construction and energy sectors and no doubt pressured his ministers to deregulate the quarry sector to meet aggregate demands.
Map of Trinidad 4768 sq. kilometers
The Northern Range lies in the north and runs east-to-west, coast to coast, where 80% of naturally occurring drinking water originates and where 90% of quarrying takes place.
Protest sign against more quarrying in Acono Road, Maracas Valley
In the dry season the dust can be terrible. It is every where. Since no environmental impact assessments are required any longer, no baseline community health studies will be conducted.
The Youth speak out against more quarries in Acono Road, Maracas Valley
There is no recreation area in Acono. The river is polluted. The fish are gone. Children play in the streets and dodge trucks and heavy traffic
Quarry Example Maracas Valley
No run-off or sediment controls. The river down stream is void of life. Two additional quarries are proposed in the immediate vicinity. Traffic is already horrendous. The Maracas Valley Action Committee and Acono Village Dynamic Action Committee mobilized to oppose new quarries
Bobolees Galore
Culture Jamming on Good Friday 2007
Foremer Minister Public Utilities and Environment
She made sure that new quarries would not be subject to environmental or social impact scrutiny. She is now Deputy Speaker of the House
Minister Planning Housing and Environment
She made sure there would be no 'sustainability loop holes' in the Deregulation of Quarries which might have protected the rivers and forests of the Northern Range
Sign of the Times
Public Health and Environmental Well-Being sacrificed for short-term economic gains by a handfull - 'Disaster Capitalism'
Prime Minister Manning's Vision 2020: No Water? drink Smelta!
Announcement made in October 2006. Just before Christmas that year after massive public outcry Manning informed the Nation that his administration had "decided to immediately discontinue all plans to establish an industrial estate in Cap-de-Ville"."Instead," he continued, "we shall accelerate development of a new industrial estate offshore at Otaheite Bank from which aluminium production can now be pursued together with other industrial plants."
Chatham Cap-de-Ville Environmental Protection Group protest ALCOA
Chatham residents declare Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) process "null and void". ALCOA spent a small public relations fortune on a "Smelter in the Park". Cedros Peninsula United and organized residents responded with their own alternative development plan based on agro-tourism
Community opposition to more quarrying in Acono, Maracas Valley
Deregulation of quarrying sector - no social or environmental assessments required for new quarries up to 150 acres, poses grave threat to potable water and community wellbeing
The Gas Rush - 12 Years Left - Unknown Price - Transparency lacking
Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative recommended by Civil Society in 'consultation' process but stripped from formal Summit Declaration
ALCOA's attempt to capture South West Peninsula repulsed by valiant Chatham Residents (2006)
Culture Jam on Good Friday 2006, ALCOA Bobolee
Dust in Yuh Face at Mittal Steel Point Lisas
Protected by Pro-Polluter Environmental Legislation
Hell for Smelter
Forced Industrialization: Alutrint's 125,000MT/year Chinese Aluminium Smelter 'approved' by EMA for Union Industrial Estate. Three separate NGOs challenged decision in High Court. Judgement Pending in 2009. The size of the proposed smelter has already doubled even before above-ground construction begins
About Me
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Red, White and Black... Strong in Culture... Weak in Politics... "Playing for Change"...
what was that Police intervention at the Theatre about?
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to you guys bringing these issues to the attention of, hopefully, a wider audience. But it's the audience at home that counts, so keep it up, don't let up or give up!
ReplyDeleteWell done, Truth Drummers! I watched the entire performance from a sister isle and I was shocked when the Riot Police showed up - which in the end provided even more PR to your cause. And they say that freedom of expression is lacking in Cuba as though to suggest that freedom of expression is alive and well in the rest of the Caribbean? What about the state of Trinidad and Tobago trying to lock down all alternative modes of expression or questioning of the Summit's agenda and the threatening presence of police at the event yesterday? Where is freedom of expression in TNT? And why have regional papers not given some ink to the alternate voices? Congratulations! Job well done!!
ReplyDeleteWe in this country really need to understand what it really means to be free. Daily we hear the apologists and defenders of this govn't, not really understanding the meaning of democracy inclusive of accountability, transparency and development of the people; Obama indicated that development must be from the bottom up. But in this country the development is from the top down, but worst than that, it is for an elite few. We as a people would not move forward if we don’t educate ourselves on the purpose of our vote, the purpose of our vote could never be for us to elect people who look like us, or because they distribute jerseys.
ReplyDeleteIt was good to see justice in action as the criminal matter against Mr. Parris was dismissed by a Magistrate today (20/4/09). It is clear that a young man of such outsanding calibre will indeed make lasting contributions to the development of our nation. Keep up the excellent work, Mr Parris, and thank you for the sign given in court today (at the bar table:)
ReplyDeleteDRUMMIT FROM SUMMIT TO SUMMIT - DRUMMIT TILL THE COMMONWEALTH SUMMIT. DRUMMIT FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS; DRUMMIT FOR CITIZENS' RIGHTS TO FREE EXPRESSION; DRUMMIT FOR AN END TO ECOVANDALISM BY THE GOV'T; DRUMMIT AGAINST WANTON WASTE AT THE EXCHEQUER; DRUMMIT AGAINST A USELESS OPPOSITION. GET THE WHOLE ISLAND DRUMMING FOR CHANGE....CONGO, TASSA, STEELPAN, THE WORKS!
ReplyDelete