He was difficult for the other Heads of State to comprehend. The day before signing his own Declaration committing to 'environmental sustainability, energy security and human prosperity', he announced to them that construction of this country's largest power station "was about to be begin".
He continued "this year construction is about to begin on our first aluminium smelter and the introduction of a new industry and all that goes with the possibilities associated with downstream out of the availability domestically of the primary product, aluminium and because it is energy intensive we are about to begin production on the largest power station ever to be constructed in this country of about 720 megawatts". Manning beamed proudly at the other Heads of State "it is a large power station".
Prime Minister Manning went on " Trinidad and Tobago has "done a lot with a little" in terms of its energy resources, adding "there are many other plants on the drawing board"..."one of the reasons why we have raised a partial scope agreement with the USA is because there are a number of investors who are anxious to invest in downstream industries based on the availability of primary products but who are not prepared to take the step unless they are guaranteed a certain access to the US market and under acceptable terms and conditions. That my dear friends, is on the table". (quotes taken from The Daily Express, Tuesday 21st April 2009).
Manning's idea of 'environmental sustainability' and 'energy security' is to introduce the largest power plant ever and to build an aluminium smelter. How Obama must have cringed thinking back on his own energy policy which seeks to "reduce green house gas emissions 80% by 2050".
On reflection however, Obama may well sign the 'partial scope agreement' mentioned by Manning as it will concentrate all the pollution and global warming in Trinidad and Tobago. Not USA, and at the same time, the USA can have all the consumption benefits.
In the Granma (21st April) Fidel Castro described the OAS 5th Summit of the Americas in POS Trinidad as "seeming to be in the realm of delirious dreams". Fidel Castro had listened to press conference led by Manning, Stephen Harper (Canada), Felipe Calderon (Mexico) and Martin Torrijos (Panama), he said "according to them it has been the most extraordinary summit that ever took place. Some kind of miracle must have occurred, I thought. The philosopher's stone must have been discovered".
Thinking Trinbagonians know the stone of which he speaks. The Summit binge is over and the gas rush continues. Read more below...
$500M to sign a document. Such self indulgence. When there are many local problems to solve, a small developing country cannot afford to waste money on entertaining the rich and powerful of the region...a small developing country country should not be squandering its gas reserves and vandalising its own natural environment for the benefit of its trading partners...the citizens of such a country should not tolerate this
ReplyDeletesquander-meglo-mania from its political leaders. Keep on drumming for change
Commenting on what the PM says is beginning to be so difficult, I know it should be very simple, we could just say madness, but what is worse than the PM’s delusional comments that contradicts each other, is those who defend the madness. The PM blows his own trumpet about doing so much with so little, I would really like to know what he is talking about, because daily, I hear the same complaints about bad roads, no water, no beds in hospitals, a murder rate that has increased every year, to name just a few. People please we deserve better and we could get better, if only we could demand it and open our minds and be objective.
ReplyDeleteDRUMMIT TO THE SUMMIT;MAKE YOUR DRUMS TALK, TALK THE TRUTH, ENERGISE THE NATION - NO MORE GAS IN 12 YEARS IMPLIES THAT THE COUNTRY WILL BE WORSE THAN EVER. POLITICIANS HAVE NOT DELIVERED POST INDEPENDENCE...THE ENCUMBENT GALLERY OF ROGUES, HAS BEENS AND WOULD BE'S CANNOT DELIVER ANYTHING EXCEPT MORE COMMESS. IF WE DON'T STAND TOGETHER FOR SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WE WILL FALL TOGETHER. DRUMMIT FOR CHANGE - DRUMMING FOR THE NATION, TO THE NATION BY THE NATION.
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