Alutrint Pre-Judgement Advertising in local Newspapers

On 3rd June, 2009, in the local Guardian Newspaper, just two weeks before the Judgement by Justice Mira Dean-Amorer on whether the Environmental Management Authority followed due process in granting a Certificate of Environmental Clearance to Alutrint to operate a Smelter Complex in La Brea, Trinidad, Alutrint took out a full page colour advertisement in the local Guardian Newspapers claiming: "The Aluminium vision began decades ago"..."The Birth of an Exciting New Industry"...run by "innovative ioneers"..."manufacturing quality products"..."with a strong thrust and interest from the People's Republic of China"..."promoting the safety, health and wellbeing of our employees"..."while championing community development".

On 16th June, 2009, Judgement Day, Alutrint ran a four page colour advertisement in the local Newsday Newspaper proclaiming:

that La Brea is "on the Move" and a "Corporate Social Response" of "Helping La Brea to Help Themselves, Building a Long-term Sustainable Relationship with the La Brea Community”. Alutrint claims a Primary objective "to assist residents to achieve their own aspirations and ambitions” and asserts that "there is considerable enthusiasm in the community for the smelter project”...Alutrint reassures that they "will continue to make significant contributions to sport and culture” and that "as a result of previous contributions "young athletes like Rondel Sorrito have emerged”.

Alutrint claims to be "one of the first corporate entities to establish a presence in the project affected communities, at least 18 months before the project was fully approved for construction”.

Alutrint says it focuss is "on Public Health" and they are headed "Towards a Healthy Community". With regards to the Medical Monitoring Plan (MMP) Alutrint claims it "is a further commitment to the overall health and wellness of the community”. The MMP will provide a "continuous and confidential free screening”. The MMP "results of testing will stand as both guardian and testament to environmental compliance of modern smelter technology”.

Alutrint claims to be "Poised to Bring Long Term Benefits" through “timely investment” by a "most advanced technology supplier with proven track record to build smallest smelter in this part of the world”... in a position to "make most valuable use of country’s energy resources”... and "create jobs”. Alutrint goes on to claim that it "will be first of many industrial tenants on Union Industrial Estate, with a "Vision for technical and operational support to originate from within our community”. Alutrint promotes itself as "a catalyst to stimulate return of heavy industry to the heartland”.

As far as Opportunities at Work in La Brea, Alutrint claims to be providing “sustainable opportunities” (Josieann Richards - Alutrint's Community Liaison Officer). Josieann confesses that "feedback from La Brea residents is they do not want handouts but a chance to earn their own income and contribute to the future for their children and grand children” and not just from the opportunities provided by Alutrint, "but also many other industrial entities”.

With regards to Technology in Service of the Environment, Alutrint quotes Norwegian Mr. Eric Kuehl, a foremost advisor on the Aluminium smelter process as saying "In Norway we have one fo the highest life expectancies in the world and this applies to the people who work in and live around our Aluminium smelters”. Kuehl beams that in Norway "communities live in harmonious co-existence with smelters”. In fact, he says "people live across the street from smelters...Norway has seven smelters...smelters located in heart of small communities. Kuehl is convinced that "major advances have been made in the efficiency and environmental cleanliness of operations using Chinese designs and standards and "prebake technology is world’s most advanced and proven methods to minimize the potential for unpleasant emissions”.

The advertisement also claims that “Alutrint will use less than 3% of the country’s natural gas production over the next 20 years”.