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