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