Point Fortin fights over ALNG crumbs

THE EDITOR: FFOS hereby responds to statements made by a Mr F Richards of Point Fortin in his letter to the editor, “No asthma or rash for ALNG” (Newsday, September 22 2003). Mr Richards is obviously ignorant of published facts.

1) FFOS did hire a certified medical doctor to interview and physically examine residents in Beach Road and Newlands. This medical professional, on the instructions of FFOS, also conducted a preliminary survey of residents in the area which raised serious questions about blister skin rashes and the sudden and unexplained increase in asthma among children and adults.
2) Mysteriously, Mr Richards fails to make any possible connection between ALNG’s toxic emissions from flaring the respiratory ailments and blister rashes reported by residents living in close proximity to ALNG. It is clear to us that this Mr Richards has not taken the time to examine the medical data from the Point Fortin Area Hospital which confirms that Point Fortin is in fact booming with asthma.
3) Mr Richards does not understand the elementary arithmetic of ALNG revenues in which Point Fortin receives a pitiful $7 million per annum while ALNG exports a whopping $19,000 million per annum from our natural gas. When the gas runs out in 15 years, Point Fortin would have reaped TT $105 million while ALNG would have repatriated TT $280,000 million.
4) Unfortunately many citizens believe that foreign corporate interests supersede local public interests especially where the foreigners dangle the proverbial two cents carrot for the “Richards” of our society.
Mr Richards is correct that FFOS does not speak for all the residents of Point Fortin and we have never claimed to, but we are quite willing to represent those Point Fortin residents who seek our help in protecting their quality of life.

GARY ABOUD
FFOS