Smelter plant, a pact with devil

The truth is that Alcoa would not be able to build this facility in the USA because of the environmental constraints. Now, what will be the cost to the people of Trinidad and Tobago and the environmental impact this project will have on the country? After 15 years supply of free natural gas and cheap power to Alcoa then what? What will stop Alcoa from walking away? Lessons can be learnt from the mistakes former governments of Jamaica and Ghana (I think) made with Alcoa and other bauxite producing companies.

In Jamaica the people whose properties were identified as having bauxite deposit were removed from their lands — some under protest - with little compensation for their fruit bearing trees. These companies became owners of vast tract of land as they retained ownership after they strip the land of the bauxite ore. Former land owners, some who were farmers had to lease the land from these companies.

In parts of the country where these plants are located the environment and people are still suffering. Plant died and birds migrated. Places that once had a lot of coconut trees are now barren. Birds such as John Crows (buzzards) that could be seen in these coconut trees take refuge on other part of the island that is free of pollutant.

In one instance a whole town was removed. Roofs of houses have to be constantly replaced every few years. Near the processing plants we have "Mud lakes" (thousands of acres of red bauxite deposit mixed in with caustic soda and water) the same is true for Ghana (I stand to be corrected if the wrong country) where the government of the day entered into an agreement with a bauxite producing company.

The government and people from that country should benefit from the income and jobs that would be created. Population was displaced and a river was dammed to facilitate the building of hydroelectric power plant. Sure, enough not too long after the company pulled out of the country. The devil, the saying goes is in the details. And I am concerned with how much Trinidad will be giving up entering in this agreement with Alcoa. The Government and Opposition should take time to ensure that this undertaking is a win-win situation for the people, the economy and the environment of Trinidad and Tobago.

AUTHNEL REID

Port-of-Spain