MORE TALK ON TOXIC WASTE

The assurance given by Mr Vijay Lall, Senior Engineer of Alutrint, a smelter in which Government has a substantial shareholding interest, that spent pot linings from the smelter would be shipped to the US has provoked additional questions. Mr Lall’s response had come while he was being interviewed at a Joint Select Committee of Parliament (JSC) sitting held last week to inquire into the proposed smelters.

Even the passage through the Caribbean of the hazardous waste would have to be negotiated beforehand with individual Caribbean states, a point made by UNC senator Dr Jennifer Jones-Kernahan.

Each country would have to state whether it was prepared to allow this, she pointed out. Although Jones-Kernahan had not introduced it at the JSC sitting, nonetheless it should be noted that Caricom countries had offered strong objections several years ago on the plan to ship hazardous nuclear waste through the Caribbean Sea, from France destined for Japan. The Caribbean viewpoint had won out.

Clarification was also sought at the JCS sitting by UNC Senator Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan on a recent statement by the National Energy Company (NEC) that a waste disposal unit in Trinidad and Tobago was being considered by Alutrint. “Is there a site you are looking at?” she asked.

Already, Trinidad Cement Limited had declared it would not accept the toxic waste from the proposed aluminium smelters for disposal.

While TT’s economic development is crucial, there should be caution on exposing people to potential dangers. Government needs to assure concerned citizens that things are being done in their best interests. Has the TT government insulated itself against public opinion?