Trinidad is not for sale

At an annual growth of six per cent per annum, this country is enjoying healthy earnings from the energy sector but what is missing is the trickle down of wealth to the overall population. And inspite of all of this increased prosperity, 30 per cent of the population still fall below the poverty line. This administration seems to be spending enormous sums in areas unrelated to human development which is a general concern to citizens.

Our energy sector is in the hands of the multi national conglomerates. Government collects a pittance in royalty for a product that is the patrimony of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. Let’s take for example — Alcoa — the aluminium giant which is embroiled in controversy surrounding the development of its new facility. Recently, the hierarchy of Alcoa made its play for public support attempting to justify the safety of their operations but after viewing a couple of their interviews, they weren’t impressive. Any right-thinking person would have realised that this industry is a matter for concern.

This company is attracted to Trinidad because of its cheap gas resources and nothing else. Besides making very large areas of land available to this corporation, they want preferential gas prices and all types of incentives. Probably their next demand would be to bring in a foreign workforce, which is quite likely.

What is this country really getting in return for our investment? Will the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? Will there be a health issue? Will there be damage to our environment?

If people are afflicted with ailments and the disabled population increases as a result of this, who will be held responsible? This administration already demonstrates the neglect which it has for the disabled population.

Instead of being cautious for the benefit of the population, our government seems blinded by the billion-dollar investment from Alcoa. This just demonstrates the priority that is placed on industrial development over human health and safety.

Progress must not be at the expense of the citizens or our environment. There has already been damage to beaches and other locations due to these multi-national corporations constantly exploiting our natural resources and trying to restore ecological damage that has already occurred is impossible.

Trinidad is not for sale.