‘Crackdown on illegal quarries underway’

This was disclosed by Energy Minister Eric Williams during yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall.

Stating that Government is not powerless to deal with illegal quarry operators, Williams said a special committee chaired by the National Security Ministry (and which included the Energy Ministry) came up with specific recommendations (to deal with the issue of illegal quarrying).

"My understanding is that the relevant security forces are in the process of mobilising to deal with the problem," Williams stated.

National Security Minister Martin Joseph subsequently confirmed to Newsday that such a committee was formed to deal with the quarry issue and had reported to Cabinet on the matter. Joseph said the issue is receiving the attention of law enforcement agencies.

Last month, Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Special Anti-Crime Unit director, Brigadier Peter Joseph, gave the assurance that any criminal elements in the quarry industry would be dealt with.

Noting that Government has removed the Minerals Act 2000 handicap left behind by the UNC and that illegal quarry operators can now be dealt with under the State Lands Act, Williams said he has received assurances from Attorney General John Jeremie that once arrests are made, prosecutions will follow.

Williams also said Government will make 500 acres in the Tapana area (in East Trinidad), currently under cultivation for pineapples, available to the local quarry industry and two companies — Coosals Construction Ltd and Dipcon Engineering — have each been awarded 150 acres in Tapana.

The minister indicated that when both companies were awarded their current acreages in 2001, proper studies were not done to determine if the aggregate reserves there were sufficient.

Williams said Coosals and Dipcon will give their current quarries back to the State with funds to rehabilitate them and this "is a first." Stating that studies have shown that the companies’ new acreages have sufficient aggregate reserves, Williams said the ministry will engage the services of three firms to determine if the same applies for the remainder of the Tapana region.

Indicating that Government is preparing a White Paper on the quarry industry and new legislation will soon be laid in Parliament, the minister said Government "will enforce the existing legislation now that we have a clear way forward."

Williams also said Government has taken the decision to allow persons to import and export aggregate in order to deal with shortages in the local market.

He explained that this will lower the cost of aggregate and increase its supply and quality on the local market for both private and public projects.

The minister said Government is also addressing environmental concerns related to the quarry industry to prevent open scars from being left on the country’s landscape.