We need a smelter as a hole in the head

THE EDITOR: We are overly preoccupied with new industries that are being allowed to pillage TT, while we continue to overlook fair and adequate distribution of our wealth to those most in need — our impoverished. Once again we are talking about another gas-related venture — a smelter plant earmarked for the Union Estate in Vessigny Village, La Brea at the cost of $1 billion, feeding our insatiable appetite for big money ventures. The smelter plant will be located on a 800 acre industrial estate, which could be likened to a 800lb gorilla used for the destruction of the community rather than for improvement in the lives of the people residing in the community. (Another Point Fortin (ALNG) course 101).

Same old, same old. The fact that this is a rural area, does not make it less significant, or the displacement of the residents and impending dangers to their health germane. If anything some consideration should be given to the destruction of the wildlife and balance of nature in the forested area and the effect on the beautiful greenery that was always so pleasant to the eye. A bird sanctuary second to none, a citrus fruit estate and rubber trees adorning both sides of the road transformed to an iron and cement jungle emitting toxic fumes impacting on the environment and the health of the residents in the surrounding area. As a result taking away all the blessings bestowed on the area by nature, that I had grown to enjoy and cherish as a young boy growing up in the community.

Our Government lacks the initiative and vision to handle this situation, in an amicable rational manner. As of now, the Government’s focus on mega-products causes it to overlook cogent ventures like a recreational facility or even the site of a state-of-the-art hospital. The latter being more essential than a smelter plant for the residents of St Patrick, not only the earmarked community of Vessigny Village, La Brea. In like manner, we continue to ignore the Agro-industry. Newsday Business magazine had an editorial on June 4, 2004 with the caption: “A dangerous smelter?” which I found to be most informative. This is a capsuled version of the editorial: “Investigators into environmental and health hazards posed by aluminum smelters in different parts of the world reveal a most disturbing picture.

“Apart from the damage to the area surrounding these plants, the effects of smelter emissions on the water supply and the health of plant workers and neighbouring residents are well documented and frightening. For these reasons we must wonder at the haste with which the Government is proceeding to establish the proposed $1 billion smelter at Union Estate, La Brea.” I am forced to make mention as to what was highlighted by the editorial of the damage done by smelters in countries like Australia, Canada, Russia and Iceland. There are protests of environmental organisations; nine countries of the Baltic Sea region are against the erection of smelters in these areas. ALNGs and smelters on every doorstep in TT would not solve our social inequities anymore than an increase in the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) would. Even, if the PSIP is increased by $141M and there is no equitable distribution of funds, that would effect a meaningful change in the lives of the poor in our society we can all rest assured, that we are fighting a losing battle.

A photo of a frail, toothless, impoverished 51 year-old-man was shown in one of our newspapers sitting in a hammock. This man’s story was that here he is; living in oil-rich Guayaguayare and yet was unable to attend his daughter’s funeral in Gasparillo. Now this was not an occurrence in Bangladesh, said to be the poorest country in the Far East. This was right here in the land of plenty — over industralised TT. Tell me, do we still need another smelter plant, of a fair, equitable distribution of our wealth? The sad thing is the jury is not still out on this, a decision was already made; however, sober heads should prevail because we need a smelter as a hole in the head.

ULRIC GUY
Point Fortin