Tides erode Cedros peninsula

Government is planning to establish a 3,116-acre industrial estate on Trinidad’s southwest peninsula on which the Alcoa plans to build a smelter plant.

However, residents of the area — Los Gallos, Fullerton, Icacos and Bonasse — fear the peninsula may soon be covered by the rising tides of the Gulf of Paria and Atlantic Ocean, which cause severe land erosion.

As a result, the residents are calling on the Government to establish a task force of national and international experts, to establish a sea defence programme.

This has been disclosed in a document titled “Alternative Development Strategy Plan” which was prepared by the Cedros Peninsula United, and the Chatham-Cap-de-Ville Environ-mental Group.

In the proposed plan which was sent to Prime Minister Patrick Manning in December last year, the groups reported that there had been rapid coastal erosion all around the peninsula, especially since the establishment of the LNG plant in Point Fortin, necessitating the continuing reclamation of land for further expansion.

The document further disclosed that the global challenge of climate change has also contributed to the problem.

“The people of the Cedros peninsula insist that the Government must put measures in place to protect all our coasts, but most urgently our area since its small land mass makes it the most vulnerable.

“Stopping erosion around the peninsula is necessary for the survival of the 15,000 people who inhabit this land mass, and a sea defence programme must be activated without delay,” the development plan said.

The group recalled the huge ground swells experienced around the island in October last year which did untold damage along the south west peninsula’s coastlines.

The Cedros group further noted that the swells have undone many of the natural and artificial barriers that were resisting the onslaught of the sea in certain areas, paving the way for the north winds and ground swells to have a free ride through the peninsula.

The group said it was submitting an alternative development plan because it opposed Government’s plan for the area, particularly the establishment of a smelter plant.

Dr Raphael Sebastien, one of the leaders of the Cedros group, said Manning had not acknowledged receipt of The Alternative Development Plan. Nevertheless, Sebastien said the group was seeking a meeting with Environment Minister Pennelope Beckles.