Jeers and cheers on Day Two anti-smelter march

From as early as 5.30 am residents of Chatham/Cedros, and environs began gathering at Cap-de-Ville Junction.

But, it was not until 7 am that the march which was led by President of the Chatham/Cap-de-Ville Environmental Protection Group, Fitzroy Beache and former Attorney General Ramesh Maharaj, got on its way.

Clad in red T-shirts and accompanied by a music truck, the 150-strong protesters who were joined by a handful of East Port-of-Spain residents hit the streets waving placards which read, “PNM why take from the poor and give to the rich” and “No Smelter.”

As the march approached Three Hands Junction, in La Brea, the protesters were met with a small crowd of La Brea residents who welcomed the construction of the smelter plant.

Dressed in blue and yellow jerseys the residents jeered the protesters calling for the smelter plant to be constructed.

Councillor for the La Brea area Junior Thompson told Sunday Newsday that residents in the area were in support of the smelter plant to be constructed at Union Estate in La Brea.

Holding placards which stated, “Build Smelter” and “La Brea Supports Alutrint,” Thompson said, “We know the effluence coming out of the plant could be harmful, but it can be treated. Persons must educate themselves and understand that we are in a technological age and we have the relevant equipment to deal with such substances.”

Avoiding any confrontation, Beache who briefly addressed the protesters urged them not to give up the struggle.

Vowing to go on a hunger strike at the end of the eight-day march if Government fails to meet with their demands he said: “We have made up our minds to do all in our power to stop the construction of the smelter plant in our area. We have a lot to lose.”

Beache added that women in the Chatham/Cedros area were expected to hold a candle light vigil last night at the Food Crop Road camp set up as part of a 24-hour vigil to prevent ALCOA from conducting tests at the proposed site.

The third leg of the march kicks off today at 7am at Three Hands Junction, La Brea, to Avocat Junction.