No industrial island

At the launch of his campaign for the San Fernando East constituency in the May 24 General Election, last Saturday, Manning announced plans for the construction of an industrial estate which would feature a state-of-the-art refinery which would use crude oil and natural gas as a feed stock.

He also stated that a new industrial estate would also be established just off the Otaheite coast.

When Newsday visited the district yesterday, which is nestled between Mosquito Creek and La Brea, fishermen and residents said that area has long had a reputation nationwide as a crucial fishing and shrimping ground.

According to fisherman Clement Charles, Manning’s proposal for the development of Otaheite should the PNM win the election and return to government, would result in the livelihood of families, which have been involved in the fishing industry for several generations, to be destroyed.

“We don’t know what kind of vision that is. But that would not be beneficial for this community because the main shrimping ground is just offshore and any kind of man-made structure including an island would destroy these sensitive breeding grounds,” Charles said.

The fisherman said fish lovers from as far away as St James, Arima and Port-of-Spain are known to make the long journey to the district’s famed beachfront fish market where, just beyond the gentle waves, trawlers and pirogues can easily be seen in the distance exploring the Gulf of Paria’s rich bounty.

For sale are a variety of seafood, from jumbo shrimp to red fish, carite, shark, bachine and catfish. Charles said some 300 persons were actively involved in the fishing industry in Otaheite including fishermen, vendors and scrapers — persons who assist in pulling seine, mooring boats and other duties.

The market itself consists of three buildings. Two open-air structures which house fish vendors and boating equipment, while the other building, the depot’s main vending area, houses another 16 vendors who do a brisk trade from 6 am to 7 pm.

Another fisherman, who declined to be give his name except to say that he was the “Boss” of Otaheite Bay, said the proposal was “nothing new” but which had failed to get off the drawing board and expressed the hope that the proposal would remain on paper.

“We have heard this thing before but if they want to have a new industrial estate why they don’t put it in the forest or some other area where people wouldn’t be affected?” he asked.

Manning’s plan has been described by UWI lecturer Dr Wayne Kublalsingh as part of Government’s failed “master gas plan” which did not factor in sustainable development for the island, was not transparent and had no consultation with relevant communities.