Ramesh hits Manning over smelter

FORMER attorney general Ramesh Maharaj can’t understand how Prime Minister Patrick Manning could say an Aluminium Smelter will be built, yet no permission has been received from the Environmental Management Authority (EMA). Maharaj was yesterday reacting to Manning’s assertion on Friday at a Whitehall news conference that the smelter was going ahead. Maharaj said: “The EMA has not even started its process for the approval of this plant, so the PM’s statement undermines the functioning of the EMA which is the statutory body which decides if the smelter is to go ahead.” He called on Manning to explain his pronouncement. 

“Unless Mr Manning is the new EMA, he is acting unlawfully in deciding to go ahead without it yet being approved.” Maharaj said the smelter could not be built without first obtaining a certificate of environmental clearance (CEC), which could only be issued if there was first an environmental impact assessment (EIA).  He said an EIA must include a public consultation including hearing the views of residents and technical experts. “That process will take some time”. He said the Chatham anti-smelter group had communicated on the issue with both the EMA and Prime Minister. “So Mr Manning knows the EMA has not even considered it yet,” said Maharaj. “Yet he is talking about a US$3 billion (TT$19 billion) smelter which he said the Government has agreed to be constructed, although it has not yet been approved.” Maharaj urged that the smelter project be stayed until it is considered by the EMA.