Smelters

Alutrint Blog
http://alutrint.wordpress.com/

State joins EMA smelter appeal
By Andre Bagoo Saturday, July 4 2009

ATTORNEY General John Jeremie has instructed State attorneys to join in an appeal of a High Court judgment which quashed the granting of a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) for the aluminium smelter plant in La Brea.

Jeremie has instructed attorneys Russell Martineau SC and Michael Quamina to join in an appeal to be lodged by the EMA against the decision of High Court Judge Justice Mira Dean-Armorer.

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Alutrint: Smelter works at a standstill
Published: 2 Jul 2009
Radhica Sookraj

Alutrint Ltd has denied claims by anti-smelter activists and residents of La Brea that works are continuing at the Union Estate on Alutrint’s aluminum smelter complex. So said Josie-Ann Richards, manager, communications and community relations at Alutrint.

Anti-smelter activists have said works were continuing at the site despite a High Court ruling from Justice Mira Dean-Armorer quashing a certificate of environment clearance (CEC) that gave the company approval to start construction. In a statement yesterday, Richards said, “Alutrint Ltd has noted recent reports in the media which refer to ‘residents’ observations of continued work on the Alutrint smelter site, in (alleged) defiance of the recent High Court ruling.”

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PM: Smelter work won’t stop
By Richardson Dhalai Wednesday, July 1 2009

Two weeks after a High Court ruling stopped site works for the construction of the Alutrint aluminium smelter plant, Prime Minister Patrick Manning yesterday vowed the plant will be built unless the court rejects the entire project.

Manning said there was a high cost to work stoppage on the project which would proceed pending a review of an application for a certificate of environmental clearance (CEC) by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA).

“The cost of stopping work on that project, it is a very high so what we have decided to do is to continue until such time there is a rejection of the project and that has not happened,” Manning said, adding, “it is unlikely that will happen.”

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Simple avenue for smelter protesters
Published: 1 Jul 2009

I, like some of the population, am very much against any aluminium smelter being constructed here in T&T, for various logical reasons. I think though that if the protesters against such were really serious about their hue and cry , they would recognise that some elitist people, who wag the head that’s pushing for the smelter, could be of major help. Why though are these protesters not pursuing this avenue?

To explain: we do not ever wish to be at loggerheads with our anointed leader, nor should we agree with him wholeheartedly that a smelter must be built. Remember, after Justice Dean-Armorer made a judgment, the Prime Minister proclaimed with an air of superiority, “The smelter must be built.” Must? Why?

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'EMA clearing up smelter issues'
Anna Ramdass aramdass@trinidadexpress.com
Friday, June 26th 2009

The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) is working to clear up issues raised in the High Court judgment which deemed the Certificate of Environmental Clearance for the construction of Alutrint's aluminum smelter at La Brea unlawful, Energy Minister Conrad Enill said.

Speaking at the post-Cabinet press conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's yesterday, Enill said a river at the back of the aluminium smelter site was being prepared to prevent any possible disaster and this did not require a CEC.

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Smelting and regional integration
John Spence
Friday, June 26th 2009

I have written some 15 articles in the Express during 2006 and 2007 on aluminium smelting. In this article I shall revisit some of these articles and relate some of the issues discussed therein to the proposal to integrate this country with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)

I have not been able to obtain a copy of the Prime Minister's address to the PNM's Convention on June 21, or the Vaughn Lewis report on the integration of this country with the OECS so my comments have to be based on newspaper reports. When these documents become available I will discuss these issues in more detail.

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The EMA's challenge
Saturday, June 27th 2009

There are many challenges that face the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) as it discharges its responsibilities. But Opposition Leader Mr Basdeo Panday's call for the resignation of its board is certainly not one of them and can only cloud the issue for many persons who recall the court ruling on the Rowley challenge to the Integrity Commission, which led to the commission's collective resignation.

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Smelter battles being fought around the world
By Camille Bethel South Bureau
Wednesday, June 24th 2009

Anti-smelter activists and La Brea residents celebrate as the smelter plant was ruled unlawful on Tuesday. -Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK

The battle has been won, for now at least. The court has stopped the aluminium smelter. But the war will likely be lost- if the fight ends the way it did in other countries.

In Australia and Iceland, First World countries- developed and environmentally conscious- the mega industries won over the concerns of their citizens.

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La Brea kids falling ill
By STACY MOORE Wednesday, June 24 2009

DUST from the Alutrint construction site in La Brea has taken a toll on the health of nearby residents, with at least three children falling ill and doctors telling their parents that they (the children) developed throat infections as a result of the dust.

One of the children, Daniel Nathaniel, five, has been bed-ridden since coming down with the infection. The affected families live at Square Deal in La Brea, where residents have been protesting against the dust from the Alutrint construction site.

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Chinese workers still being paid
By FELICIA RAMPERSAD Tuesday, June 23 2009

THE 200 Chinese workers brought in to construct the controversial Alutrint aluminium smelter in La Brea, are still being paid their salaries, despite the fact that all construction was halted in the face of a High Court ruling last week.

This was confirmed by an Alutrint source who said the workers who are employed with China Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Corporation (CMEC), are living at the La Brea site and are presently completing construction of their living quarters.

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$$ crisis halts plant
Camille Bethel cbethel@trinidadexpress.com
Tuesday, June 23rd 2009

Two weeks ago Prime Minister Patrick Manning said both the Alutrint aluminium smelter and the Essar steel mill would be built.

The High Court has at least temporarily blocked the building of the smelter and the global financial meltdown has stalled the steel mill.

Roshan Babwah, Essar Steel Caribbean Ltd's manager administration/community affairs, said the company has a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) from the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) to build. The India-based company intends to build a US$2.2 billion plant near Pranz Gardens, Claxton Bay, on the Pt Lisas Industrial Estate.

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EMA board must resign
Panday on smelter judgment
Monday, June 22nd 2009

The Board of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) must resign in the face of the judgment from Justice Mira Dean-Armorer in the Alutrint Smelter judicial review case, Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday says.

"This judgment is a very powerful indictment against the conduct of the EMA and in particular the board of the EMA. The criticisms made by the judge are almost identical to the statements of the judge in the Integrity Commission matter which saw the board of the Integrity Commission resigning. The EMA board should do the same as the former Integrity Commission and step down," Panday said in a release.

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... La Brea residents living in 'dust bowl'
Camille Bethel cbethel@trinidadexpress.com
Monday, June 22nd 2009

Work on the Alutrint aluminium smelter in La Brea has stopped, but the people of Square Deal continue to live in what they have described as a "dust bowl".

Residents, who have been protesting outside the smelter for the past month, yesterday said the Environmental Management Authority-approved works being carried out at the Union Industrial Estate were still affecting them in the form of dust.

"The trucks that going down inside there to carry material for the power plant raising real dust when they passing because they stop wetting the ground in the way that they supposed to," spokesperson for the villagers, Anslym Carter, said yesterday.

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Entire nation will bear burden of smelter
Published: 21 Jun 2009

The saying: “You can take a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink,” is relevant to the Government’s pitch for the construction of smelters in Trinidad and Tobago and citizens’ resistance against mindlessly drinking at the trough. All citizens would be wise to ask: what is the quality and nature of the water that the horse was led to?

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Powerfully stupid on that smelter
By Raffique Shah
Sunday, June 21st 2009

Aluminum Smelter PlantIN the face of a court ruling against the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) granting a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) to Alutrint, citizens must wonder why the Patrick Manning Government seems intent proceeding with this multi-billion-dollar project. Justice Mira Dean-Armorer declared that the EMA’s decision was “procedurally irregular, irrational and made without regard to consideration of the cumulative impact of the three related projects the power plant, the aluminium complex (and) the port facility.”

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The journey now start
Saturday, June 20th 2009

Congratulations to all the anti-smelter groups and activists and their attorneys on a well-deserved victory against the Environmental Management Authority! Celebrations are in order, but only for a short while.

I am quite fearful for the judge and all those concerned, as it is possible that they will be targets of harassment and intense scrutiny.

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EMA out of its crease
Saturday, June 20th 2009

The Environmental Management Authority's statement following the judgment on the Alutrint smelter plant was "the judgment itself concedes the EMA has performed well in its attempt to achieve balance between the economic and environmental factors".

Economic factors? What does economics have to do with an environmental assessment?

It is like the Ministry of Health saying "economic considerations are taken into account, that is why we are not doing full operations on the patients".

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Work on Alutrint smelter stopped
Camille Bethel South Bureau
Saturday, June 20th 2009

Work on the Alutrint smelter in La Brea has stopped following Tuesday's High Court judgment that quashed the Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) that gave the company approval to start construction of its controversial aluminium smelter.

But work continues on three other projects that will support the smelter-a port, power plant and building site.

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Brace for more smelter battles
Published: 18 Jun 2009

Congratulations to all the anti-smelter groups and activists and their lawyers on a well deserved victory regarding Justice Mira Dean-Armorer's ruling against the Environmental Management Authority (EMA).

Celebrations are in order but only for a short while I am quite fearful for the judge and all those concerned as it is possible that they will be targets of harassment and intense scrutiny. It will be wise if they quickly return to reality because this is PNM country and the Government and the EMA are not going to take that lying down.

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Smelter ruling a victory for the people
Thursday, June 18th 2009

The Honourable Justice Mira Dean-Armorer on May 16 made a significant decision in favour of the people of T&T regarding the proposed Alutrint smelter plant.

Perhaps the most critical area of her judgment had to do with the disposal of the spent pot lining.Â This is the most toxic of effluents and absolutely no provision was made for its efficient and effective removal.Â This was going to come back to haunt us in about eight years' time.

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Panday: EMA board must resign
...following smelter judgment
Thursday, June 18th 2009

The Board of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) must resign in the face of the judgment from Justice Mira Dean-Armorer in the Alutrint smelter case, says Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday.

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Chatham, La Brea give thanks
Residents to rally together after judge stops smelter plant
Kim Boodram
Thursday, June 18th 2009

A joint celebration is in the works for the people of Chatham in South Trinidad where the Government once proposed to build an aluminium smelter, and those from La Brea who opposed the Alutrint facility.

Head of the Chatham/Cap-de-Ville Environmental Group (CCEG) Fitzroy Beache said yesterday his community will soon rally with the residents of Square Deal and give thanks for this week's High Court ruling against the Alutrint aluminium smelter plant at La Brea.

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Too few Alutrint jobs for locals
Radhica Sookraj
Published: 18 Jun 2009

Failed drug tests have been given as one of the contributing reasons why only a few La Brea residents have been hired to work at Alutrint’s US$400 million aluminium smelter project, while hundreds more are awaiting jobs. Another contributing factor is an agreement signed with the Government and the People’s Republic of China, which gives China the sole right to hire a contractor to build the aluminium smelter. “As part of the government-to-government agreement, the People’s Republic of China, as the provider of the US$400 million loan facility to the Government of the Republic of T&T, reserved and exercised the right to identify and hire a contractor with the expertise to build the smelter complex using Chinese technology,” said Josieann Richards, Alutrint’s manager of communications and community relations.

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“Halt! in the name of the law!”

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PM: No stopping smelter plant
Richard Lord
Published: 18 Jun 2009

Prime Minister Patrick Manning is insisting that construction of the Alutrint smelter plant in La Brea will continue. He gave that assurance in response to questions from reporters yesterday.

High Court Judge Mira Dean-Armorer on Tuesday made an order quashing the Environment Management Authority’s (EMA) certificate of environmental clearance, which was issued to Alutrint for the project on April 2, last year. Asked if the project will stop in the wake of the order, Manning told reporters, “The answer to that is no, it will not stop.” Manning was questioned after a 90-minute tour of the Tucker Valley mega farm in Chaguaramas yesterday.

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LA BREA CONCERNED CITIZENS UNITED – PRESS STATEMENT
On the significance of the judgment of the Judicial Review Case, June 16, 2009

1. The judgment today is about whether EMA followed the rules for the granting of a CEC to NEC/Alutrint. It is not about whether Alutrint is good or bad for the communities. Alutrint has misled and withheld information from us for years. It has proven that it cannot be trusted. The company consistently fails to address complaints about dust, noise and has proven that it does not care about the suffering it is already causing the community. From Alutrint’s behavior and its own Medical Monitoring plan, we know that it is bad for us. What we want to make clear today is that those of us in the villages downwind of the smelter, in Union, Vance River, Sobo, and Vessigny and Square Deal and other villages are continuing our fight for justice.

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A battle is won but...the war goes on
Kim Boodram
Wednesday, June 17th 2009

"The war" continues but these will be good days for residents of Square Deal, La Brea.

Celebrating in Woodford Square, Port of Spain, yesterday, a few dozen residents thanked God for what they saw as "a victory not only for Square Deal but for the people of Trinidad and Tobago".

"Finally, we got a square deal and a not a raw deal," said Abigail Modeste, who has spent the last few years protesting the smelter plant and the Government's plans to relocate her community.

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Alutrint and the democratic process
William Lucie-Smith
Wednesday, June 17th 2009

I am writing this before the High Court judgment (due on Tuesday) on the challenge to the EMA's grant of a certificate of environmental clearance for the Alutrint smelter plant. Whatever the judgment however, the Alutrint controversy is a useful example of democracy in action (or not) in Trinidad and Tobago.

Last week, construction started on the power plant being built by Ferrostaal for Trinidad Generation Unlimited (a company controlled by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago) to provide power for the smelter. Ferrostaal reveal that their contract is worth US$700 million, will be funded by the Government and the plant will generate 760 megawatts of electricity.

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...Enill: Govt won't abandon smelter project
Ria Taitt Political Editor
Wednesday, June 17th 2009

There is no intention on the Government's part to abandon the smelter project. But it will respect the High Court judgment and would look at the application for the Certificate of Environmental Clearance to see if there is any room of improvement, Energy Minister Conrad Enill indicated yesterday.

"There are those who say that democracy does not work. It is very clear that democracy is working. It is very clear that if people believe that their rights have not been dealt with in a particular way, they have recourse; and the Government would stand by whatever that judgment (of the court) is. But the Government is also prepared in the interest of the people of Trinidad and Tobago to do whatever it considers necessary for the long-term survival of our people. And at this point in time, we believe that getting into this particular (smelter) business is appropriate. And that is what we would seek to do," Enill said.

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MP 'disappointed' over ruling against EMA
Camille Bethel cbethel@trinidadexpress.com
Wednesday, June 17th 2009

Fitzgerald Jeffrey, MP for La Brea, yesterday mourned the High Court ruling that deemed unlawful the Environmental Management Authority's (EMA) Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) granting Alutrint permission to construct its smelter plant.

Jeffrey said he was disappointed but not bitter.

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PEOPLE POWER
Judge rules in favour of La Brea residents in smelter issue
Denyse Renne drenne@trinidadexpress.com
Wednesday, June 17th 2009

Government's multi-million-dollar Alutrint aluminium smelter project at La Brea has been stopped.

At least temporarily.

The ruling to quash the decision of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) to issue a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) was made in the Port of Spain High Court yesterday afternoon.

The news was met with thunderous, rousing applause from residents and anti-smelter activists who packed the courtroom eager to hear the outcome of the cause for which they protested.

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Judge stops smelter plant
Francis Joseph
Published: 17 Jun 2009

There was celebration at the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, yesterday as Justice Mira Dean-Armorer ruled against the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), effectively halting work on the multi-million dollar aluminium smelter plant at La Brea.

In a 156-page judgment, Dean Armorer granted an order of certiorari, quashing the decision of the EMA to issue a certificate of environmental clearance on April 2, 2007, to Alutrint, the developer. “It is my view that the decision of the defendant, EMA, was procedurally irregular, irrational, and made without regard to the relevant consideration, that is to say, the consideration of the cumulative impact of the three related projects—the power plant, the aluminium complex, and the port facility.”

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Enill: Smelter will be built
Anika Gumbs-Sandiford
Published: 17 Jun 2009

Despite the court ruling to quash the certificate of cearance (CC) granted by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), the million-dollar Alutrint aluminium smelter plant will be constructed, said Energy Minister Conrad Enill.

Enill made this statement in the Senate yesterday, moments after learning that the High Court squashed the granting of the certificate of environmental clearance by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA). Enill said that while the Government was willing to abide with the court ruling, it has intentions to re-visit the issue. Admitting that he was shocked by the judgment, Enill said, government never expects in circumstances where agencies do work, it would have any impact but positive.

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EMA approval for smelter ‘illegal’
By ANDRE BAGOO Wednesday, June 17 2009

HIGH COURT Judge Justice Mira Dean-Armorer yesterday ruled the decision of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) to grant approval for construction of the Alutrint smelter plant in La Brea was illegal and made in an “outrageous”, “irrational” and “procedurally irregular” manner.

Delivering judgment in a series of lawsuits challenging the EMA’s April 2007 granting of a certificate of environmental (CEC) to Alutrint, the judge found that the failure of the EMA to disclose to the public or consider a crucial report which analysed the cumulative impact of the smelter plant alongside a now under-construction power plant as well as a planned port facility had fatally tainted the process used in approving plans for the plant.

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Manning assures healthy, safe La Brea power plant
Camille Bethel cbethel@trinidadexpress.com
Saturday, June 13th 2009

Prime Minister Patrick Manning has given his reassurance that the highest standards of health and safety will be upheld at the power plant being built at the Union Industrial Estate, La Brea.

"Let me make it very clear that we are very conscious of the health and safety requirements that must accompany industrial development. We have, therefore, insisted that all industrial undertakings must have due regard to health, safety and the environment," he said while delivering the feature address at the sod-turning ceremony marking the start of construction of a power plant that will supply electricity for the Alutrint aluminium smelter in La Brea.

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Smelter protesters shunned, betrayed
Letter of the day
Sunday, June 14th 2009

Affected residents, who are among those who must be tested biannually for cancer, stood with supporters from wider Trinidad outside the entrance to the Alutrint smelter complex in peaceful protest.

We called for explanations from Prime Minister Patrick Manning, Alutrint, and the EMA. Instead of getting explanations we watched as our fellow Trinidadians and foreigners, under the protection of the police, drove up in Mercedes Benz, BMWs, and other expensive sport utility vehicles, and into the compound to turn the sod for the machinery that will destroy our lives and communities.

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Smelter 'facts' hard to swallow
Monday, June 15th 2009

Propaganda is defined as the systematic propagation of information reflecting the views and interests of those people (who) advocate such views. Once again Government's Alutrint propaganda machine has been revved under the guise of full-page paid advertisement in the newspapers. There are just two excerpts from one of these on which I would like to comment. The first is in relation to the aluminium industry in Norway of which the advertisement states: "There are people living across the street from the smelters with no harmful effects to their health".

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Drug-free man ‘six weeks pregnant’
Anika Gumbs-Sandiford
Published: 15 Jun 2009

As La Brea residents continue to insist that they should be given first priority to jobs on the multimillion-dollar Alutrint aluminium smelter plant, at least one resident has shown that he intends to go to any length to be hired. According to sources, the man, said to be his 30s, attempted to defraud company officials, earlier this month, when he was asked to bring a vial containing urine to be tested, to ensure that he was drug free.

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Smeltering questions
Opinion
Sunday, June 14th 2009

It is difficult if not impossible to determine the exact status of the Alutrint smelter development. Many opponents put it in the same uncertain state as the Mittal steel plant at Claxton Bay. On the other hand the message coming from the company is that it is going ahead as planned and the Government's position is that it will be the only shareholder but that the project will be funded by the Chinese Government.

But there continue to be several rather important questions that demand firm and unambiguous answers. The first that must be answered is simply this-if aluminium smelting is as environmentally safe as is claimed by the Minister of the Environment why is it necessary to have any health-monitoring scheme?

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Residents: Smelter work shaking us out of bed
Camille Bethel cbethel@trinidadexpress.com
Saturday, June 13th 2009
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_business?id=161490343

The builders of the Alutrint aluminium smelter were faced with another obstacle yesterday-residents angered that heavy construction work was shaking them out of bed.

Residents living near the Union Industrial Estate said they were headed to the site to complain on Thursday, when the construction workers-most of them Chinese labourers-retreated.

Yesterday there was more rancour between residents and officials of Alutrint at the company's office at Vessigny Village.

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We didn’t know about injured child
Published: 13 Jun 2009

The news report in the Guardian of June 11, headlined “Mom blames smelter protest for baby’s death,” is imbalanced and contains several inaccuracies. On June 9, there were protests in La Brea at two points. One was at Sobo Village and the other at Union Village. We are not sure where Thomas was delayed. However, the villagers of Union Village are very sorry to hear that Thomas’ baby, who fell from a bed at home, was injured and later died.

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Smelter plant in limbo
Debra Wanser and Shaliza Hassanali.
Published: 13 Jun 2009

While the Government is moving full speed ahead and spending millions in infrastructure to construct an aluminium complex in La Brea, residents are holding out hope that the High Court will rule in their favour to stop construction of the smelter plant.

Justice Mira Dean-Armorer is expected to give judgment on Tuesday in the Alutrint case, which was filed by Harris Maxine, Annette Alexander, T&T Civil Rights Association, Smelta Karavan and People United Respecting Environment (PURE), challenging the decision of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) to grant a certificate of environmental clearance (CEC) on April 12, 2007, to the National Energy Corporation (NEC) to establish the smelter plant. Judicial review was filed against the EMA to declare null and void the CEC grant for establishment of the smelter complex at Union Estate, La Brea, which was to be owned and operated by Alutrint, Ltd.

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Protester to appear in court
South Bureau
Friday, June 12th 2009

THE 42-year-old man who allegedly climbed into the tray of a van during protest action while Prime Minister Patrick Manning was visiting La Brea on Wednesday is expected to appear in court today.

The man, an activist from Arima, is charged with malicious damage and malicious assault. It is alleged he injured an occupant of the van when he smashed the vehicle's window. It was believed the van was transporting La Brea Member of Parliament Fitzgerald Jeffrey. Damage was said to be $10,000.

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'Don't blame us for death'
Mom: Baby died due to traffic
Nikita Braxton South Bureau
Friday, June 12th 2009

PROTESTERS against the construction of the Alutrint aluminium smelter at La Brea yesterday sent condolences to the mother who lost her one-month-old baby, but said they are not to blame for the incident.

President of the Union Village Council Elijah Gour said the residents were "very disturbed that the death of this child is being portrayed as having happened at the hands of villagers".

But the mother of the child, Melissa Thomas, of Sobo Village, La Brea, said she was not casting blame on the residents although she felt that her baby's life could have been saved if she was not delayed by traffic caused by the protest action.

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Rights and wrongs of smelter construction
Today's Editorial
Published: 12 Jun 2009

Prime Minister Patrick Manning is correct in saying that the Government has to press ahead with the best utilisation of the mineral and other resources of the country to give citizens a better quality of life. In fact, the talk about adding value to basic raw materials has gone on for decades without fulfillment. He, however, does not have the right to be as dismissive as he was in La Brea of citizens who are protesting the construction of the smelter plant. Neither does the Prime Minister have the right to say that citizens of this country, wherever they reside and whatever their environmental concerns, should be quiet about what they believe to be environmental and health hazards posed by the industrial plants to be constructed.

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whither Alutrint?
Mary King
Thursday, June 11th 2009

Alutrint in its newspaper advertisement, "The Birth of an Exciting New Industry", claims that its emergence in the nation's downstream energy industry promises employment, opportunities and advantages for the entire national economy while increasing employment to gas ratio. Hence, the vision is emerging for T&T to fabricate competitive downstream commercial gas-based aluminium products.

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Learn from Caribbean aluminium ‘friends’
Published: 11 Jun 2009

I am not as intelligent as most of our leaders, hence I am seeking some guidance, for the sake of my children, the children of my neighbours, and, in general, the children of T&T.

My Prime Minister is hell bent on building an aluminium smelter, in spite of the protests from the people who elected him. Maybe the protesters are not as intelligent as he is. The reason for his insistence is not clear, and this by itself leaves room for lots of speculation. Recently, Bruce Golding, Prime Minister of Jamaica, mentioned that three of the four aluminium companies operating in Jamaica have closed shop. This after losing in business in excess of 40 years. I wonder if these companies closed due to lack of foresight and vision, as our PM is showing?

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Cancerous smelter?
Ken Ali
Published: 11 Jun 2009

The Environmental Management Authority is committed to forging new alliances and partnerships and strengthening existing relationships, the agency loftily states on its Web site. It’s all in “pursuit of the sustainable development of our country,” the EMA trumpets.

logoBut throughout its 14-year history, the EMA has faced a nagging credibility problem, perceived by many as malleable to the government’s designs, especially with respect to dubious certificates of environmental clearance (CEC). The agency is clearly not boosting its image in its handling of environmental matters pertaining to the hotly-contested Alutrint aluminium smelter at Union Industrial Estate in the La Brea district. There are disquieting related humbugs over health and the environment.

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Mom blames smelter protest for baby’s death
Camille Clarke
Published: 11 Jun 2009

The parents of the baby boy, Melissa Thomas and her husband Stamlin, at the Forensic Science Centre yesterday. Photo: Karla Ramoo
Camille Clarke

A mother is blaming the protest against the use of foreign labour at the smelter plant in La Brea for the death of her one-month-old baby. The mother Melissa Thomas said her baby was not officially registered and died after doctors attempted to revive him at the Point Fortin District Hospital on Tuesday morning. His name would have been Joel Thomas. The baby rolled off a bed at his Sobo Village home on Tuesday morning and was caught between the bed and a wall, Thomas said.

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Activist ‘attacks’ La Brea MP’s van
By Richardson Dhalai
Thursday, June 11 2009

A social activist has been arrested for the malicious damage of La Brea MP Fitzgerald Jeffrey’s pick-up van as Jeffrey was leaving the Union Industrial Estate after a ceremony to mark the start of construction of a US$786 million power plant.

The activist jumped into the tray of the van and pounded the hood prompting Jeffrey to stop the vehicle. Police removed the man from the van and took him to the Point Fortin Police Station where he was charged for malicious damage and disorderly behaviour. He is expected to appear before a Point Fortin magistrate on Friday.

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Full steam ahead for smelter
Yvonne Webb
Published: 10 Jun 2009

Construction of the controversial aluminium smelter plant at La Brea was cemented yesterday as Prime Minister Patrick Manning officially launched the construction of a US$786 million combined cycle power plant for that development.

The plant, the largest in the country with an expected capacity of 720 megawatts, will be constructed on a phase basis by MAN Ferrostaal AG, which has been awarded the project on a full engineer, procure, construct (EPC) basis. The project will be undertaken over a 30-month period with a completion date set for the last quarter of 2011.

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Activists eager to greet PM at Alutrint
Camille Bethel cbethel@trinidadexpress.com
Tuesday, June 9th 2009

When Prime Minister Patrick Manning attends the official unveiling ceremony of a power plant to supply Alutrint's aluminium smelter at La Brea tomorrow, he can expect a greeting from protesting anti-smelter activists and disgruntled residents.

The protesters have set up camp near the entrance to Alutrint's construction site on the Union Industrial Estate, and were preparing yesterday for Manning's visit.

"We will be here when the PM arrives just like we have been for the past week and more. We're not moving now," one resident said yesterday.

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Lee Yuen: All of T&T must be part of smelter fight
Ariti Jankie South Bureau
Monday, June 8th 2009

Calling for a halt to Alutrint smelter plans in La Brea, deputy political leader of the Congress of the People, Wendy Lee Yuen, said the fight must not be left to the residents of La Brea alone.

The smelter plant, she said, would affect the lives of all citizens.

At a media conference following the COP national council meeting held at Gaston Court, Chaguanas, on Saturday, she said that all citizens must get involved to stop the construction of an Alutrint smelter plant in La Brea.

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Anti-smelter activists: Time running out for talk
Saturday, June 6th 2009

Anti-smelter activists are calling for a meeting with Energy Minister Conrad Enill warning that the time for talking was drawing to an end.

The statement was made during a press conference held by activists Dr Peter Vine and Wayne Kublalsingh outside the Financial Complex in Port of Spain.

Vine was arrested earlier this week during a demonstration at the Alutrint aluminium plant in La Brea.

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Fresh wave of protests
No backing down in La Brea...
Camille Bethel cbethel@trinidadexpress.com
Saturday, June 6th 2009

Another front opened up in protests by La Brea residents yesterday with the blockades of roads leading to the Vessigny Beach, which may be closed permanently when the Alutrint aluminium smelter is built.

The Ministry of Tourism-recognised beach resort is across the road from the Union Industrial Estate where preparation work is being done ahead of the plant construction.

The project has for the past week seen protests by residents of surrounding villages. Some have called for the State to abandon the project because of health concerns. Others have either asked to be relocated, compensated for damage to property, or given jobs on the construction site.

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Alutrint's chinese labour Connection
By Raffique Shah
Wednesday, June 3rd 2009

The Alutrint smelter plant, now in its early construction phase, will employ local people on a limited basis. This was a condition included in the agreement between China's EXIM bank and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago when both parties signed off on the final tranche of a US$400 million loan on May 4 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain.

Josieann Richards, Alutrint's manager of communications and community relations, confirmed the labour proviso, saying a condition of the EXIM loan was "that the project hire Chinese contractor CMEC to provide labour and technology for the plant.

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La Brea smelter protest spreads
Camille Bethel cbethel@trinidadexpress.com
Thursday, June 4th 2009

cleaning up: A workman removes pieces of debris which formed part of the blockade put up by La Brea villagers yesterday, as part of their continuing protest action over the Alutrint aluminium smelter plant. -Photo: DAVE PERSAD

Residents of La Brea played a game of cat and mouse with police yesterday, as their protest action spread to several more communities.

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MP’s nephew arrested
By FELICIA RAMPERSAD Thursday, June 4 2009

THE nephew of Fitzgerald Jeffrey, Member of Parliament for the PNM-controlled constituency of La Brea, and another man, were arrested and charged yesterday by police who had to clear debris from the La Brea Main Road following protests by residents over the construction of the Alutrint smelter plant.

Jevonne Jeffrey, 19, of Vance River and Kezlon Cooper, 22, from Pleasantville were arrested and charged with using annoying language during the protest in which residents blocked the main road leading to Point Fortin, Granville, Cedros and Icacos.

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Vine, resident arrested
More La Brea smelter protests
Camille Bethel cbethel@trinidadexpress.com
Wednesday, June 3rd 2009

Government's five-year public relations campaign to get residents of La Brea to agree to the building of its billion-dollar aluminium smelter appears to be unravelling in the face of growing resistance by residents.

Last week's protest for jobs on the industrial site has now grown to include issues of relocation, health concerns, compensation for loss of land, and reports that Vessigny Beach is to be closed.

Protesters were joined on Monday by several anti-smelter activists, including Dr Peter Vine.

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New protest action stalls smelter work again
Camille Bethel cbethel@trinidadexpress.com
Tuesday, June 2nd 2009

A fresh wave of protest action by La Brea residents trying to force the State to give them the homes they want in exchange for relocation, stalled construction work on the Alutrint aluminium smelter again yesterday.

Many of the protesters were the residents of Square Deal Corner, who refused to accept keys to houses offered to them in Debe.

The residents, whose homes must be demolished to make way for the plant's construction on the Union Industrial Estate, want the Housing Development Corporation homes built in San Fernando instead.

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Anti-smelter activists 'arrive'
Radhica Sookraj
Published: 1 Jun 2009

Anti-smelter activists re-enacted the arrival of indentured immigrants at Claxton Bay jetty yesterday, claiming ownership of the vast mangroves, seabed and surrounding vegetation. Saying their forefathers had claimed T&T as their homeland, the activists said the mangroves and fishing stocks belonged to them, and should not be taken away by Government to facilitate any industrial project that would pollute the wetlands.

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Judgment for Smelta Karavan
From: Gail Rajkumar
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2009 4:49:03 PM

Dear All,

Judgment will be delivered in the Smelta Karavan matter on Tuesday 16th June, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. in POS 7, before the Honourable Madame Justice Dean Amorer, in the High Court of Justice, Knox Street, Port of Spain.

Gail Rajkumar

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Give us jobs, Alutrint
By FELICIA RAMPERSAD Thursday, May 28 2009

FOR the second consecutive day, the gates of Alutrint’s Aluminium Smelter Complex construction site at Union Estate in La Brea were blocked yesterday by angry residents who demanded job opportunites on the project.

The protesting residents alleged that Chinese labourers were being hired for the project over the unemployed locals.

A woman complained that she saw foreigners working on the construction site of the smelter plant.

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Residents get jobs
Smelter work to continue...
Camille Bethel cbethel@trinidadexpress.com
Thursday, May 28th 2009

The building of the smelter is expected to resume today, after protesting residents living near the Union Industrial Estate were promised jobs by officials of the Alutrint aluminium plant and the contractor building a power station to supply the smelter.

The deal was negotiated yesterday, the second day of a demonstration that saw the billion-dollar construction project shut down. A team made up of residents from surrounding villages met with representatives of both Alutrint and the power plant builders yesterday and parties came to mutual agreements, the Express was told.

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Villagers protest on smelter site
Camille Bethel cbethel@trinidadexpress.com
Wednesday, May 27th 2009

Work on the aluminium smelter in La Brea-the controversial centrepiece of the Government's industrial development plan-was shut down by protest action involving villagers living around the construction site yesterday.

Scores of people blocked the entrance to Alutrint's compound on the Union Industrial Estate from daybreak, demanding jobs on the worksite.

Residents of the communities of La Brea, Vessigny, Sobo, Vance River and Union Village, were involved.

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Govt’s broken promises
Published: 27 May 2009

Residents shut the gates of Alutrint’s Aluminum Smelter Complex construction site at Union Estate, La Brea, yesterday as they embarked on massive protest over job shortages and broken promises by Government.

The protest occurred a day after the governments of T&T and China signed an agreement to complete the financing of the Alutrint Aluminum Smelter Complex at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain. However, residents of La Brea said the Government hoodwinked them by promising them jobs on the project if they allowed the construction of the smelter, despite warnings by environmental groups that the smelter will cause pollution and death.

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The case against an aluminium smelter
Published: 25 May 2009

Prime Minister Patrick Manning recently sang the praises of the aluminium smelter plant to be constructed in T&T, highlighting the many business opportunities that will come from it for the local economy, as well as other regional economies.

There was an interesting article in Newsweek magazine last month that focused on the richest men in Russia and how the global recession had severely diminished their wealth, as most of them had invested in the oil and metals industries, aluminium in particular, which were now in a severely depressed state.

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'Residents close to Alutrint need to move'
Yolandra John South Bureau
Saturday, May 23rd 2009

The people living in 55 houses which are too close to the Alutrint smelter plant under construction must leave, despite complaints that the new homes built for them are sub-standard.

The National Energy Corporation made this clear on Thursday, in response to complaints by some of the residents of Square Deal Village, located north of the Union Industrial Estate.

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Residents close to Alutrint need to move
Yolandra John South Bureau
Saturday, May 23rd 2009

The people living in 55 houses which are too close to the Alutrint smelter plant under construction must leave, despite complaints that the new homes built for them are sub-standard.

The National Energy Corporation made this clear on Thursday, in response to complaints by some of the residents of Square Deal Village, located north of the Union Industrial Estate.

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Residents respond
Sunday, May 17th 2009

Residents of the affected areas say they are concerned about the need for repeated cancer testing, with many questioning the State's motive for building the plant in their area.

"I don't know why they putting us through this? We never asked for this and, as a matter of fact, we are not even going to be benefitting from this. All we stand to do is lose," one resident of Vance River-a very small rural community told this newspaper as she was waited on the Harris Promenade in San Fernando with fellow villagers for transport to their homes.

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Villagers to get cancer tests
Before construction begins at La Brea smelter plant...
Camille Bethel cbethel@trinidadexpress.com
Sunday, May 17th 2009

Villagers in communities surrounding Alutrint's planned aluminium smelter plant in La Brea will be tested for cancer and other illnesses before construction begins. The villagers will also be tested every two years when the plant begins production.

An estimated 4,000 residents of the "Beltline communities" of Sobo Village, Vessigny, Union Village and Vance River will be part of the testing.

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Galloping dictatorship or delusional planning?
CENTRE STAGE | 8:14 pm
Published: May 8, 2009

While global giants like Mittal and Essar Steel are struggling to stay afloat, and while Alcoa is laying off tens of thousands of workers worldwide, our Government is taking another $2.5 billion loan for a state-owned aluminium company. Fishermen and Friends of the Sea has many questions.
Is the public interest being served if there is no independent cost-benefit analysis? Did we not learn from the 1980s that when Plipdeco flagship companies, like Ispat, were being announced by Eric Williams, US steel giants were folding and merging?

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Environmentalists plan to put brakes on smelter
Yvonne Webb | 7:58 pm
Published: May 7, 2009

One day after the governments of T&T and China signed an agreement to complete the financing of the Alutrint Aluminium Smelter Complex at La Brea, environmentalist Dr Wayne Kublalsingh has said that those opposed to the plant would take court action if necessary to stop its construction. The framework agreement for the provision of US$112 million, representing the balance of a concessional loan from China to T&T for the construction of the smelter plant, was signed on Tuesday.

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$703m China loan for smelter
Juhel Browne jbrowne@trinidadexpress.com
Wednesday, May 6th 2009

China, the world's largest communist state, is lending Trinidad and Tobago TT$703 million (US$112 million) for the construction of the controversial Alutrint smelter in Union Estate, La Brea which, when completed, is set to produce 250,000 tonnes of aluminium annually.

The smelter has raised the ire of some local environmentalists and Union Estate residents who insist that it poses a serious risk to the environment.

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Locals assured of jobs in building Alutrint smelter
Verne Burnett | 7:18 pm
Published: May 6, 2009

The Chinese ambassador to T&T, Huang Xing, said yesterday that the China National Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Corporation (CMEC), which is building the Alutrint Aluminium Smelter Complex in La Brea, will try to hire as many T&T citizens as it can in the construction of the plant.

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Full steam ahead
By LEISELLE MARAJ Wednesday, May 6 2009

DEMAND for this country’s energy products will continue, despite a bleak global economic outlook for this year, Energy Minister Conrad Enill said yesterday.

The minister witnessed the signing of an agreement between the governments of Trinidad and Tobago and China which will jumpstart the provision of finances for the construction of the controversial Alutrint aluminium smelter in La Brea, which begins construction next month.

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Alutrint trainees graduate
Tuesday, March 31st 2009

Scores of young people in the La Brea and Point Fortin areas are now being trained by Alutrint Trinidad for possible employment when the smelter plant goes into operation.

Last Saturday, some 100 youths who were trained in YTEPP classes, as well as special courses by Alutrint, graduated in the first phase, which is expected to make them marketable in various fields.

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Alutrint construction plans on schedule
By Louis B Homer
Wednesday, March 25th 2009

ALUTRINT TRINIDAD is determined to begin production of smelter products by 2011 despite the economic meltdown now affecting several manufacturing companies locally and worldwide.

Already, the company has secured a loan of US$450 million to service the construction of the plant at Union Estate, La Brea, and CEMEC, the Chinese construction company contracted to build the plant has completed the construction of three prefab dwellings to accommodate the 1500 Chinese workers who will be housed on the construction site near Square Deal Village.

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Alutrint plant moves ahead
Louis B Homer South Bureau
Saturday, March 14th 2009

The way is now clear for Alutrint to proceed with its aluminium plant at La Brea.

Sources close to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that the balance of US$100 million has been approved by the Chinese Government and by month's end formal signing of the loan agreement will be executed in Port of Spain.

The original loan for the project was US$400 million.

Last July US$300 million was approved and the balance was pending a decision by the Chinese Government.

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Alutrint trying to relocate "buffer zone residents"
Msg from P Vine
March 11, 2009

You can check the following by going to Square Deal on Thursday 12 March 2009 sometime during the day.

About 10 families are each expecting to be given on that date a bunch of keys.

What are the keys for? In a typical case, for a defective house in La Brea with 3 small bedrooms in place of the 5 large bedrooms the extended family had built for itself at Square Deal, a bachelor kitchen, a bathroom barely big enough to turn round in, not allowed to keep any livestock or dog, with no papers, no figure given on the compensation for the existing home, no figure given for the amount the family would be charged for the new house, no negotiation, no reply to a letter of December 2008 from the community bringing all of this to the attention of EMA.

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Alutrint started dewatering and dynamic compaction
Msg from P Vine.
March 10, 2009

Following printed notice was distributed to nearby residents (I have a copy):

"Alutrint Limited, acting on behalf of the China National Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Corporation (CMEC), wishes to advise that for the period March 02nd 2009 to April 30th 2009, CMEC will be conducting limited 24-hour works on site, including dewatering and dynamic compaction on the eastern end of the site of the Aluminium complex on the Union Industrial Estate."

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Scrap smelter, save us from sickness
After reading the comments of many persons I am more concerned about the continuing development of the Alutrint smelter. I think that the smelter was a poor decision from the start. With the tectonic shift in the global economy over the past year it is more likely to be a financial millstone for us. With low demand it may operate below capacity and generate very little revenue. We already have too much pollution from our hydrocarbon industries, steel and cement plants.

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Unsatisfactory Resident Relocation & Resettlement

The following letter is on the public file at EMA. Readers of stopthesmelter@yahoogroups.com please read carefully and initiate or join action on this. NEC/Alutrint and EMA have not responded to the letter up till now except to acknowledge receipt of the letter.

Re: Relocation of persons to make way for the Proposed Alutrint Aluminum Smelter Plant

I received today a confidential letter dated 16th December, 2008 titled, 'Relocation of persons within the Buffer Zone of the Proposed Alutrint Aluminum Smelter Plant' from ROW Services Limited who we understand have been retained by the NEC to manage the relocation of residents within the buffer zone of the proposed Alutrint aluminum smelter plant.

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Smelter plant 'good to go'
...Alutrint to get US$100m loan balance by early April
Louis B Homer South Bureau
Wednesday, February 4th 2009
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_business?id=161434187

Despite the global economic meltdown, the multi-billion-dollar Alutrint smelter plant at La Brea has secured financing and will be built.

"At the end of March or early April, the company will receive the balance of US$100 million loan from the Exim Bank of China," Philip Julien, Alutrint Trinidad's chief executive officer, said.

The State-controlled China Exim Bank is the world's largest credit agency.

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Problems for Alutrint smelter

Curtis Rampersad
Tuesday, February 3rd 2009
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_business?id=161433678

Losses in the energy sector are piling up as the global meltdown continues to play havoc with the local economy.

The latest victim is Government's billion-dollar joint-venture aluminium plant Alutrint at La Brea.

Energy Minister Conrad Enill said yesterday that Alutrint, which is 60 per cent owned by Government, had trouble accessing international credit to fund the project which planned to roll off aluminium products from its Union Estate facility by 2011.

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Householders still in Alutrint dark

Thursday, December 25 2008
http://www.newsday.co.tt/letters/0,92384.html
THE EDITOR: Newsday on December 20, 2008 reported that Alutrint gave a Christmas treat “as a way of thanking 60 households that were relocated to accommodate the smelter plant.”

The truth is that a few households were relocated many months ago. But nearly all buffer zone residents in Square Deal and Sobo are still in place and are not getting any satisfactory terms and conditions for relocation. In fact, no terms and conditions in writing, full stop. But they are being asked to move.

There has been no public or “stakeholder” participation or negotiation on relocation, nor on a Social Engagement and Intervention Plan. This failure appears to be contrary to conditionalities under which the EMA granted a Certificate of Environmental Clearance for the smelter.

Peter Vine
Couva

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http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-12-25/news1.html
Since Guardian launched their new site, this link is not longer working
Government has decided to immediately discontinue all plans to establish an Alcoa aluminium smelter on the Cap-de-Ville estate, Prime Minister Patrick Manning signalled yesterday.

“Instead, we shall accelerate development of a new industrial estate offshore at Otaheite Bank from which aluminium production can now be pursued together with other industrial plants,” Manning said in a televised Christmas Day address to the nation.

The PM said the Government would also continue with the Alutrint plant at La Brea, which, he indicated, could form the basis for further aluminium production facilities in T&T.

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December 4th 2008
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article?id=161413284
Energy Minister Conrad Enill says Energy projects that were approved by Government before the start of a decline in the world economy will proceed as usual.

Speaking to members of the Point Fortin Chamber of CommerceÂ at a ceremony marking "Oil at 100", Enill said, "The Government will proceed with projects that build capacity, provide new jobs and technology transfer."

He said the projects that will not be affected are the Alutrint smelter plant, Ammonia/Urea/Melamine project, ANSA McAL UAN project, LNG Train X, Essar Steel Iron Complex, New Iron Plant, Malaeic Anhydride Processing Facility and Westlake Ethylene Complex.

Enill said: "Those projects represent the long-term diversification programme which will maximise the benefits along the value chain."

He explained that the Trinidad and Tobago economy had now become "a gas-based economy" and revenues derived from this source now account for 60 per cent of local revenue. He said approximately 77 per cent of the gas produced locally was shipped to the United States, "while we also enjoy markets in Spain, Japan, the United Kingdom, Mexico, India and other countries of the world".

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