Lindsay Mackoon, Gleaner Writer
MANNING
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad:
DESPITE DAILY protests by residents, Prime Minister Patrick Manning says a multimillion dollar aluminium smelter plant will be built at Cap De Ville in south-west Trinidad.
He made the announcement Friday following a Cabinet meeting. The plant will be constructed by Alcoa Primary Metals Limited.
PROPOSED DEAL
Villagers have told the Prime Minister not to go ahead with the proposed deal, citing a number of reasons, including environmental damage and disease.
But in a statement yesterday, Alcoa said the opposite was true. According to the company, many communities in the United States, Brazil, Europe and Australia consider Alcoa smelters to be longstanding and highly regarded partners in their development.
According to Alcoa, claims of environmental damage and disease were untrue. The company gave the assurance it will build a safe plant and conduct a thorough environmental assessment.
Under an agreement, both Guyana and Jamaica are to supply the aluminium ore for the plant. Activist Wendy Lee Wen who heads a group protesting the setting up the plant is calling on Prime Minister Manning to rethink his position.
She appealed to him to take the matter before Parliament for a decision and let the people decide.
Also vehemently objecting to the plant is Gary Aboud who heads a group called Fishermen of the Sea.
