ttgapers.com

As environmental groups in Trinidad and Tobago oppose the construction of an aluminum smelter, the Prime Minister, Patrick Manning, who supports the construction, confirmed that Trinidad will be represented at the climate change talks in Copenhagen, Denmark next week. This came after it was announced that the Port of Spain Climate Change Consensus – The Commonwealth Climate Change Declaration was signed after the CHOGM held in Trinidad this week.

Declaring his administration has always subscribed to ‘sustainable development’, Manning said, “There are extremists who take the view that there are certain types of industries that should not be in the industrial mix at all in your country. It is possible and it is being done right now where aluminum smelters are operating, and operating in a manner that poses no threat to the health and well being of animal, plant or human life in the countries in which they operate. There are some people who are just not prepared to accept that.”

He said emissions standards have been placed on the aluminium smelter that ‘are higher than the standards to which the rest of the world has become accustomed.’ Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy says the establishment of an aluminium smelter, such as that now under construction in Trinidad and Tobago, and other forms of industrial development are not in conflict with the goal of combating climate change.

In doing so, during the current Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM), Sarkozy became an ally of Prime Minister Patrick Manning, who has expressed his intention to continue his development plans for this country, inclusive of the Alutrint smelter at La Brea.

Sarkozy’s support came even as both men have been participating in talks on reducing the pollution that smelting causes, ahead of a crucial meeting on the climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark, that begins in just nine days. He had specifically attended CHOGM to hold talks with Commonwealth leaders on the issue of climate change on the invitation of Manning.

“Copenhagen doesn’t mean the opposite of growth, it doesn’t mean capping growth, it doesn’t mean refusing access to growth for countries that so need it; even though Trinidad and Tobago has important resources, a high standard of living but nobody should have to choose between growth and protecting the environment. Nobody.” Sarkozy said, speaking via an interpreter.

Asked specifically if the development of a smelter in Trinidad and Tobago and other forms of industrial development go against the very idea of saving the environment, Sarkozy said, “Of course not. The whole point of Copenhagen is that we are not asking countries to choose between growth, on the one hand, and protecting the environment on the other.”

He suggested that the real objective for all developing countries, including Trinidad and Tobago, should be to have ‘carbon-free’ growth, and added that to achieve this ‘we need figures, goals and means to help you and, of course, technological transfer’.

In the same breath, Sarkozy earned himself a lot of scorn at yesterday’s Panit 2 Planet meeting, a protest forum held by a coalition of environmental, agricultural and civic groups. Panit 2 Planet was meant to provide a people’s talk-shop to counter the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting being held at the Hyatt Regency hotel on Wrightson Road.

“President Sarkozy is ‘farse and out of place’ to come to our country and tell us to accept smelters,” said Norris Deonarine, education and research officer of the National Food Crop Farmers Association (NFFA). Deonarine continued, “We are sure that he cannot simply plant a smelter anywhere in France or in the middle of Paris, at his leisure. His statements are unacceptable.”