Trinidad: Judge Stops Smelter Plant

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Even in a tropical paradise there are environmental problems but this one regards the construction of an aluminum smelter plant which the Trinidad government's Environmental Management Agency (EMA) authorized.

Creating what may the biggest political problem in Trinidad's history; the remorseless destruction of 800 acres of tropical landscape which the developer and smelter operator, Alutrint, considered as "space for a small plant."

Trinidad's EMA granted permission for the development viewing the project as "the first time we have turned a natural resource into value-added downstream production." However, citizens formed coalitions and protested sufficiently and repeatedly which forced the issue into court at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain.

Judge Mira Dean-Armorer quashed the EMA decision finding that not only the construction and operation of a smelter, but the additional construction of a power plant and port facility together constituted a threat of serious and irreversible damage to the environment.

The case will go up on appeal as the government is adamant that the project should proceed regardless of the consequences to the environment and the citizens of La Brea, Trinidad where the proposed plant would be built.

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