Trinidad Express reported that Ms Kamla Persad Bissessar deputy leader of UNC has called on Mr Patrick Manning PM of Trinidad and Tobago to announce a moratorium on the aluminum smelter plants.

She said at the UNC’s National Assembly at the Rienzi Complex in Couva that as we conclude CHOGM and approach Copenhagen, I call on the Prime Minister to cleanse our image in the world community and demonstrate a commitment to emission reduction by announcing a moratorium on the planned aluminum smelter plants proliferation, pending further studies.

Ms Bissessar said that she was in the process of formulating a post prosperity economic development plan which will respect the Kyoto Accord and the outcome of the upcoming Copenhagen talks, as well as global economic circumstances. She said that there will be a review of all the energy intensive and capital intensive mega projects and consideration of appropriate modifications or alternatives as part of a diversification strategy.

She also used the opportunity to criticize Manning over the recently concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting as well as the Fifth Summit of the Americas. His 2 back to back ostentatious and lavish summits have come and now practically gone and we are left with the promise of benefits, billions in debt and a Prime Ministerial inflated ego.

She said that Mr Manning is not concerned with the pressing issue of climate change and slammed him for his defence of this country’s rank as one of the top ten polluters in the world. She added that Mr Manning wants to use the basis of ’absolute emission’ or total emission instead of looking at our disproportionate rate of polluting the environment. This is like claim to a ’right to pollute’ on the part of Trinidad and Tobago. He wants the advantage of masking our ugliness as a top ranking polluter and goes unnoticed in the crowd.

(Sourced from trinidadexpress.com)