December 03, 2008

Trinidad PM supporting Essar Steel plant

IANS quoted Mr Patrick Manning Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago as saying that the USD 1.2 billion steel unit proposed by the Mumbai based Essar group will proceed on schedule despite emotional protests. He added that the construction of the steel plant will begin shortly.

Mr Manning said that "This is an emotional issue for many. But when you examine the facts of the case they are not borne out by the emotion you are seeing. In fact people are shedding heat on it, not light."

The prime minister’s response followed several protests since the announcement that the plant would be constructed in the Pranz Gardens in Claxton Bay.

Prominent attorney at law Mr Prakash Ramadhar had joined the fray in condemning the government for its decision to allow the plant despite protests by some of the 1,500 residents, all of who have been living there for over a generation. They view the project as a distasteful, inhumane and dangerous proposition, with Mr Ramadhar describing the unit and its potential effect on the community and the environment as the nature of mother nature.

Mr Ramadhar asked the residents to defend themselves not by violence but by networking with one another and taking lawful methods of action. He added that "Use this issue to show the government that the residents will not sit by and let their lives be destroyed."

Mr Prem Singh administrative manager of Essar Steel said that the proposed plant would be one of the most modern in the world and would not have a destructive effect on the environment. He added that the plant would provide hundreds of jobs during construction and in smaller number upon completion.