The Manicou Report

Alcoa’s CEC Declined?

Guardian 25/12/2006

I want you all to listen to this. Remember last Christmas Eve when Santa Manning came on TV and in his Christmas message to the nation he declared to us that he had a change of heart about the smelter in Chatham? Apparently is not so. The truth is that the Environmental Management Authority denied a certificate of Environmental Clearance not only for the Smelter but for the entire industrial estate in Chatham. But that’s not the story we were told, now was it?

We were led to believe that it was a gift from der Führer, that he after much thought and deliberation, decided that he would never subject the Chathamites to a smelter. Even long after that Christmas Eve message he stated that the Government may well have to reconsider its decision to move the smelter project from Chatham. How could the reconsider it if was entirely out of their control? Furthermore in the day after the address to the nation when speculation was rife about the reason for the change of heart, why didn’t those in power just tell the nation that the CEC was declined? In fact they never gave any reason at all. Does anyone else understand this?

Here’s a recording I made of Power 102 a few nights ago when Anil, Chris and Sprang were discussing these new developments along with some other smelter issues. By the way, did you know that the head of the Environmental Authority, Dr John Agard, is against the smelter, but presided over a board that approved the smelter in La Brea, yet didn’t resign in indignation? Who would have thought?

Tomorrow: The UNC Alliance

Posted in Corporate, Development, Environment, PNM, Politics | 2 Comments »

Alutrint gets Clearance for Smelter

Yesterday it was announced that Alutrint has received their certificate of environmental clearance from the EMA. I have to admit it came as quite a shock to me as I imagine it did to a lot of other people. With so many other things going on, the smelters really haven’t entered my mind for a long while. Obviously the people to whom smelters are important haven’t put it out of their thoughts and probably thought it best to relay the news during this period when too much cricket has dulled our senses.

Whatever the reason for the timing, I can’t help but wonder if this means that we’re getting a smelter for sure or if someone or something is going to stop it.

Posted in Corporate, Development, Environment | No Comments »

Cruise Ships for Cricket World Cup

Well at least someone is taking the bull by the horns. At least someone’s thinking. In light of the Carifesta IX fiasco which resulted in hotel rooms for the 1200 performers being scarce, someone has decided that cruise ships would help solve the problem. Because if we had trouble finding space for just 1200 performers it will be chaos with the thousands of Indian spectators alone.

I think it’s actually a good idea. In lieu of building massive new hotels which I’m pretty sure Patos has been itching to do, utilizing the instant hotel that is a cruise ship, is the best thing.

The best part of it is that it shouldn’t really cost the Government anything since the ships themselves would be earning revenue from the bookings themselves. Sounds great if you ask me.

I’m sure that I like many other people would love to get through this Cricket World Cup and not be embarrassed. Although I want Grenada, Jamaica or Barbados to also shine, the vast majority of my concern is set aside for Trinidad. It’s almost like a cricket version of Room Raiders and I don’t want for us to be caught with our pants down.

For sure, you and I know that there are embarrassing situations just waiting to happen. Hell, I walk down the streets of Port of Spain all the time and see things that are potentially embarrassing. Whether it’s how we treat the homeless or the filthy streets, there’s always something. And oh gosh that filth is something. I will hate for the thousands of tourists to come to Port of Spain or even drive along our highways and see how dirty and smelly Trinidad is. I honestly hope that the Government is planning to do a lot of clean up work for the country in preparation for the World Cup - a NARescent National Clean-Up Day if you will. The clean up of High Street in San Fernando was a great start, but Trinidad definitely needs more.

In fact, think we’ll do well to take a few lessons from Rotenburg, Germany, the city that hosted the Soca Warriors during World Cup 2006. But I won’t hold my breath for that one.

Posted in Cricket, Development, Environment, Infrastructure, Social Issues, Sports | 7 Comments »

Earthquake, Building shake

At 9:08 this morning 29th September I saw my life flash before my eyes. This after Trinidad & Tobago was hit by a major earthquake measuring 6.1 (or 6.0 depending on which scientist you ask) on the Richter scale. The quake was centred 25 miles NW of Port of Spain.

That was the news report, now hear what really happen.

Star showing center of activity

I sit down my desk, I just finished replying to comments left on the blog, and I was in the midst of writing a post on a story I had just read in the Guardian, when I feel like the house shaking. 1 second later I realize it was an earthquake. So I say, ok it must be one of them jokey 4.0 earthquake we does get so I will sit it out. Then all of a
sudden thing get strong. The whole house start to shake like mad. Allyuh I was actually hearing the rumbling. Then all of a sudden I hear things downstairs start falling and crashing. Now by this time I done leave my desk and call out to my mother to come downstairs. So I start heading downstairs to sit under the dining room table (which is our agreed upon earthquake sanctuary), but I could hardly walk. Because when I tell allyuh shake, is real shake for true. The whole staircase was swaying like a rope bridge (and the thing is the steps done slippery already). All this time I hearing thing crashing, and the truth was I thought the house was coming down. Because I have never in my whole life felt anything like that. When I tell you I bawling out Jesus name, I eh lie you know. I calling Jesus like is first time.

So I am sitting under the table and hearing things falling down all around me and I am just waiting to hear a concrete wall crumble and the wood floors to just give way under me. Because not only is the earthquake strong, but it going on forever. We sitting there and is like the thing just won’t end. It just kept rumbling, and rumbling. You hearing children from the primary school nearby bawling for dear life. I began thinking about recent earthquakes in Turkey, Iran and Pakistan and I start wondering just how bad is this thing going to be? Is this the big one?

I don’t know if anyone has ever experienced anything like it but let me tell you something, it’s a very unnerving experience, because there are so may things you just don’t know. You know know if it’s going to get stronger, how long it’s going to last, is your house going to start crumbling on top of you? You sit there and wait till it has its way and maybe you’ll be alive still when it’s all over.

Nevertheless, in about 15-20 seconds it was all over. It may have been sooner, but I was trembling so hard it was hard to figure out when it had actually ended. We got out from under the table to see that vases and picture frames had fallen of shelves, and a very secure oven door was flung open and still swinging. But surprisingly, nothing was broken. Across at the primary school, all the children and their teachers came out into the yard still looking a little wobbly.

Surprisingly there was no damage to our house, which I am quite frankly shocked at, considering the beating it had taken. On the CNC3 midday news, they reported that the roof of the President’s House was damaged. Also they showed us a spot on one of the twin towers where a window pane had popped out and was hanging from the frame. CNC3 also showed us scenes where hundreds of office workers were milling about on the Promenade, post-earthquake.

On the radio a woman said that the quake was so bad that it shoved her car over onto the shoulder, and that other drivers whose cars were also affected by the quake thought that they had been hit from behind.

The thing I was mad about, however, was that power went out for about 2 hours, which made it impossible for me to blog about it till almost 1 pm. It’s funny but the first thing that came to my mind following the quake was “I have to blog this”.

Well it all turned out fine. There doesn’t seem to be any injuries as of yet and all dog, cyat and rat seem to be doing ok. It’s back to normal. Peace.

*So we got hit by a second quake that the seismologists are referring to as an “aftershock”. For my money that could have been a whole other earthquake. Here I am at about 2:30 sitting at my desk again trying to type up a letter, when I feel like someone picks up my house and the drops it back down and starts shaking it again. This time I am all along and I run under the dining room table again to wait it out. Thank God that it doesn’t last as long as the first one (it lasted maybe 8-10 seconds). Of course I stayed sitting under the table for another 2 minutes to make sure it was over. I spoke to my neghbour after the second one and she said she had the same sensation of being lifted and dropped. We had a series of smaller afershocks afterwards, some of which I felt. Seismologists say that we could get yet another aftershock, which will be smaller between 5.3 and 5.1 - of course these are the same people who say earthquakes can’t be predicted. So I’m still jittery from the whole drama and I think it would be a while before i get over it.

Posted in Environment, Miscellaneous, Personal Story | 9 Comments »

Chatham

No matter what side of an argument you’re on, you always find some people on your side that you wish were on the other side - Jascha Heifetz

I feel sorry for the people of Chatham. A large part of that pity I feel comes from the fact that they have to fight ALCOA as well as their own Government who want to place a smelter in their backyards. I wish that the powers that be would listen to the pleas of the Chathamites*, as well as the evidence that shows that an aluminium smelter will bring mass pollution to the people of the southwest peninsula. If the Government isn’t swayed by that argument, then I wish they would be swayed by the argument that clearing 1,500 acres of forest would be an ecological nightmare.

However, I also feel pity for them because with this struggle and in other struggles, sometimes you just can’t pick the people who want to struggle with you. I’ve been observing Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj’s participation in the anti-smelter protests with much interest and I can’t help but feel that RLM is making a career out of riding the backs of these poor people. It seems apparent that wherever there is a cause to be championed, there is RLM in business suit or slogan-bearing T-shirt championing the cause. Actually it’s not even every cause, but surely it’s the cause of everyone opposed to some Government initiative. The Government announces plans for the reconstruction of southeast Port of Spain, Ramesh is there fighting for the residents. The smelter is coming to Chatham, Ramesh is in Chatham.

Does RLM really believe that the smelter is a bad thing, or more importantly would he be in Chatham if there were no party politics involved? I don’t know for sure, but i have a hard time saying no. They say politics make strange bedfellows, and the people of Chatham have made a strange ally in RLM.

I can’t say I blame them. Like him or not. RLM is a powerful man with a voice. Like him or hate him, people listen to him. How can they in their right minds refuse his help? If I were in deep trouble, would I refuse Ramesh’s services pro bono? Not likely. Not at all, I should say. That doesn’t mean that I would cease to dislike him.

When I began this post, my aim was to rail on RLM for popping up wherever there was a cause to be championed. But when I began to think about it, I realized there are not many other people standing up for the residents of Chatham except for the members of the Opposition and a few other people here and there. The people of Chatham have been largely ignored by the people with voices. Where are all the Trinidadian celebrities, all the cherished athletes who can lend support to the Chathamites? Instead it’s a group of men, women and children who have been left to fend off ALCOA.

Whatever you want to believe, believe that RLM is getting something back from his participation. Whenever he makes representation on their behalf, trust that it will find its way to a UNC platform for all to behold. Whether the smelter comes or not, Ramesh would have gained something. He fortunes won’t rise and fall with those of the Chathamites. (Of course, when the smelter comes, we’ll all lose, but that’s not the way in which I mean it.) And so the Chathamites will have to accept whatever voice they get and I can’t say I blame them.

*By the way I have no idea if people from Chatham are called Chathamites, but it sounds good to me.

Posted in Development, Environment, Politics | 13 Comments »

Rowley vs. Alcoa

Alcoa gets a special mention in the “Dotish Talk” column today. Not specifically because of anything they said, but because of Keith Rowley’s blabberings.

In the red corner, Keith Rowley, Government Minister. Minister of Housing, but refreshing qualified to support any Government initiative. In the blue corner, faceless corporate giants, Alcoa. You be the judge.

	Vs.
Dr. Keith Rowley		Alcoa
“Today we listen to those who talk about diversifying the economy, the coming of an aluminium smelter is a signal to that, because an aluminium industry is the creation of a completely new aspect of our economic develpoment.”		“In February 2006, Alcoa signed an agreement in principle with the government of Trinidad and Tobago to build and operate a modern, low-emission aluminium smelter in the south-west of the country, based on energy derived from Trinidad and Tobago’s vast natural gas resources.”

Is anyone else confused? I’m sure when “they” talk about diversifying the economy, they’re talking about diversifying away from oil and natural gas. Alcoa wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for our natural gas, and well, the Government’s stupidity. They even said it on their website. Their coming here is based on energy derived from Trinidad and Tobago’s vast natural gas resources. How much clearer could it be? However on page 9 of today’s Guardian, Rowley is telling the house that the smelter is an attempt to diversify our economy.

Alcoa’s entrance would require T&TEC to double its output and since our natural gas reserves are estimated to last about 17 years, bringing Alcoa here is a back door method to ensuring that in a few years’ time, we’ll have to diversify.

So who do I believe? The Government minister or Alcoa? I’ll take my chances with Alcoa on this one.

Posted in Environment, PNM, Politics | 7 Comments »

Port of Stain

Walking through Port of Spain and then Arima with a friend from the United States made me realize something. I live in an absolutely filthy country. I always knew it was dirty, but walking through it with a non-Trinidadian can really open your eyes as to how nasty the country is. Litter is everywhere - just name it, you can find it. Paper or plastic. Cans or beer bottles. And don’t forget the ever present sweet drink bottle. I swear, we have sweet drink bottles like other countries have pigeons.

And part of me has given up hoping for a clean T&T. How much money do you have to pump into an ad campaign before you realize that many Trinidadians are just dirty people with consciences that don’t balk at nasty? Littering is something I could never do and will never ever do. I will hold an empty soda bottle for a mile and a half or shove a doubles paper bag deep into my pockets rather than unloading it unto the streets. That’s just how I am. Watching somebody littering makes me livid. I’ve never really cussed out anyone, but if there’s ever a time when I want to it’s then.

I remember a few months ago a nearby high school staged a huge march for the environment. They took it through from the school, through the town and back up to the school again. I remember seeing a couple fifth formers who lived close by marching walking along with the throng. I remember in particular a neighbour girl who is very noticeable because she has to be at least 6′ 2″. So I’m thinking what a great idea for all these kids to get involved and take a stand for their country’s environment. When everyone else seems to care less about the environment here were these children trying to make a difference.

But a a.

The very next day people, I’m standing looking out my window when I see the very same aforementioned girl eating from a brown paper bag. When she was done, she looked around furtively and not seeing anyone looking, crumpled it and threw it into the drain. It’s not yet twenty four hours later, but here she was littering the very environment whose cause she championed for four miles of blazing sun. I was shocked. Yet because of my Christianity I couldn’t deliver the cussing appropriate for the circumstance.

So it’s not that people don’t know that they shouldn’t litter. It’s that people don’t care. They just don’t care. Who cares that the boundary between Port of Spain and the Beetham Landfill is blurred at best.

And we’ve become so used to it. Sadly it took me the visit of an American to realize just how dirty Trinidad & Tobago is. We don’t even notice the clogged drains or strewn trash. The sidewalks are supposed to be filthy. As a matter of fact, it won’t even be a sidewalk without the vagrants and mangy dogs.

For goodness’ sake, has anyone taken a good look at the Hall of Justice recently? It’s already not the prettiest building in the country, but add too that the mossy walls, and voila, it fits right into Port of Stain. Don’t even get me started on City Gate. Talk about rooting in filth. And yet here’s Colm Imbert talking about creating a new transport hub for the soon-to-be rail service yet we can’t clean the one we already have.

So campaigns won’t work - at least none of the campaigns used till present. Although the people who litter here will never go to New York or Toronto and litter, they just won’t see the connection between the two. We have to change the minds of the people who litter and this won’t be easy. After all in Trinidad it’s a battle for the mind when it comes to all our vices, pure and simple. Until that day, I guess I will just have to get used to being embarrassed in front of my guests.

Posted in Environment, Infrastructure | 12 Comments »