This Sunday, March 26, several religious groups that will be affected by the proposed Industrial Estate in Chatham, will join with the Chatham/Cap-de-Ville Environmental Protection Group and Cedros Peninsula United in a procession from the Chatham Junction through the site for the proposed Industrial Estate. They will assemble at the site for an interfaith service.

Participants in the procession are expected to assemble at the Chatham Junction from 9 a.m. to begin the procession at 10 a.m.

A Wednesday, March 22 release states:

“The proposed 3,116 acres Industrial Estate (originally 2000 acres but by NEC's Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) application dated November 29, 2006, the site is to be increased by another 530 hectares (approx 1,166 acres) – will destroy eight community sites of worship – a Hindu temple, a mosque, a Pentecostal church, a Catholic church, an Anglican church, a Seven Days Adventist church, an in-house Open Bible church, a Baptist church, the Chatham Government School, the Chatham Community Centre, the Chatham Youth Camp, the Chatham Health Centre, two recreation grounds, two cemeteries, a former Free Slave settlement called Bourg Congo, the sea coast and surrounding seas; as well as our sea beds, the fishing industry and the small fisherman… all will be destroyed.

In addition to the dislocation of our residents, we have been objecting to the proposed Industrial Estate on the grounds of environmental and health hazards; rapid depletion of our declining energy reserves; from all report, subsidisation of a huge quantum of our gas, amounting to a big “give away”, a short term development strategy that is fraught with irremediable long-term consequences.

Alcoa's record of devastation and fines for breaches of environmental law in different parts of the United Sates of America, as well as attempts at cover-ups of environmental misdemeanours in other parts of the world, Australia, for example, the lack of appropriate environmental and regulatory infrastructure by our local institutions to monitor environmental breaches.

“And even though we have advanced developmental proposals which will ensure the integrity of our environment, health and community livelihood and afford protection to our coastlines, sea beds, small fishing industry and the small fisherman. The Government continues to treat us and our proposals with absolute contempt, not even acknowledging our submissions.

And to make matters worst, the Government recently announced that the proposed 341,000 metric tons aluminium smelter will be 100% owned by Alcoa. At current world prices and future projects, Alcoa stands to easily make US$10 billion profits per annum. This industrialization by Capitulation make the “sell out” of our people and resources and absolute absurdity against which all the people of T&T must stand up.

At the same time Alcoa is moving in with the assurance that the EMA will grant the Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) for the proposed Industrial Estate and the Aluminium Smelter.

We are heartened by the way the people of T&T are responding to our call to STAND UP! And are confident that we shall turn back the Government and Alcoa in their designs to annihilate our people and community.

Join us at the Chatham Junction from 9 a.m. on Sunday, March 26 where we shall begin our procession.

Come out and make a stand for T&T.