Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley says the highest rates of poverty occur in the south-western peninsula, yet the Government is unwilling to ease poverty there, by refusing to building the aluminium smelter. Speaking at a political meeting held at Majouba Junction, La Brea, on Saturday night, Rowley told La Brea constituents that they were being discriminated against by the Government's refusal to industrialise the area. Saying that central Trinidad had progressed because of the industrial estate at Point Lisas, Rowley contended that the PNM had chosen La Brea as the location for the smelter because of its socio-economic conditions. "The issue of a smelter in La Brea is not a PNM issue," he said.
"It is an issue for the people of Trinidad and Tobago about a plant located in La Brea for the people of Trinidad and Tobago, and the choice for the location in La Brea was made, that choice made by a PNM government for a particular reason. "The reason is all the surveys of the condition of life in the country of Trinidad and Tobago have demonstrated that the incidents of poverty is highest in the south-western peninsula in and around La Brea and environs." Condemning Government's decision to stop the project, Rowley called on Government to explain its actions. "Now that you said that you closing down this plant, where, when and how was this decision taken?" he said.
"What was the basis of the decision, on what basis are you shutting it down? Tell us what it will cost the people of Trinidad and Tobago to shut down this plant. What will you replace it with? What will the people of the south-west peninsula look forward to and they say never mind, after it close down, we will find something to do down there." He added that the industrial base of T&T was being threatened by the behaviour of the Government. He also lamented poor policing of T&T's coastal waters. "They don't want to spend money to protect the borders," Rowley said. They were saying that it too expensive to secure the periphery.?
We are the only county that says it is too expensive to secure our territory, because if we cannot secure our territory, we can offer nothing to the people of T&T." During the meeting, Rowley had to verbally chastise an intoxicated supporter who interrupted his speech with continual shouts of "My Prime Minister." Rowley told the supporter to be quiet when serious issues were being addressed. Many of the PNM supporters braved inclement weather to attend the meeting which took place under two tents at the side of the road.