Forgive Me, But Does This Sound Like Democracy? and Better, Does This Make Sense?

...During the sod-turning ceremony for the construction of PowerGen's new power project at Point Lisas on Wednesday, Manning said plans to construct several industrial plants along the south-western peninsula would continue despite objections from residents and environmental organisation.

"Many of the lips that are speaking on this matter are by no means speaking from knowledge," he said.

Beache called on Manning to visit Chatham and discuss with residents their concerns over the construction of the plant.

"We don't see the Prime Minister or any other Minister here unless it's during election time," he said.

He claimed that representatives of Alcoa, the international company responsible for the construction of the plant, had never asked residents how they felt about the new developments...

Source: Manning Making Excuses, Trinidad Express, Saturday, April 1st 2006.

I suppose that one of the problems for politicians who like power more than representation is that people keep getting underfoot. Nevermind that they live there. Nevermind that the environmental agencies are doing their jobs. For enough money, why not go as far as storing nuclear waste? As long as someone's making a dollar, right?

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Planning's Town and Country Division are sending out letters to bring down mobile phone towers because they weren't cleared by Town and Country... like so many other buildings, including government buildings.

So on one hand, 'people don't know what they're talking about' and the government proceeds on smelters, but on the other hand 'people know what they're talking about' when it comes to mobile phone towers and the alleged harmful effects of mobile phone towers.

Here's a conundrum for the Vision 2020 planning committee.

Can You Hear Me Now?

Meanwhile, Francomenz has a good post on Sean Luke.

What a state Trinidad and Tobago is in. A known polluting source is being permitted, questionable pollution sources (mobile towers) are being ordered to be taken down, with a backdrop of a society which apparently permits the gruesome deaths of children not far from their own homes.