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BACKGROUND

Trinidad was first colonized by the Spanish; the islands came under British control in the early 19th century. The islands' sugar industry was hurt by the emancipation of the slaves in 1834. Manpower was replaced with the importation of contract laborers from India between 1845 and 1917, which boosted sugar production as well as the cocoa industry. The discovery of oil on Trinidad in 1910 added another important export. Independence was attained in 1962. The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thanks largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing. The main Caribbean producer of oil and gas, has earned a reputation as an excellent investment site for international businesses. The economy benefits from a growing trade surplus. Economic growth in 2006 reached 12.6% as prices for oil, petrochemicals, and liquefied natural gas remained high, and foreign direct investment continued to grow to support expanded capacity in the energy sector. The gas and oil exploration is currently the driving force of the economy. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has decided to open two smelter plants using Liquefied Natural Gas at a subsidized price.

INTRODUCTION
The roads that wander through the southwestern peninsula of Trinidad pass small fishing villages, mangrove swamps, and coconut plantations skirt herds of buffalypso and reveal sheltered beach coves. In February 2006, Alcoa signed an agreement in principle with the Trinidad and Tobago Government to build a 341,000 metric-tons-per-year aluminum smelter and related facilities in the Chatham area. This construction plans to threaten and fundamentally alter their gentle landscape. There has been sparked criticism from local residents and environmentalists.
The other plant, Alutrint, is a partnership between the locally-based National Energy Corporation (NEC) and the Sural Group of Venezuela. It would be 60 percent owned by the government...