By: Kimberly Ramkhalawan
August 19, 2022
Citizens fear greater surge in crime
What is being described as a result of a series of lawlessness that got out of hand in Trinidad and Tobago, the ban imposed on export of scrap iron collected is being slammed as unfair.
For over a decade, manhole covers from streets have gone missing while wire fencing, derelict vehicles and old metals from electronics have been harvested all to be shipped in containers around the world for recycling metals in China, where iron is seen as lucrative barter.
However, in recent months the pulling down of electrical and copper wires used for power and cable lines by these scrap iron collectors looking to make a quick buck has resulted in communication services disrupted across the island.
Digicel and Bmobile, the country’s mobile providers saw millions of dollars in their fibre optic wire vandalized in the last two weeks, leaving customers without any critical service for atleast 36 hours and more.
The widespread damage amounting to over a million dollars in repairs prompted Digicel Trinidad’s Chief executive, Abraham Smith, to issue a statement reiterating that its network was 100 per cent fibre-to-home network, “meaning, there is absolutely no copper in its lines”.
Apart from the copper theft, batteries at cell towers had become a target. Smith said the situation had become a national security issue and should not be taken for granted.
In July, a 153-year-old Church bell was stolen from the St John and James Anglican Church located in Petit Bourg, prompting a nationwide cry that lawlessness had reached no bounds, as the fear of the lord had left the hearts of man.
And with no dealer or buyer coming forward to admitting the acceptance of the bell or offer to return, condemnation on the entire industry grew.
Government took the stand earlier this week to put a six month ban on all export of scrap metals, a move which was met with much fury and anger. Scrap iron workers staged fiery protests along roadways within the Claxton Bay village, where there were many scrap yards, bringing to halt the flow of traffic in and out the Point Lisas Industrial Estate, where much of the population are employed.
Allan Ferguson, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Scrap Iron dealers association, TTSIDA, has gone as far as to put out radio ads condemning the illegal acts of stealing metals, urging its workers to do the right thing, while also calling for proper legislation over the sector that would allow for their operations to be regulated, and perhaps clamp down on the illegal theft.
Ferguson says a majority of scrap iron dealers were doing business the right way and blamed the bad reputation on who he described as “a few” errant owners, while his association was looking at ways in which it could make it difficult for people to bring in stolen goods into their yards. However, the TTSIDA President admitted he was in agreement with the government on the three month temporary ban on the export of copper, but was opposed to the shutdown of scrap iron exports for six months.
The ban imposed for at least half of a year, hopes to give government some time bought to get how they intend to tackle the widespread vandalism of public and private property in search of metals against the perpetrators.
For three days straight, mounds of debris and tyres have been set alit along parts of the Claxton Bay village, prohibiting entry and exit at key points, leaving many traversing the roads stranded and forced to face the plumes of thick black smut emanating from the large blazes.
Claxton Bay serves as a critical thoroughfare to thousands of workers that are employed at the Point Lisas Industrial Estate which is home to many of the country’s energy based companies. But in the last few days, many have been left frustrated, while several businesses were forced to close their operations due to the action taken by the workers.
It has also been dubbed the headquarters of the industry, located near the Forres Park landfill. To the residents in the area, the daily action has become a source of frustration to those trying to get to their homes, the same homes that provided daily bounty to the workers looking to make their quotas of collection. Many residents say it is unfair that they be held to ransom for the government’s actions, and called on the workers to take their action to the parliamentary house or ministries, where their voiced can be heard and be seen.
Ferguson is also claiming that the industry rakes in some US$130M annually, and had employed many. With the ban on its operations, he fears that it will not only be crippled, but many who worked for the industry might return to lives of crime. He shared that a large percentage of workers were people who had criminal records hindering them from getting a jobs, forced to act as scavengers for metals, as they could not have been gainfully employed elsewhere.
With school reopening, many of its workers are concerned it will not have money to take care of the children, and with quite a large chunk of its employment force young people, there is a fear that ‘the devil will find work for idle hands’.
Member of Parliament for the area, David Lee, called on government to have compassion and act now to prevent the destruction of thousands of lives, as Claxton Bay accounted for 50 per cent of the scrap iron industry and impacted families are facing severe economic turmoil.
In April, Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon shared with attendees at a Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) Business Webinar an admission of statistics that “Export output in the ferrous waste and scrap industry increased by 47 percent from 2020 and by 20 percent when compared to 2019.”
State port authority, PLIPDECO, has since ordered the Scrap Iron Dealers Association to remove their containers from their ports, and will not allow its export until a thorough search is complete.
Meanwhile, the workers say they intend to ramp up their protests until the government rescinds on its ban.