Angelo Laurence, Freelance WriterWORK TO restore the Alpart belt line in Knockpatrick is on schedule, according to a company spokesman. However, the police are still unable to pin down any suspects in the alleged act of arson.
The belt line, which transports mined bauxite dirt from the Knockpatrick area to Alpart's Plant in Nain, St. Elizabeth, a distance of nine-and-a-half miles, was destroyed by a fire on July 19.
It is alleged that someone or persons, deliberately set the belt line on fire with the aid of used car tyres. The act was condemned by citizens, workers, unions as well as Member of Parliament for South Man-chester, Michael Peart.
The Mandeville police who are investigating say that they are treating the incident as an act of arson. They have not yet made an arrest or named any suspects, however.
According to an officer close to the investigation, it is not clear at this time if it was an organised act, or the work of a single person or what was the motive. He said that there was a $500,000 reward being offered by the company for information leading to an arrest. He said that he expects a breakthrough very soon, based on information that has come in to his department.
Alpart and residents of the area have been at odds for several years, with the residents claiming that their roofs, water supply and crops are being damaged due to the company's mining activities.
In 1998, then Minister of Mining and Energy, Robert Pickersgill, visited the area and met with representatives of the residents and the company, who were complaining about noise and dust pollution generated by the company's heavy equipment at the time.
Mr. Pickersgill promised the residents, who were also seeking increased compensation for their suffering and damage to property, that all efforts would be made to resolve the issue. Some residents are still dissatisfied, while others told The Gleaner they have seen some improvements and that they find the company responsive to their complaints.
Councillor for the Knockpatrick division, Chever Pitter, has raised the issue of the dispute between both parties in several of the Manchester Parish Council's monthly meetings this year. Councillor Pitter told The Gleaner that a balance must be found to allow the residents to live in peace and tranquillity and at the same time allow Alpart to carry on its mining, undisturbed.
He said it must be remembered that some of the affected families have been in the area for eight to 10 generations.
If the work continues on schedule, according to Orville Stephenson, Alpart's mining safety manager, the company will be doing a test run on the belt line on Friday of next week.
He said the belt line, which normally carries 20 tons of bauxite dirt per day has so far cost the company in excess of US$500,000 to repair. The repair work required 2,000 feet of the line to be replaced and experts from Canada, United States and other countries were brought in to assist with the work. He also said that operation at the plant was not disrupted although made challenging to keep up with the required productivity.
