Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley is calling on the People's Partnership government to state in Parliament whether the smelter project has been abandoned for good.

Rowley said the smelter was supposed to be the "ladder of success" to the people of the southwestern peninsula.

Speaking to supporters at a Local Government campaign meeting in Point Fortin on Thursday night, Rowley said, "I filed a question in the Parliament two days ago and the question is this: 'Does the government intend to or has the government taken a decision to stop the aluminium smelter?'"

Rowley said he heard government talking about reviewing the smelter, "which tells me they don't know anything about the project".

He said, "Review means you going to find out. I want to ask them tonight if you did not know what was there and what was involved on what basis did you take the decision that you were going to stop the smelter?

"I want clear, unequivocal answers in Parliament, because that smelter is a joint arrangement between the government of Trinidad and Tobago by way of memorandum of understanding with the government of China."

Rowley said government had spent significant sums of money on the project.

"If you are going to stop it tell us when and where you took that decision, and tell us the information informing that decision. Tell me how you will provide jobs for the people of La Brea when you stop the smelter.

"And I want to also ask them what contracts will be affected by your decision to stop it and what will it cost the people of Trinidad and Tobago?"

He said, "We have gone past elections, we have gone past making joke, this is serious business. This is the life, the opportunity, the ladder of progress of the people of the southwestern peninsula."