A letter with 29 signatures, representing a wide cross-section of civil society organisations in support of the Highway Re-route Movement (HRM), was presented to the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday. Questioned on the latest position yesterday Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, speaking at the post-Cabinet press briefing, at the San Fernando Teaching Hospital said, “Those matters are in the hands of the lawyers and it will be inappropriate for me to communicate on this.”
Asked whether she planned to get consultants and traffic experts to review the HRM’s new proposal, Persad-Bissessar said: “I am sure the line minister will give it some consideration. But like I said before, the matter is before the court and it will be inappropriate for us to intervene at this time.” Akins Vidale, general secretary of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions (Fitun) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Paula Lucie-Smith, founder of the Adult Literacy Tutors Association of T&T (Alta), delivered the six-page letter.
Dr Wayne Kublalsingh, who leads the HRM, completed 16 days of his hunger strike yesterday in protest against the Debe to Mon Desir section of the highway. The letter, titled “Towards a better win-win solution of the Debe to Mon Desir Highway issue,” said civil society members felt obligated to express concern about the ongoing impasse. “We are too aware of the history of the conflict over the Debe to Mon Desir highway but equally and more importantly, recognise that what is now necessary is a solution that enables all the competing interests to obtain some level of benefit which for each may not be ideal but when looked at historically, offers a win for everyone,” the letter stated.
It said in that regard the organisations have sought to broaden the “winners” to include not only the residents and business people in the southern part of the country who needed relief from traffic jams but taxpayers and those who could be adversely affected by the damage to the Northern Range, resulting from the quarrying required to supply material to construct the Debe to Mon Desir highway. The HRM, it said, had advanced a new proposal which sought to address the traffic woes.
After delivering the letter, Vidale, who said Fitun had supported the HRM from the beginning, said it was unfortunate Kublalsingh was forced to go on a second hunger strike. “For many of us who know him personally his health is a major concern to us at this time. The issue he has raised is very important and the Government ought to consider strongly the proposals in the Armstrong report,” Vidale said. Also lending support was Dr Gabrielle Hosein, lecturer at UWI’s Institute for Gender and Development Studies, who brought some 20 students carrying black banners marked “Solidarity” and “Democratise development.”
A character of Gene Miles production, which was played by local actress Cecilia Salazar, was also present at the campsite. Hosein said Miles’ character stood as a reminder of those who had stood up for the right to expect transparency, accountability and responsibility from government. “The HRM have been engaging in this struggle for eight years and we know how hard life is for women... between their families, caring for their families, dealing with traffic...and as women it was important for us to come and recognise that on top of all the difficulties these women have been engaging in,” Hosein said.
The proposal includes
- Enhance the San Fernando to Point Fortin highway through the construction of a four-lane highway, linking the San Fernando to Point Fortin Highway to the Solomon Hochoy Highway, thus enabling a seamless flow of traffic
- Alleviate the traffic jams on the SS Erin Road by way of a bypass that would run from the Debe interchange of the Solomon Hochoy Highway to a point along the SS Erin Road
- Expand the flow of traffic out of Siparia
- Expand the flow of traffic out of Fyzabad