As a weakened Dr Wayne Kublalsingh enters the 19th day of his hunger strike today, some members of the public and civil society groups are promising their continued support for a man who they described as “a towering warrior” and “simply brilliant.”
On Thursday the signatures of 29 civil society groups backing Kublalsingh’s Highway Re-route Movement (HRM) delivered a letter to the Office of the Prime Minister, imploring PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar to resolve her Government’s impasse with the HRM. Kublalsingh intends to continue his hunger strike until he receives a response from Persad-Bissessar on a new proposed route for the Debe to Mon Desir section of the $7.5 billion Solomon Hochoy Highway extension.
The proposal is a main road with connecting roads to the highway. However, Persad-Bissessar has refused to budge. She said the matter was in the hands of lawyers and it would be inappropriate to discuss. Sunday Guardian spoke with some prominent people who are in solidarity with Kublalsingh.
Minshall: It’s frightening
Veteran masman Peter Minshall has thrown his support behind Kublalsingh. He said it was frightening when our leaders abuse our environment and the integrity of our people purely to fill their purse.
“That is frightening. It is abominable. We trusted you. You were our new hope on the horizon. This country has suffered serial rape over the last 50 years. This whole thing has become horrible, repugnant and repulsive, and it just does not make sense to mash up a lagoon and mountain. We are addicted to money...and if you are addicted to power, it does make sense.”
Minshall said one thing he has learned from freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi is never apologise for being correct or being years ahead of your time. “If you are right and you know it, speak your mind even if you are the minority of one.”
He said in our midst “we have a towering warrior, his name is Kublalsingh. When I look at Kublalsingh, I see those ideals incarnate. He is the avatar of love, truth, beauty and integrity amongst us. He is prepared to die for what he believes in. I give you Gandhi and I give you Wayne with the same breath.” He said, “If this thing ends tragically, the whole country will carry a stain and a dark cloud will befall us.
“We have all been too quiet, too frighten, and too subject to the propaganda to get together and say no.”
Abdulah: PM hiding behind petticoat of the court
Political leader of the Movement for Social Justice David Abdulah said his organisation and the HRM share the same principle of integrity, and it was for this reason he started supporting Kublalsingh in 2012. Abdulah said he does not believe that Persad-Bissessar’s hands are tied on the matter and that she could come to some sort of resolution.
“She is trying to hide behind the petticoat of the court. A matter can be before the court but parties can meet and arrive at an agreement. There are avenues for dialogue.” He said if Kublalsingh should die, the psyche of our people will change. “Our politics will not be the same either.”
Farmer: I will do everything to ensure that Kublalsingh does not die
Rosanna Farmer, the director of an environmental project, said she was drawn to the HRM because of Kublalsingh’s brilliance and strong will. “Knowing his level of integrity...those are things that got me involved.” Having fought against the establishment of the aluminium smelter in 2006 with Kublalsingh, Farmer said she joined the fight with the HRM on the sixth day of Kublalsingh’s first hunger strike. She continues to be at his side up to this day.
“He has courage that I have never known. Wayne is a blessed human being and a gift to the nation because there is no one that I know who would do what he is doing. To survive this long is incredible,” said Farmer.
Farmer said she hoped the Armstrong Report would be given consideration. She also said she will do everything in her power to ensure that Kublalsingh does not die. “I definitely feel that I would be part of a movement that would carry his vision and dreams.”
Boodhai: It’s an injustice
Shereen Boodhai, a pharmacist, said she was compelled to join HRM in 2011 after realising the extent of destruction that was going to take place with the construction of the highway.
“I was in the United Kingdom for a while and when I came back to my community in San Francique and discovered what was happening, it was clear that this was an injustice and unfair to hard working people by a Government who did not want to listen.”
Hodge: I will continue to rally behind the HRM
University lecturer, Dr Merle Hodge said she has been supporting the HRM because it is a group that is concerned about the impact on the environment and communities, the cost of the highway, and lack of transparency.
A colleague of Kublalsingh at the University of the West Indies, Hodge said she will continue to rally behind the HRM’s efforts.
Lucie-Smith: Many things have gone wrong
Founder of the Adult Literacy Tutors Association Paula Lucie-Smith, who joined several civil society groups to deliver a letter to the Office of the Prime Minister on Wednesday, said citizens have allowed successive governments to do as they see fit with the public purse and any voices that are raised tend to be humiliated.
“There is a fear of victimisation that has become so pervasive in our country that it worries me mentally. If it is that citizens cannot voice their legitimate concerns on the $7.5 billion that is being spent and is not transparent, where proper studies have not been done, we need to take this as a test case.”
Lucie-Smith said it appeared that many things have gone wrong.
Hosein: The struggle will not end with Kublalsingh
University lecturer and activist Dr Gabrielle Hosein said the optimum connectivity proposal of the HRM “should make the Government stop and consider if this is a better option.” A member of the Trinidad chapter of the Caribbean Association for Feminist Research & Action, Hosein said we have to recognise the value of those who stand up when others do not because principles are at stake. “This is not a struggle that began with Dr Kublalsingh and will not end with him.”
On Thursday Hosein called on citizens to support the women of the HRM to make the country understand that people are being affected by the impasse.