Leader of the Highway Re-Route Movement (HRM) Dr Wayne Kublalsingh was yesterday unmoved by prayers and pleas from various members of the Inter-Religious Organisations (IRO) who implored him to give up his hunger strike. Instead, Kublalsingh advised the members to return to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and tell her mediation was the only answer to the impasse.
Around noon yesterday, the IRO team, led by its president Brother Harripersad Maharaj and including Episcopal Archbishop Barbara Gray-Burke, Bishop Albon Daniel Dean, Mother Joan Isis and Pundits Surju Mukram and Ramdeo Maharaj, visited Kublalsingh’s camp outside the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair. The environmentalist completed day 24 of his hunger strike yesterday, in protest of the controversial Debe to Mon Desir segment of the San Fernando to Point Fortin highway.
Clasping Kublalsingh’s hand, Harripersad said, “We acknowledge what you are doing, but at the same time we are all very concerned about the state of your health.” He added that yesterday was an auspicious day as it marked the International Day of Mental Health. While Harripersad was speaking, however, some HRM supporters questioned his intentions. Earlier this week during a television programme, the IRO head had described Kublalsingh’s cause as being “political.”
Burke, who also asked God to spare Kublalsingh’s life and to take charge of his actions, also prayed for him to be blessed with wisdom. “I think Lord he has made his point very clear and help him to stop his hunger strike,” Burke urged. As other IRO members also prayed, however, tensions flared as HRM members shouted, “Why allyuh crowding the man? Give him air. Time for that to done.”
There was a brief moment of silence when Morvant resident Elizabeth Vernette rushed to Kublalsingh’s side, warning him that if he did not stop the strike he would die. “I don’t want you to die. You have too much to live for,” Vernette implored. Kublalsingh calmly took her hand and told her he would live. Daniel also told Kublalsingh that God gave life and it was only Him who could take it.
After the praying ended, IRO members were given copies of the Armstrong report and were urged by Kublalsingh to tell Persad-Bissessar to honour her promise and to put the segment of the highway on hold and to review the report. “There are many advantages to our system. It will save the Northern Range, large parts of the Oropouche Lagoon, houses and over one billion dollars. It is basically complimenting the work already done by the Government,” Kublalsingh said.
His sister Judy said while the prayers were welcomed she was disappointed that the IRO did not come with a “real plan” to put on the table. “I thought they might have come with a proposal in terms of a way forward, because I think the Highway Re-route Movement has made its position very clear in terms of what they are asking for,” she added.
Members of te IRO agreed to meet Kublalsingh yesterday, following a meeting with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Thursday. During that meeting, the PM urged the religious leaders to try to convince Kublalsingh to end his hunger strike.
PM shrouded in darkness-Minshall
Renowned masman Peter Minshall, who has pledged support to the HRM, said yesterday that a good artist was by the same token a priest and told the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) members to return to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and pray for her. “A good priest is an artist, so I say to my fellow priest artists your prayers need to be directed to the Prime Minister.
“Let the darkness that envelops her lift from her and she sees the light,” Minshall said outside the Office of the Prime Minister, after IRO members failed to convince HRM leader Dr Wayne Kublalsingh to end his hunger strike. HRM members clapped loudly in approval saying, “Well said.”
“My dear Dr Kublalsingh, the masman everybody knows does not usually play mas, but today is a special day and I play the mas of the lord of light...I stand here with my lord of light opposed to the princes of darkness,” Minshall added. He described Kublalsingh as a warrior, a hero and a leader like no other.
Founder of the Adult Literacy Tutors Association (ALTA), Paula Lucie-Smith, who represented several civil society organisations, and an HRM supporter said recommendations put forward for better governance and to serve the people better had been ignored. Using ALTA as an example, Lucie-Smith said the organisation has never been consulted by the Education Ministry. “We are here because we as a population need to empower ourselves and we need to make our voices heard.
“And if a man will go so far to endanger his health and put his life at risk, it is to me my civic duty to come out and support so that we as a nation could go to a level of development where government listens,” Lucie-Smith said. She added that people had reached the point where they did not bother to comment on anything again because they felt it was pointless.