Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) leader David Abdulah is calling for the media to launch an investigation into the financiers of the recent spate of pro-highway ads. Abdulah was speaking at a press conference held by members of the Highway Reroute Movement (HRM) at the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) headquarters Paramount Building, Circular Road San Fernando, yesterday.
“We want the media to investigate who is paying for these ads, under the fictious name ‘Citizens for the Highway,’” he said. Abdulah said the ads were personal attacks on HRM leader Dr Wayne Kublalsingh and were aimed at distracting the population from the real issues. “The ads are personal attacks on Dr Kublalsingh, they do not address the fundamental issues,” he said. “When government resorts to personal attacks, it means they cannot answer to the real issue at hand.”
Abdulah said there was a culture in T&T which allowed government to distract the population. “The HRM and civil groups are not opposed to the Point Fortin highway, we want the highway built,” said Abdulah. Vishal Boodhai, a member of the HRM, renewed the movement’s call for mediation and accused the government of demonising Kublalsingh’s name. “The movement reiterates the call for mediation,” he said.