Health Minister Fuad Khan yesterday said the leader of the Highway Re-route Movement Dr Wayne Kublalsingh was between a “rock and a hard place” and was trying to get sympathy from an “already critical” public.
He said so when asked whether or not he would make an official request for Kublalsingh’s medical record, as the activist had told reporters on Wednesday he would be willing to share his records once such a request was made. Khan had previously said Kublalsingh’s vital signs were fine despite his hunger strike which included abstaining from drinking as well as eating.
Yesterday marked the 38th day Kublalsingh said he had not eaten or drunk anything. He began his second hunger strike on September 17 to compel the Government to review the proposed route for the Debe to Mon Desir segment of the Solomon Hochoy Highway extension to Point Fortin.
Khan responded: “I don’t have time to be making any requests. The public understands what Kublalsingh is about. If he shows his blood results everyone will know whether there was organ failure or not but he can show the public his blood results without any request. The population is looking at the situation and Kublalsingh is trying to engage in sympathetic foolishness.”
The activist, in a telephone interview, said he spent yesterday the same way as he had spent the three previous days, lying in bed resting and still felt weak.
“We are still calling on the Government to get together to dialogue on the Optimum Connectivity Route. I am asking for an end to the propaganda,” he added.
Kublalsingh said talks needed to take place in a serious manner. He said for the past few days he had been chatting with priests, civil society leaders and many others on the way forward.
“We intend to continue with the hunger strike to the very end and not to relent at all. There have been a number of persons calling for mediation but it seems the Government is afraid of that word. I still feel that we can come to an agreement where everybody benefits,” the activist said.