GEISHA KOWLESSAR and RADHICA SOOKRAJ
Three government ministers are in favour of mediation to discuss issues raised by the Highway Re-Route Movement. At day two of the fifth annual mediation symposium yesterday at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain, Legal Affairs Minister Prakash Ramadhar said while the process of mediation had always been an option in settling the ongoing impasse with the HRM the process could not be held with preset conditions.
Speaking to reporters during a tour of landslips in south Trinidad yesterday Works Minister Suruj Rambachan said he was ready and willing to engage in mediation to discuss any issues raised by the HRM. Oropouche MP Roodal Moonilal also said yesterday the Government had always remained open for dialogue on the controversial Debe to Mon Desir segment of the $7.4 billion extension of the Solomon Hochoy Highway to Point Fortin.
Leader of the HRM Dr Wayne Kublalsingh, who has called for mediation on numerous occasions, in a previous interview said he would agree to suspend his hunger strike if the Government agreed to halt work for one week. He entered the 71st day of his second hunger strike yesterday At yesterday’s seminar, Ramadhar said Rambachan had put on the Hansard an “open invitation” to the HRM to meet to discuss issues.
Ramadhar said: “Mediation has to be voluntary and no one has to be bullied into it and at the same time, understand that there are issues that need to be reconciled and the first discussions are necessary. “We have had many of those before and the minister has opened himself up again to dialogue, which is critically important. “Mediation requires voluntary openness to all issues and that there be no set preconditions.”
Interviewed during his tour to areas of landslips in San Fernando yesterday Rambachan said it was not true the Government was not willing to discuss the alternative proposal submitted by the HRM. Saying the mediation issue needed to be clarified, Rambachan said the matter had gone before the court on three occasions and the ruling went in favour of Government.
“I am wondering whether the people are asking us to ignore the courts and to ignore the fact that a process took place through the courts. If we continue to ignore the rulings of the court, where will that lead us to?” Rambachan asked. He said he met with several civil society groups and discussed three proposals forwarded by the HRM. One proposal had to do with the alternative route and the Armstrong report.
According to Rambachan, since then Nidco president Dr Carson Charles had given a 75-page report responding to all the issues that had been raised. “I am willing to engage in dialogue but we have already responded to the alternative route,” he added. Moonilal said several people have rejected meetings and rejected tours, “so it is not true that we have not been open to dialogue.”
On Monday, President Anthony Carmona said mediation offered participants a way out to resolve disputes. The head of the Mediation Board, Justice Vasheist Kokaram, called on all parties involved to engage in talks before it was too late.
‘Mediation cheaper’
President of the Law Association Seenath Jairam, SC, who delivered the welcome remarks, at yesterday’s mediation symposium described mediation as a valuable and effective tool for conflict prevention and the peaceful settlement of disputes. He added the process could also support peaceful transitions and nurture reconciliation.
“We need to promote and support mediation and encourage people to use alternatives to court to resolve their disputes. People should see this as the starting point,” Jairam urged.
Kublalsingh’s proposal
Kublalsingh has called for the mediation to include one delegate from the Government, one from the HRM and one mutually acceptable to both sides. He added that if the mediation process led to the Government's acceptance of the HRM’s optimum connectivity proposal with practical modifications if necessary or the acceptance of the Armstrong report, the hunger strike would end.