While the dialogue process between the Highway Re-Route Movement (HRM) and the Government has totally failed, the HRM has remained committed to finding a way forward regarding the controversial Debe to Mon Desir portion of the extension of the Solomon Hochoy Highway to Point Fortin. Making the statement yesterday was HRM’s member Terrence Boodhai during a press conference at the D’Abadie home of the environmentalist Dr Wayne Kublalsingh.
He said talks between the HRM and the National Infrastructure Development Company Limited (Nidco) between December 2014 and January 21 this year had failed. “Regrettably these meetings have not succeeded in finding a way forward either for the HRM or the Government. Each party has rejected the proposals of the other.
“Following the site visit on January 24 members of the HRM rejected the Government’s proposal to start construction works between the proposed Mon Desir interchange and Sawlal Trace. “It is clear this work will be ruinous to the economic, social, financial life of the communities,” Boodhai said. He said it was also regrettable that the HRM’s Optimum Connectivity Proposal was also dismissed by Nidco.
The HRM, he added, also proposed a “political solution to the matter’ but that was also rejected. “We proposed that the State complete the roadway between Debe and Penal and work towards the completion of the Point Fortin to San Fernando highway between now and the general election in the face of the current challenges to the local financial economy arising from a shortfall in oil and natural gas prices,” Boodhai added.
Moisture from the air—Kublalsingh
An emaciated-looking Kublalsingh was adamant he has been going without food or water for over 146 days. On criticisms that many doubted he was in fact actually on a hunger strike Kublalsingh said he respected the views of his detractors, adding they had a right to express their opinion. “There is criticism and I accept that criticism. I myself am also sceptical about my own body. I have not been eating or drinking anything since I began the hunger strike.
“I have a guru and she has introduced me to some new techniques, for instance like getting moisture from the air but I am still very weak,” Kublalsingh added. He said since the entire process was broken down he warned the authorities that whatever happened to him would be on their hands. “We outlined several solutions and they rejected it all. So what happens to Dr Wayne Kublalsingh now they cannot say they did not know. My health continues to deteriorate,” Kublalsingh added.