Highway Reroute Movement leader Dr Wayne Kublalsingh says the Government has assured that work on the contentious Debe to Mon Desir segment of the Solomon Hochoy Highway extension to Point Fortin Highway has been shelved for now. Speaking at a press conference at the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union’s headquarters at Paramount Building, San Fernando, Kublalsingh said, “We had a meeting with the Minister of Works Rohan Sinanan on March 13 and this meeting was requested by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. At the end of the meeting he gave the undertaking that no works will proceed between Debe and Mon Desir which is the contentions segment of the until the HRM is first consulted.
“They didn’t have the money to start any works at this time, but in the event that they start work in that segment during their reign, they would first consult with us before any decisions are made.”
He said Rowley was not at the meeting, but the NIDCO president, chairman and other NIDCO and ministry officials were present.
“And they basically said that they have to start afresh. Put everything aside and then start afresh with us. This battle has been going on for 14 years and there have been a lot of misunderstanding.”
“He felt that so much had gone down, so much conflict, and so much bad planning, so let us clean the slate and the Government will start afresh with us. I think that is what he meant. I think the minister is a man of his word.”
He said had they walked though the area in the planning stages instead of using satellite and Google maps they would see how rich the area between Debe to Mon Desir is in terms of community life and ecosystem.
The Prime Minister turned the sod to recommission the highway last week Tuesday at South Trunk Road, La Romaine.
