Hours before environmental activist Dr Wayne Kublalsingh is set to embark on a second hunger strike to protest continued work on the Debe to Mon Desir Highway veteran masman Peter Minshall, lecturer and novelist Merle Hodge and businessman Dave Ramkissoon delivered a letter to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar requesting a meeting to discuss the issue.
They arrived at Persad-Bissessar’s St Clair office during rain around 2.15 pm and ended up “sharing” an umbrella with Kublalsingh and several other supporters who were camped on the opposite side of the road. Speaking to the media prior to entering the office around 2.30 pm, the group of concerned citizens—as they referred to themselves—said they were simply seeking an audience with Persad Bissessar “to discuss the contents of the report with a view to bringing happiness and contentment to all.”
Referring to the Armstrong Report, Minshall said it had “not been given the credence and attention that it deserves. It is a very important piece of work. “It is unprecedented in matters such as that with which we are dealing in the history of our island and we are simply here asking for an audience with the honorable Prime Minister to discuss the contents of the report with a view to bringing happiness and contentment to all.”
Adding that they were speaking on behalf of other concerned citizens, Minshall declined to say if he supported Kublalsingh’s decision to begin a second hunger strike if Persad Bissessar did not respond to his calls for the construction of the Debe to Mon Desir segment of the San Fernando to Point Fortin Highway be halted and reviewed.
Instead, Minshall said: “I am in support of the society, the environment, democratic well-mannered communication and democracy.” Asked about their timing of the delivery of such a letter, Minshall replied:
“If you look at it as a play happening on a stage objectively, what Dr Kublalsingh did was to raise national consciousness. “What the Armstrong Report did was because of the raising of that consciousness, a report was sought out that dealt objectively with the business of a highway and a lagoon and that objectivity needs to be addressed, pure and simple.”
Minshall, Hodge and Ramkissoon expressed optimism that a favorable response would be forthcoming as the letter was described as “well mannered, respectful and beseeching.” Kublalsingh reiterated that Persad Bissessar had until 12 noon today, to “abide by her promise to halt and review the construction of Debe to Mon Desir Highway project.” If she failed to respond, Kublalsingh said his second hunger strike would begin, against the advice of medical experts.
