Leader of the Highway Re-Route Movement (HRM) Dr Wayne Kublalsingh says despite the intercession of members of the Inter-Religious Organisations (IRO), he is resolute in continuing with his hunger strike. Kublalsingh said that along with diplomacy and mediation, the group will be ramping up litigation and more visible protest actions against the Government. Today, Kublalsingh has gone without food and water for 26 days.
He was speaking to the Sunday Guardian in a telephone interview from a private residence in Port-of-Spain, where he was resting yesterday. With Kublalsingh’s voice sounding weak, he said, “The struggle began in 2002 when the communities rose up and destroyed the Government’s master gas plan for the South-West peninsula. “Prayers have been the guiding laser which have always directed our efforts, and we thank the IRO very much for their prayers.
“We know they represent more than themselves, they represent many different communities in our cosmopolitan state. “Along with diplomacy, advocacy and mediation, another clear aspect of our campaign is action on the streets like getting arrested, standing in front of bulldozers, sit-ins, and also engaging the media.”
When asked about his rejection of IRO president Brother Harripersad Maharaj’s plea and description of Kublalsingh’s cause as being political, he responded that HRM was not involved in partisan politics. He said it can be called politics if it meant challenging any government to account for their reckless behaviour and attacks on the ecological, social and economic assets of a people.
Kublalsingh said HRM members were activists and advocates at all time, not just dipping their fingers in ink at election time, and they asked the Government to account and justify their actions, bringing them to light.
He said he had embarked on a second hunger strike because the Government and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had destroyed their camp in Debe, reneged on their word to halt construction work on the Debe to Mon Desir section of the Point Fortin highway, and failed to abide by the findings in the Armstrong Report.
