Works and Infrastructure Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan plans to meet with 29 civil society groups concerning the proposals made by the Highway Re-route Movement. Rambachan said he plans to meet with the groups on Wednesday, and take their representatives on an aerial tour to see where the highway passes—on the outskirts of the Oropouche Lagoon.
Rambachan was speaking at a media conference yesterday at his Tabaquite Constituency offices, Gasparillo. Rambachan said the groups sent copies of the same letter to the Prime Minister with three proposals that include: The report of the Armstrong Committee, to give serious consideration to the proposals by the HRM on the Debe to Mon Desir leg of the highway, and halt work on the Debe to Mon Desir leg of the highway. He said there was no objection to the Debe to Penal segment of the highway.
Rambachan said he hopes to give the Government’s point of view at the meeting. He would be accompanied by Dr Carson Charles and a technical team to show how recommendations from the Armstrong Report was used in the construction of the highway. Rambachan said there will be no stoppage of work since the the matter had gone to court on several occasions and on each occasion, “the court has ruled in favour of the highway continuing.”
According to Rambachan, there was the misconception that the highway is passing through the Oropouche Lagoon, but it is only “skirting the lagoon.” Rambachan said this route goes back to a 1967 proposal, part of a National Transportation Plan which was also supported in 1984 by the Town and Country Division. He said the highway will not pass through or near the Banwari site.
Rambachan said the Golconda Interchange and the Debe Interchange will be opened before the end of the month and the end of the year respectively.
