Once again the Highway Re-route Movement (HRM) plans to stage a peaceful protest every day between 9 am and 4 pm outside the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair. This time the group will do so until Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar responds to questions on whether the Government will abide by the Highway Review Committee’s (HRC) report, says environmental activist Dr Wayne Kublalsingh, leader of the group.
Addressing a news conference the HRM called yesterday outside the OPM, Kublalsingh said, “The report is saying: ‘Stop Debe to Mon Desir’... I want her to tell the nation whether she is going to blank the report or do the right thing and obey the voice of the experts.” The HRC, which was led by former Independent senator Dr James Armstrong, was set up after Kublalsingh went on a 21-day hunger strike outside the OPM in November-December last year.
Asked if he intended to go on a hunger strike again, he said, “I believe that it doesn’t have to go that far. “If it does go to that, then I must say that I value those communities, their resources, and the interest of the people of T&T more than I value my life.”
The HRM’s decision comes following a meeting on Saturday at Shiva Boys’ College, Penal, where representatives from the National Infrastructure Development Company (Nidco) notified the public that the State intended to start construction on the Debe to Penal segment of the highway, ignoring the recommendations in the report, Kublalsingh said.
In a letter delivered to the Prime Minister yesterday, Kublalsingh wrote, “This report is unambiguous in its position that no work must be undertaken on the Debe to Mon Desir highway until a number of substantive studies are first done.” These studies included a social impact assessment, cost-benefit analysis and a hydrology report, the letter said. The HRC report highlighted several deficiencies in the project, among them failure to comply with Town and Country Planning regulations, which needed to be addressed, Kublalsingh said.
The HRC had the full co-operation of the State and was paid around $800,000 for its work, he said. “The HRM took this to mean that your Government was a full stakeholder in the review process and that the findings of the committee would be honoured,” the letter said. Kublalsingh said Persad-Bissessar gave an assurance that the Government would also abide by the court’s decision in a matter filed by the HRM. “The court matter hasn’t been completed,” he added.
He claimed that the Debe to Mon Desir part of the highway provided ample opportunities for corruption, hence the Government’s determination to press on with the project. Asked to provide evidence for his claim, he said, “Who owns the trucks? Go to the people who own the aggregate companies and see if you find a link between them and government ministers.” He said certain landowners in the areas airmarked for the highway development had received “big” compensation, which reeked of corruption.
The HRM is also seeking a meeting with President Anthony Carmona and the People’s National Movement parliamentary caucus, he added.