Dr Wayne Kublalsingh's patriotism and his willingness to make huge personal sacrifices for what he believes to be right are admirable.But his family, along with those who admire him, must also be deeply concerned for his personal welfare as the already frail activist embarks on yet another hunger strike.Two weeks ago, he said he would proceed with the protest action unless he got a response to his letter to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
After he got that response, and it was not what he was hoping for, he went on hunger strike anyway. Dr Kublalsingh's motives may be the noblest, but his method may be misguided, not to mention counterproductive and damaging not only to his cause but most obviously and personally to himself.The life-threatening results of the hunger strike, even if it is not carried to the extreme, may damage his health permanently.
The decision to deprive the body of food first burns glucose, then body fat through ketosis.He has already admitted on Thursday that he did not think he could last more than five or six days, and the 21 days he endured last time was beyond him this time around.In the last few days of that 21-day fast his body would have begun to consume his muscles and vital organs, with the loss of bone marrow less obvious but equally life-threatening.
Only Dr Kublalsingh's doctor would be able to say if he has recovered enough to put his body through that kind of wilful torture again, but it's hard to imagine a medical professional endorsing it.
In any case, because this is the second time he has done it, some of the shock value of the hunger strike has worn off and he will undoubtedly attract less sympathy and support than in 2012. On that occasion a compromise was found. An independent committee of experts was set up to examine and report on the highway.
It is difficult to see what compromise could be reached on this occasion to allow both sides to step back while maintaining their dignity and their principles–one of the consequences of using drastic and dramatic approaches in dealing with a situation.Already, supporters of the UNC on social media have moved beyond casual opposition to the hunger strike, posting comments that are derogatory at best and venomous in the extreme at their worst.
One possible outcome of this polarisation of the issue is that both sides become entrenched in their positions, and in this case the result could be fatal to both Dr Kublalsingh and his cause.The message has begun to be lost in an argument that is no longer proceeding on the basis of the issues and is now emotional in the extreme.
Moreover, he and his supporters have placed the disputed issues before the courts; ought not Dr Kublalsingh to wait for the final outcome of those proceedings before embarking on any new protest?That two courts to date have ruled against him, so that the injunction he seeks to stop the highway is now before the final court of appeal, the Privy Council, should give him more reasons to reconsider.
This is a noble and principled stand to take, but Dr Kublalsingh must weigh the enormous personal cost at stake against any real change he can hope to win.As a man of principle, he of all people should agree that this should be a country where law and order prevail and where outcomes are achieved by due process and not by any means necessary.