In December 2012 I criticised activist Wayne Kublalsingh after he was shown on television generally making light of his deteriorated condition following his first prolonged hunger strike. Dr Kublalsingh, who clearly has above-average determination and self discipline, has embarked on another hunger strike over the disputed segment of the highway to Point Fortin.Respected members of society such as Paula Lucie-Smith and Peter Minshall, among others, have come out in support of Dr Kublalsingh's self-described, "calm act, sedate, serene" act.
It goes without saying that even a suicide bomber must be acknowledged for feeling strongly enough to put his/her life on the line for a cause–an act which must be very personal and difficult to do regardless of his belief system. I imagine that it is justified by an immense feeling of desperation in which it is reckoned that existence with the prevailing "oppression" is as bad as or worse than martyrdom.
This brings me to another problem I have with the hunger strike. Whether for the environment or for the dislocated residents or any item in his Republic Day article in the T&T Guardian, it simply does not seem personal enough for Dr Kublalsingh to warrant a hunger strike. The activist is not directly or personally affected by the "oppression" of the State which makes the whole spectacle appear to me, more attention-seeking than a genuine cause.
Lest I be misconstrued, I am in no way defending the Government on the issue, as I believe that it has been and continues to be mishandled. The arrogance and condescension from Government ministers and officials have been deplorable and in keeping with a lack of finesse in public relations throughout the term in office. However, the answer to arrogance should not be narcissism.
However religious one may be, it cannot be said that we understand and control all the circumstances of our birth into this world. To treat the gift of life with flippancy is an insult to nature, if not to God. There is a certain arrogance in playing with one's life especially, as explained above, if it is not borne out of personal desperation.
On the point of desperation, the hunger strike seems to be just one of several arrows in the HRM quiver including tyre awards, publicity, legal action and protests. So how does one discern whether the hunger strike is just a "tantrum" for not getting redress from one of the other not-so-calm, sedate or serene acts?I have a very long list of grouses and things I think our Government should be implementing. However, life did not begin in T&T in 2010 and Rome was not built in a day. If everyone with an issue adopted Dr Kublalsingh's approach, there would certainly be chaos. The way to effect change is to be patient and contribute constructively. There is a fine line between standing up for principle and self destructive behaviour. The real world is about compromise and team work.
Rishi-Nirvan Balroop
Diego Martin