My name is Shereen Boodhai and I am a member of the Highway Re-Route Movement.After reading a Newsday article, I realised that there is still confusion regarding the Highway Re-Route Movement and what they are about. There are people who still think that the HRM and Dr Kublalsingh are trying to stop the Point Fortin Highway. Let me explain.
The Government intends to build two highways to Point Fortin. The first highway runs from San Fernando to Point Fortin along the Mosquito Creek. The second highway runs from Debe to Mon Desir and then to Point Fortin.
I wish to reiterate and re-emphasise that the Highway Re-Route Movement and Dr Kublalsingh are in full support of the San Fernando to Point Fortin highway. We know that the people of Point Fortin and Cedros and Icacos are in desperate need for a highway to connect them to San Fernando. We are not trying to stop the Point Fortin highway at all.
The HRM and Dr Kublalsingh are not in support of the Debe to Mon Desir segment of the second highway to Point Fortin. We want this segment to be re-routed. This segment is independent and separate from the first highway mentioned in the paragraph above. We want that the Prime Minister abide by her promise (made on March 16, 2012, Parliamentary Building, Waterfront Complex) to put on hold and review this Debe to Mon Desir segment, as reiterated in the James Armstrong report. This is what the struggle by the HRM and the hunger strike by Dr Kublalsingh is all about.
In fact, the PM should abide by her promise to put on hold and review the Debe to Mon Desir segment and focus, hasten and complete work on the San Fernando to Point Fortin highway as a matter of priority to alleviate the traffic faced by the people coming from Point Fortin, Cedros, Icacos and surrounding areas.
I hope that everyone now understands the position of the HRM and know that we are not for stopping the San Fernando to Point Fortin highway at all. In fact it is quite the opposite. We are in full support of it.
Shereen Boodhai
San Francique