There can be no doubt that many have joined in support of the Highway Re-route movement because it suits their political agenda, ie, anything to make the Government look bad. Others have joined because of humanitarian reasons, ie concern for life.
Others, too, because of charismatic hero-worship–they admire a man who can lay down his life for what he believes in. Others, because of youthful idealism and rebellion. More reasons have increased exponentially everyday, eg dishonesty, lack of transparency and broken promises. Yet the two main reasons for this protest action remain and are probably forgotten by some.
That the proposed segment from Debe to Mondesir would compromise the ecology of the lagoon, and that around 250 people stand to lose their ancestral homes.
My attention was recently drawn to the fact that the original plan from Trintoplan Consultants states that only one per cent of the swamp would be affected by this route which skirts the swamp. Unfortunately this one per cent is what seems to be affecting the residents who make up the core of the HRM. So then the crux of the matter, is still the displacement threat to the residents, if we are not to be distracted.
The HRM movement has taken the government to court and lost three times. So that takes care of due process; one party refuses to recognise the law and chooses to prey on human emotions. So forget the courts and deal with morality and integrity in public affairs. From the lofty heights of altruism we are down to a battle of wills, on a personal nature, between two people. I wish Dr Wayne Kublalsingh luck with this prime minister.
People all over the world are forcibly removed for dam-building, highways and oil exploration every day. Protesters do not even make the evening news or are even heard from again. No government in the world backs down for a minority and leaves the majority undone.
When we think we have a bad government, in this regard, I say, research the facts and think again. There will always be those in this world who create a large following by their charismatic personalities and unbending fanaticism and cause many to lose focus in personalities and idealism, and most of them have a death wish.
Joel Quintal,
San Fernando