This has gone too far. Madame Prime Minister, this has gone on for way too long. My university colleagues in the UK are saying that the Prime Minister is heartless and cowardly because she refuses to engage in mediation with the HRM to bring a resolution to this impasse.
This is very embarrassing for me and a shame to our nation. If Dr Kublalsingh dies, he will be remembered as a hero, a man of principle and integrity who fought against governments that threatened to destroy the economic, social and ecological assets of our country, and who fought for the rights of poor, hardworking people in communities.
My grandchildren will read about him in their history textbooks. And you will be remembered as the PM who had the opportunity to engage in mediation, in talks, to bring resolution to this long-standing contentious issue of the Debe to Mon Desir segment of the highway, but refused to do so without giving one good, logical reason.
You would be remembered as the Prime Minister who made a promise to the HRM, to put on hold and review this Debe to Mon Desir highway, and broke that promise. A broken promise which led to the death of the hero. Madame PM, you have a responsibility to do the right thing. The right thing is to engage in mediation.
The Archbishop of the Catholic Church, the Archbishop of the Anglican Church, the head of the local chapter of the Transparency Institute, more than 40 civil society groups, the trade unions, youths, eminent people in the media and public life, thousands of ordinary citizens of T&T and abroad are calling on you to engage in mediation.You always say the voice of the people is the voice of God. Madame PM, this is the voice of the people and the voice calls for mediation.
What are you afraid of? Is it that the Government lacks the confidence to answer the questions which will be posed? Is it that it would not have logical, scientific, factual, evidence-based answers?This is the impression that you and the Government are giving to all those who are looking on.
Madame Prime Minister, citizens of our country are looking on, the world is looking on. I implore you to do the right thing and engage in mediation with the HRM and their representatives. It is the only way to resolve this impasse and find a viable, acceptable, practical way forward.
Sumiah Khan,
via e-mail