As construction of the San Fernando to Point Fortin highway progressed to Debe over the past week, members of the Highway Re-route Movement yesterday erected a camp in protest of the construction reaching their community. The movement which comprises residents of Debe, San Francique and Woodland said Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had gone against her promise to have works on the Debe to Mon Desir portion of the highway halted.
Under the leadership of environmentalist Dr Wayne Kublalsingh, they gathered on the M2 Ring Road from as early as 5 am, and set up tents on the area which contractors had recently excavated. The protesters began the day with prayers and chants, even venturing onto the cleared lands which were being secured by Amalgamated Security Services.
They held up placards which read, "Kamla in front, God behind", "Re-route Chandresh instead", "High embankment equal flooding" among others. They also released a theme song for their struggles, which they said highlights the persevering spirits of the residents.
Spokesman for the movement Sherene Boodhai explained that the camp was set up to inform the public of the social and environmental dangers of running the highway through the Oropouche Lagoon. She said, "We are here this morning because they have moved into our territory.
We do not want them in this segment from Debe to Mon Desir. And this is the start of Debe and this start of the section that we want re-routed. We are here to protect and preserve our homes, our lands, our communities, our agricultural lands and our wetlands. We were promised that they would review it and leave this segment to the end. It was a lie... They have already started bulldozing here in Debe."
Alfred Sukal, a member of the HRM said that during a meeting with Persad-Bissessar on January 13, she indicated to them that the construction of the highway from Golconda to Debe would be stopped. However, Sukal said last Tuesday excavators entered into the Oropouche Lagoon which is part of Debe.
He said residents now believe that Government never intended to stop the construction. He also said that MP for Oropouche East Dr Roodal Moonilal had protested with them against the construction on that portion of the highway when he was part of the Opposition. He said now that he is a member of the Government, Moonilal had nothing to say.
Kublalsingh reiterated that their plan was not to stop the highway but to have it re-routed onto the already constructed M2 Ring Road. He said the construction of high embankments through the Oropouche Lagoon would lead to severe flooding and the destruction of prime agricultural lands in the area.