Works and Infrastructure Minister Emmanuel George says talks with the Highway Reroute Movement on construction of the Point Fortin Highway between Debe and Mon Desir are inadvisable as the parties have a matter before the court. This is the word from the Government as leader of the group, environmentalist Dr Wayne Kublalsingh, continues his hunger strike outside the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair today.
The group has been protesting the decision to construct the Debe to Mon Desir leg of the highway, saying it will impact negatively on the environment and the existence of the residents of the area. The group has been demanding an independent technical review of the proposed construction. George said in a statement over the weekend that the Government met with the protesters and agreed to put on hold construction of that particular section of the highway.
He said on April 18, then Works Minister Jack Warner and officials from the National Infrastructure Development Company (Nidco) and the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) met with Kublalsingh and gave him an opportunity to participate in the technical discussions. "The matters raised by the Reroute Movement were addressed and considered by the technical team."
He said a further meeting was scheduled with the Reroute Movement on June 18, where "presentations and a formal report were made to them identifying how the highway development would consider all areas of concern that they had raised."