Kublalsingh threatens more action

Leader of the Highway Re-route Movement (HRM) Dr Wayne Kublalsingh is promising more action if Government proceeds with the Debe to Mon Desir section of the Point Fortin Highway without doing the relevant studies. Kublalsingh said the report on the highway clearly recommends that studies be conducted.

On Thursday, Minister of Works and Infrastructure Emmanuel George said the report gave Government the green light to go ahead with the controversial $7.5 billion highway. However, Kublalsingh described George’s response as a “violent interpretation of the report.” 

“We are bent on action, we will not stop action. That is our work. We are activists. If the Government do the wrong thing and threaten to destroy those communities we will take serious and unmitigated action against them, in a most peaceful but severe fashion. We are capable of doing that.” Kublalsingh believes the landmark report will set the standards by which all governments must abide when they engage in future multi-million dollar projects.

“What this report clearly says is that when the Government came to its decision to build the Mon Desir to Debe segment of the highway they had a number of flawed documents and information. Ultimately the decision to build is flawed.” He said the report shows that if the Government wants to continue with the highway they needed to address a number of issues raised, “including the hydrology report of the Oropouche lagoon, cost benefit analysis and social impact assessment.”

‘Matter in the Prime Minister’s court’
Kublalsingh said even when the Government consulted with the people, the people were not provided with relevant information and this left them confused. “This will now go to the court of the Prime Minister, who at some point said she would abide by the conclusions of the document.” Kublalsingh said the document was not legally binding on any party and going to court again was not on the cards.

Last August, the HRM embarked on legal action against the State over its proposed construction of a section of the highway. “She (PM) has to consider deeply what she has to do. The Government needs to look at this truthfully and responsibly. If the Prime Minister wants to reform her Government she should do the right thing. I think it would be foolhardy for her to disregard it (report) because the public is looking on....especially civil societies.”