PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Environmentalist Dr. Wayne Kublalsingh ended the first week of his hunger strike outside the office of Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar yesterday, visibly thinner than when he started, but maintaining his action was justified to get the Trinidad and Tobago government to change its position regarding the construction of a highway south of that location.
Medical officials yesterday treated Kublalsingh, a University of the West Indies (UWI) lecturer, inside an ambulance that has been parked nearby earlier this week as relatives fear for his life.
Kublalsingh, 53, whose weight has tumbled by more than 40 pounds to 93, later told reporters “doctors say my kidneys are shutting down and the increase in potassium may cause my heart to stop at any time”.
But his brother, Hayden, who has emerged as his main spokesman in recent days, said on radio that while “his kidneys are under stress” Kublalsingh intends to continue his hunger strike over the weekend and would be present outside the Prime Minister’s office on Monday.
“His decision is to take a rest this weekend and continue on the hunger strike of not having anything to eat or drink,” he said, adding “if at any time during the weekend any situation were to occur where the medical people felt will decide that would require…an IV, he will give consideration to that and will advise.
“He is going to be back here on Monday morning, the integrity of the struggle continues, we all regroup here on Monday,” he said. (CMC)
