A Woodford Square, Port of Spain, gathering in support of activist Dr Wayne Kublalsingh will today begin with prayers for his life by leaders of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO).
The show of solidarity was called Wednesday by Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) president, Gary Aboud, who on that day also pleaded with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to step in to save Kublalsingh’s life.
Aboud has expressed certainty that Kublalsingh will die if a resolution is not found to the ongoing impasse between Government and Highway Re-Route Movement (HRM) over a portion of highway from Debe to Mon Desir.
Kublalsingh is carrying on a hunger strike as he leads the HRM in protest against the Debe to Mon Desir segment and as of yesterday claimed to have completed 43 days without food and water.
The activist held a similar strike on 2012, which ended after 21 days when Persad-Bissessar agreed to the formation of an independent mediator. Later the Highway Review Committee (HRC) said Government would consider the recommendations of that committee.
A report submitted last year by the HRC recommended that Government stop work on the section and review its social and ecological impact, a chief angle of the HRM’s argument as the State tunnels ahead with the project.
Kublalsingh has vowed to see his hunger strike to the end and until Persad-Bissessar makes a U-turn on project, which she has said is not possible at this stage of its development.
Fear for the activist’s life is increasing as friends and relatives have mostly acceded to his wishes that he be allowed to carry out the hunger strike unencumbered.
Kublalsingh has, however, been confined to his D’Abadie home for over a week in declining health.
