PM, ministers to meet to fix problems with Point highway project

PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar with Works Minister Jack Warner and Oropouche East MP  Roodal Moonilal

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has summoned a meeting of the members of parliament whose constituencies are in the route of the $7.2 billion highway from Golconda to Point Fortin.

The meeting is to discuss controversies that have developed since the highway construction began in the last quarter of last year.

“The meeting is to discuss the concerns that have been raised and to surmount the challenges that we have,” Persad-Bissessar said. “We need to give consideration to the people’s concerns.

“Of course there will be challenges every time we have a major construction project. If we don’t push it and micro-manage it, it will take forever and we really have no intention (of stalling) because we will not be here forever.”

The Prime Minister said the government must address all the challenges. “We need to get the planning and implementation done with respect to the highway,” she said. “There are some challenges so we need to strategise how best to get the job done.”

Works and Infrastructure Warner promised to look into some of the complaints. One issue is the demand from people in a residential area known as Siberian Drive who want $2 million each for their homes.

There is also an anti-highway mobilisation movement led by University of the West Indies lecturer, Dr Wayne Kublalsingh. And sub-contractors have said they are not being paid by the main contractor.

Both the Prime Minister and Warner have promised to resolve all the problems. Persad-Bissessar said the highway must continue because of the immense benefits it will bring.

She promised to continue discussions with Kublalsingh. In the meantime, she said, construction would continue in areas where there are no issues with the route of the highway.

Persad-Bissessar also announced that on Monday contractors will begin clearing the 200 acre site for the Debe campus of the University of the West Indies. She said the project will have great benefits and convert Debe into a bustling town.