Letter: What is really behind the reroute movement?

File: Protest against highway to Point Fortin

The protests that are now taking place in Debe with respect to the highway to Point Fortin are well planned and orchestrated.

The people of the area must decide whether they want progress or they wish to stay in the past. For the very first time a party is in government which is committed to improving the economy of the South and putting back oil dollars which though generated in the south fuelled development in the North.

As I understand it the compensation offered to the residents is fair. For example the residents have been paid market value for their properties and as well have been given land to rebuild. Further agriculturalists have been offered land to continue farming. The Govt has also said it will rebuild the churches, temples and mosques.

Further, my latest understanding is that the two main families who are objecting do not lie in the way of the Highway! If this is true then it is clear that there are other objectives involved in this protest. Significantly, the protestors have been joined by David Abdullah and Roget. I would like to ask whether an ex PNM candidate is financing the protest movement.

David Abdullah has his own grouses and wishes to hurt the government, yet he cant get his "political appointees” to vacate State Boards. He will not resign as a Senator. He wants to be fired and have martyrdom on June 19th at Fyzabad.

Is it not interesting that David is going to Cadiz's constituency to stir up trouble? The real objective of Kublalsingh and Abdullah is stated by Roget. And that is to bring down Kamla and her government. David Abdullah and the rest do not care if there is an uprising and violence in TT. Just look at the coup on TV and hear what happened to the Samaroos.

The highway is part of a wider development plan which includes the University, the Hospital for NCD"s, the New court house, the new sporting complex amongst other new facilities to be constructed. People clamour for a better quality of life but such comes at a cost. It will have sacrifices.

People said that they voted for change. Well this is part of the change. If it was that people who are being affected were not being given fair recompense then I too would have joined the protest. The evidence provided by the govt says something very different.

On this matter the govt must be strong. I am certain that Ramesh will soon file an action in court. He too has his axe to grind against Kamla for the defeat he got in 2010.He too has not been very favourable in his comments about the govt. Kamla can expect hell and brimstone for the next couple of months.

But the people who want to move should now get up and speak. At the same time Ramesh as a good lawyer must know that he can’t win this case. But then this is not about winning. This is about delaying the govt in its march to deliver and achieve. It is bringing down the governmentt. Is this not treason of some sort?

These are the same people who speak about progress and service to the people. Now that the opportunity is there with this govt they want to cause trouble. Well the losers at the end will be the people of the area not the govt and the winner will be the ones who are paid to go to court!

Chandra Harnanan