Wednesday, July 4 2012

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Seeking justice: Activists Dr Wayne Kublalsingh and Nalini Dial protest against the demolition of a camp in Debe last week outside of the Hall of Just...

THE EDITOR: I viewed with disdain the recent demolishing of the highway re-route protest camp in Debe. Disdain, because both the Government and the highway protest group have not found common ground to resolve an issue which is to the detriment of a multi billion dollar project for the benefit of the national interest.

It does not augur well for the Government to be seen as trampling on the rights of the ordinary citizen who does not want to lose their homes, their community or way of life. One would have thought before the highway project was started every effort would have been made to settle with the homeowners who were going to be severely affected. Intransigence in the way of development will not usually be supported particularly by those who spend many hours in mind bending traffic jams everyday. As a commuter to Port-of-Spain, I have been effusive in my praise of the Honourable Jack Warner for the Couva/Preysal interchange and the three lane highway from Chaguanas to Port-of-Spain.

I understand the pain and discontent of the protesters and their need to validate their views in the national arena, they have every right to do so against a Government they think is not addressing their concerns. However, what they do not have the right to do is use racist and abusive slurs against the Honourable Jack Warner.

I do not hold any brief for Mr Warner, he has been the brunt of criticism and outrage from many quarters for his deeds and misdeeds, what I find particularly disturbing is the lack of respect meted out to him at the demolishing of an illegal structure on State land. If the re-routers want to rebuild their camp they should be given the opportunity to do so but on private land. Zealously breaking the law is inviting trouble. The debate would continue on the legality of the demolition but we should keep the conversation civil and focus on the issues to be resolved.

The Government of this country, it should be noted, cannot violate rights of citizens particularly their right to the enjoyment of their own property. If you are going to confiscate the property of a private citizen, the compensation should be adequate and thorough, allowing the ventilation of diverse views. The diverse groups in this contentious issue have to be conciliatory yet show a modicum of respect, any less we may as well let the laws of the jungle prevail.



R Bernadette Shah

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