Dr wayne kublalsingh biography of william

Wayne Kublalsinghwho undertook two separate hunger strikes to protest the construction of the Debe to Mon Desir section of a highway intended to link San Fernando to Point Fortintwo major hubs in southern Trinidad, which would displace many homes and damage the environment. Along with the Highway Re-Route Movement, Kublalsingh took legal action against the state, on the grounds that it continued the road works without consulting stakeholders.

On October 26,the High Court upheld their claim. An edited version is republished here as part of a content-sharing agreement with Global Voices. Wayne Kublalsingh's passion for the environment can be traced back to his childhood in Trinidad's sugarcane belt, but it was only during his tenure at the University of the West Indieswhen a student whose father was an employee of the soon-to-be-closed Caroni Limited approached him for help, that activism also became a part of his life.

He advocated for the defunct company's 77, acres of flat land to be part of a new economic platform designed to regenerate the economic possibilities for the displaced and voiceless farmers. Instead, he was fuelled by the needs of the people and communities for which he was advocating. Inresidents of four villages between Debe and Mon Desir became aware of plans to build a major highway through the area.

Certain sections of the roadway were to be built near to environmentally sensitive wetlands, and through communities that had been built up from the midth century when East Indian indentureship began. The residents, well aware of the hydrology of the surrounding lagoon system and the area's propensity for flooding, had been quietly lobbying against the highway until Although a Certificate of Environmental Clearance CEC for the proposed highway had been issueda new government had taken office, and the incoming administration promised that plans for the highway's construction would not proceed.

As a result, the affected communities did not challenge the issuance of the CEC in court. Byhowever, when it became clear that the promise would not be kept, the residents approached Kublalsingh to be their spokesperson, and the Highway Re-Route Movement HRM was formalised. It was a deliberate choice of name: they were not against the construction of a highway, but felt that it could be done without destruction to their homes and surrounding wetlands.

Their cause was heavily publicised, aided by several large demonstrations and Kublalsingh's two controversial hunger strikes. Stacy-Marie Ishmael. Wayne Kublalsingh For over ten years, Dr. Wayne Kublalsingh has worn many hats, university professor, writer and activist and has worked tirelessly to promote authentic economic development.

This is not in the best interest of Trinidad and Tobago or Caribbean democracy. Protecting the republic. The OWTU agrees to deep and meaningful restructuring. It has agreed to a 15 percent wage and salary contribution. It has presented a fair and workable plan to make mining and refinery businesses profitable. It has indicated an intention to vie for an optimum workforce.

It is being wooed by a number of business-strategic entities offering support. The refinery must be used to build an internal energy economy, protecting us from the vagaries of global instability.

Dr wayne kublalsingh biography of william

And from the extreme fallout, the socio-economic mess, inflation and dependence, attendant on full closure. It does not matter where the financial and technical expertise come from. What matters is ownership: that the bulk of company profits, bulk forex, are not exported; but remain working here in the republic. In no form or fashion must the citizens of the republic accept the full closure of the Petrotrin refinery.

Ringing them tight, jostling and stooped like vultures, were the press. They flashed their cameras and thrust their mics, interrupting the reverential hush with a cacophony of wordless mechanical whirs and clacks. Subscribe to Narratively to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives. Share this post.

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