National Security Minister Jack Warner has denied a weekend report that suggested Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her Cabinet knew about the demolition of the Highway Re-route Movement's campsite on June 27. "I have said before and I do reiterate again that I did not advise the Honourable Prime Minister nor the Cabinet before of my action and that I am prepared to rise and fall on the basis of such action," Warner said in an e-mailed response to the Trinidad Guardian.
The Highway Re-route Movement's camp was demolished to allow work to resume on the $7.2 billion Point Fortin Highway. Warner admitted to receiving notification that the main contractor on the highway, Construtora OAS Ltd, was considering submitting claims for losses caused by the actions of protesters.
However, he said neither Persad-Bissessar nor the Cabinet had received a claim for $3.5 million up to the time of the demolition of the protesters' campsite. "I was also meticulously clear in maintaining my position that while I was aware of the exorbitant liabilities being caused by the protesters, this was not a major factor or consideration in arriving at my view that the campsite must be removed," Warner said.
He said his views were based on the illegality of the protesters' action to enter State lands and to deliberately frustrate the highway construction. Warner was responding yesterday to the Sunday Guardian lead article, headlined: PM, Cabinet knew about demolition. In October 2010, Warner announced that the Government would be constructing a highway from San Fernando to Point Fortin.
Since then, there has been a stream of protests from residents who would be affected by the construction, with most of the opposition coming from the Wayne Kublalsingh-led Highway Re-route Movement. As Minister of Works and Infrastructure, Warner met with protesters to discuss the project, but could not satisfy the protesters' demand that the highway be re-routed.
Following a switch in his portfolio to Minister of National Security, Warner led a joint police and army contingent to destroy a camp site erected by protesters near the highway. Protests against the highway have since resumed. On Saturday, pro-highway protesters came out in support of the Government's plans for the Point Fortin Highway.