With Tobago House of Assembly Minority leader Watson Duke’s protest action yesterday, he now joins the ranks of other personalities who have taken physically taxing action to protest various issues in the past.
They include the National Alliance for Reconstruction’s (NAR) late Lincoln Myers, late former PNM prime minister Patrick Manning, Congress of the People’s Wayne Kublalsingh, former UNC prime minister Basdeo Panday and ex-Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj.
Myers staged a 40-day fast on the Hall of Justice’s steps in 1985 protesting corruption during the then PNM government’s tenure. In March 2011, Manning did a seven-day “March for Democracy” from the Red House, Port-of-Spain to his San Fernando East constituency office. This followed his suspension from Parliament by the then PP government.
Kublalsingh fasted for nine months outside the Prime Minister’s Office in 2015 protesting the PP administration’s construction of the Mon Desir segment of the Point Fortin Highway. Maharaj marched in 2006 from Cedros to Port-of-Spain, protesting plans for the southern aluminium smelter. Panday, veteran of many marches over his career, also joined him.
Duke completed the 20-plus-mile journey between the islands in approximately five hours, swimming some of the way, then with the assistance of a canoe—which capsized—a jet ski “tow” and also a pirogue ride before swimming the final leg.
But he made good on his promise to complete the challenge which was undertaken as his method of protesting the ferry transport situation between T&T.
There was silence from Government and praise from the Opposition following the protest action by Duke.
Public Administration/Communication Minister Maxie Cuffie had no comment on the fact that Duke completed his journey. Nor did Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan.
A couple other People’s National Movement (PNM) officials scoffed that Duke “didn’t swim the entire way...”
But United National Congress MP Suruj Rambachan said: “Mr Duke must be admired for the stance he took, which is what this was all about. It’s not about whether he completed the swim or not. The message of his effort mustn’t be lost. What we witnessed in his effort was his underscoring of Government’s incompetence to deal with the serious issues people face in Trinidad and Tobago.
“It’s unfortunate that PNM spin specialists are trying to downplay and even poke fun at his efforts, without considering that they’re really defending mismanagement and corruption. PNM people must grow up to the reality that this Government is leading us to failed state status —they must stop defending poor performance.”