Opposition politician Andrew John says that despite Education Minister Curtis King’s comments that St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) does not “sell out” its friends, King sold out teachers as the government contemplated the COVID-19 vaccine mandate in late 2021.
King, a retired educator, was a member of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) Cabinet when the mandate came into effect, resulting in the dismissal of hundreds of public sector workers, including teachers, who did not take a COVID-19 vaccine, as the government had ordered.
On Oct. 26, as Taiwan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lin Chia-Lung was visiting SVG, King restated his government’s commitment to Kingstown-Taipei ties.
The New Democratic Party (NDP), for which John, a retired educator is a candidate, has said that it would break diplomatic ties with Taiwan if elected to office.
John, who is also a retired educator, responded to King during an NDP campaign event in Chapmans on Thursday.
“Just over the independence, … I remember the minister of education saying he nah sell out his friends them, Vincentians doh sell out they friends,” said John, who is the NDP’s candidate for South Windward in the next general elections.
“But this same minister of education sat down and allowed — be part of a government which signed that vaccine mandate,” he said.
“And even worse than that, they sat down and appealed that vaccine mandate so that persons can continue to suffer — not just teachers, police officers, other public servants.”
The SVG Teachers Union, Public Service Union and Police Welfare Association sponsored a lawsuit challenging the vaccine mandate.
The High Court ruled in favour of the dismissed workers, saying that they never ceased to hold their job as the action of the government “constitutes a breach of natural justice, contravenes the Constitution, is unlawful, procedurally-improper and void”.
However, the government appealed that ruling and while the case was heard on May 2, the Court of Appeal is yet to hand down its decision.
“They are suffering, and the suffering is prolonged by this government,” John said of the dismissed workers.
“We have to do something about it. We have to do something about it,” he said, adding that a clean sweep of the polls is needed.
“Shevern John in North Windward. We come right down to Kingstown. No place must be left out,” he said, referring to the host of the meeting, who is also an NDP senator and candidate for that district.
“This is what this government deserves for the disrespect that they have shown to our people,” John said.
This looks really bad.
It is written, I am a God that do not love evil nor a wicked man will never be my guest. I hate all all that do evil and liars will never enter into my kingdom. Vengeance is Mine says the Lord,, I will repay. A thousand years in Thy sight is like an evening gone. Fret not thy self of evil doers , nor be thou envious of those who prosper in their ways.