Vincentian authors Shefflorn and Ann-Marie Ballantyne launched their latest book, “I Do Not Consent: The Vincentian Chapter of the COVID-19 Plandemic” in Kingstown on Aug. 13.
The launch fulfilled a promise the authors made when they released the Kindle edition online on Nov. 19, 2025, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the November 2021 vaccine mandate implemented by the then-Unity Labour Party administration.
At that time, they had committed to holding an official in-person launch in 2026.
During the launch, the authors traced the book’s writing journey and their inspiration, holding the audience’s attention as they reflected on the experiences of fellow workers dismissed under the November 2021 mandate.
Recalling their interviews with affected individuals who agreed to share their stories for the book, the authors said:
“To hear how families’ lives had been disrupted, parents separated from their children to sustain their household, children’s university studies cut short, people forced to give up their homes or leave them in a state of disrepair, teachers reduced to selling snacks or provisions on the street just to make ends meet, was heartbreaking.”
They said worse still were the stories of those who were “injured or died from the jab, leaving children behind and their families in grief and hardship.
“In the face of all that suffering, we had a callous government, with a prime minister rubbing salt in our wounds by justifying the mandate even after evidence was available that the jab was unsafe and ineffective, and who was still insisting that workers had abandoned their jobs.”
Special remarks were delivered by the President of the SVG Teachers’ Union Fiona Charles-Williams, immediate past president, Oswald Robinson, and Thusian Institute for Religious Liberty Inc. Associate Director, Anesia Baptiste, who shared updates on recent revelations from Dr. Anthony Fauci’s diary.
Baptiste said the book was important for “record, history and inspiration,” adding that the latest revelations further validated the authors’ stance against the vaccine and the mandate.
A lively, frank discussion followed, with invitees sharing their own experiences under the mandate — including being locked out of their workplaces and feeling pressured to take the vaccine because of mortgage obligations.
Newly appointed acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Brenton Smith, who was in attendance, congratulated the authors and said the evening was a touching experience that brought back memories of “the difficult times we had”.
“The evening was well attended, but for me, it was much more than a book launch. As the authors gave their historical account and reflected on the experiences surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, many painful memories came flooding back,” Smith said in a Facebook post.
Smith was among public sector workers who were dismissed under the mandate.
“There were moments when I felt I needed to step outside simply to compose myself, yet I did not want to miss a single word. I was reminded of the insults, humiliation, uncertainty and hardship that many persons endured, including members of my own organisation,” Smith said.
“People were placed in extremely difficult circumstances because of their decision not to comply with the vaccine mandate. Families were affected, livelihoods were disrupted, careers were interrupted, and relationships within workplaces were deeply strained.”
The event, themed “Be a Part of the Conversation,” was designed as an interactive discussion, with the authors encouraging attendees to keep the conversation alive.