‘I am willing to get into active politics’ – Simmons

Environmental and community activist Andrew Simmons has declared his intention to run for politics in the near future, in the hopes that it will end the political victimization that he claims has been perpetrated against him over the past 14 years.

As the guest on last Tuesday’s (May 10) BOOM 106.9 ‘OMG In the Morning’ radio programme, Simmons spoke openly about his ordeal{{more}} – explaining that he is of the opinion that the Unity Labour Party (ULP) led government has been responsible for preventing him from getting eight jobs during that period of time.

“I am dedicated to this country and I want to be here. But I think that every effort that I make to be here, to serve my people, that I’ve constantly been pushed out… victimized… abused… The time is now to stop,” he insisted.

Describing Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves as “egocentric and self-centred”, the environmental/community activist said: “Who give the Prime Minister or the ULP or whosoever the right to determine whether I eat bread or not?”

Simmons, who is also an environmental management advisor, recounted that circa 1993, then Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell had asked him to run on the New Democratic Party’s (NDP) ticket against the Unity Labour Party; however, he had declined at the time.

“At that time, I had problems with the NDP in terms of the governance… and I expressed to Sir James that I have no interest.”

Simmons did, however, admit that he now sees himself getting involved in politics in the near future.

“I am saying that I am open and willing… to be part of and involved in active politics… whether through the NDP or a new political party,” he asserted, explaining that he would more than likely run in the constituency of East St George.

Simmons said that despite the level of victimization that he has faced from the current administration, he will continue to give his “life and time” to the country.

“The level of victimization that I face here… I would expect that in another man country. I born here; I’m a Vincentian.”

In particular, Simmons spoke of three incidences where he strongly believes the Government thwarted his chances of employment.

In 2001/02, he recalled that he was one of several candidates vying for the position of head of the Commonwealth Secretariat (UK), which required the endorsement of the head of state of the country that the candidate was a citizen of.

“I wrote to my Govern-ment – to the Prime Minister – requesting support… and I was refused… All I was told when I [was] ready to go for the interview… was that I was the only person who was at that interview without support from their Government.”

Simmons explained that he was still allowed to go ahead with the interview, because that was his right, but it was made explicitly clear that he would not have a chance of being selected without support from his Government.

He claimed that this was also the case again in 2004, when another vacancy at the Secretariat came up once more.

Simmons had already been working at the Secretariat within the Youth Development department when he alleges these two incidents occurred; but in 2006 – after working there for nine years – he decided to move on from that institution, as he could “see no way in terms of going forward”.

“I decided to go back home.”

In 2006, Simmons said he wrote to the Government, expressing his intent to move back home from the UK – and requesting the relevant concessions on shipping his personal belongings back.

However, he said that this request was denied.

On moving back to SVG, he further claimed that he tried for two and a half months – with no avail – to get an appointment to speak with the Prime Minister.

“I was completely refused – not even a response… All I wanted to do was to meet with the Prime Minister to give him a proposal.”

Simmons recalled that after this, he had applied through the Ministry of Agriculture for a United Nations-funded position that had become available, and was the successful candidate chosen from hundreds.

“It was the national coordinator for the Economic and Agricultural Diversification Programme… I got the job, I started working with them.”

He said that he was even allocated an office within the Ministry of Agriculture, and that he was told that on his first day of work he would meet with the then Permanent Secretary and the Chief Agricultural Officer.

The community activist further recounted that he spent hours waiting on said meeting to happen, but no one showed up nor indicated to him that there may have been a postponement. He left his office and went home, and upon reaching there, he received a phone call from his contact at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization.

“He said: ‘Andrew, what happening in St Vincent?’” Simmons said.

“He said: ‘Look, we just received communication from upstairs… to terminate your services immediately…’”

Simmons said he inquired why this demand was being made, but was told that no reason had been given.

“How could that happen? I came back, I gave up my international practice… I was the top of what I was doing.”

He also said that he had turned down several international posts that had been offered to him at the time – instead opting to return to SVG to try to “make a difference”.

“I came – you beat me up. Eight jobs [were] taken away!” he declared.

“My diplomatic passport was literally taken away, because it was not renewed. I tried to renew it; they telling me to justify it… What have I done to deserve this?” lamented Simmons.

“For me this is war…

“Am I not people? Do I not have feelings? What should I do – just lie down and roll over? No!” (JSV)