Dear Editor,
Let’s call this exactly what it is: a blatant dereliction of duty dressed up as “research.”
Kelvin “Shuggy” Simon now wants the people of Antigua and Barbuda to believe that he’s hopping on a plane to Trinidad Carnival for some grand economic study, studying crowd size, revenue, and how Trinidad attracts 100,000 people. That explanation is not just weak, it’s downright insulting.
Antigua is crying out for leadership. Roads, communities, youth development, crime prevention, economic relief, there is more than enough work right here at home. Yet instead of rolling up his sleeves and facing the responsibilities he was elected to handle, he chooses to run off to Trinidad Carnival under the flimsiest excuse imaginable.
Let’s be clear: you do not need to attend Trinidad Carnival in person to study its economics. We live in an age of instant access: data, reports, case studies, tourism statistics, interviews, livestreams, expert panels, all available online. Governments, economists, and planners around the world conduct serious research without wine, music trucks, and masquerade bands.
If the goal were truly academic or policy-driven, it could be done right here in Antigua, without abandoning post.
So let’s drop the pretence.
This isn’t about economic analysis.
This isn’t about national development. This is about skipping responsibility, ducking accountability, and finding a convenient excuse to go jump up, wave, and party while Antigua waits.
And the irony? If he really wanted to understand how Carnival can drive economic growth, he could start by fixing Antigua’s own systems, supporting local creatives, improving infrastructure, empowering vendors, strengthening tourism planning, and showing up consistently for the people he represents.
Leadership is not tourism-by-excuse. Representation is not selective attendance. Public office is not a travel perk.
Antigua and Barbuda deserve present, focused, and serious leadership not Carnival tourism masquerading as policy work.
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The writer of this article is just trying to restart a fire that was distinguished for some time now. As a voter in St. Mary’s South I disagreed with the decision Shugy made last year because Parliament was in session. What is wrong if he wants to be there for whatever reason now. As far as I know Parliament is not in session. Can’t we take a brake from stupidity sometime? Why didn’t this ABLP joker have the courage to put his/her name
You sound so stupid and illiterate!!
Why does anything mild the UPP members do have ABLP supporters and members spitting feathers. Yet, a more serious matter like the vehicle acquisitions procurement scandal doesn’t concern or bother them in the slightest?
Maybe selective memory I would suggest?
In recent times we’ve heard the ABLP trying their hardest to denigrate UPP members like, Malaka Parker; Kelton Dalso; Richard Lewis; Jamal Pringle; Harold Lovell, and now Kelvin Shugy Simon.
And all the accusations have been rather frivolous to say the least, about these UPP returnees, and especially to a hardworking politician like Shugy looking into entertainment practices overseas.
Once again the ABLP sycophants are making themselves look unpatriotic and utterly ridiculous.
Our economy is in a right mess and tanking, some salaries are still outstanding, price gouging is out of control, and the country is on the verge of being overrun by plagues of RATS – including the political ones from the ABLP I might add!
Isn’t this current torment Biblical?
& if it was Faston Vrowne yall would say “he’s human n he can have his fun” just go to hell sir/madam
Am I missing something here: “Roads, communities, youth development, crime prevention, economic relief, there is more than enough work right here at home.”
MOST OF THESE THINGS HERE ARE FOR THE SITTING GOVERNMENT TO TACKLE. THESE ARE ABLP”S PROBLEMS TO SOLVE.
Instead they enrich themselves and their cronies. Ask ABLP what they have done to deal with these issues and stop deflecting.
Much ado about nothing. This writer misses the sarcasm Shugy intended with his “study” comment. The writer either intentionally missed the sarcasm or is just too slow to pick up on it. In any event, there is nothing wrong with going to T&T carnival, if that is your thing. The writer points to work to be done but Shugy is not in majority government with access to government ministry assets. Enjoy Carnival, Shugy.