Simon says Browne and his Cabinet need to stop playing ‘water politics’ and defends service of constituent Esworth Martin

Newly elected Opposition MP Kelvin “Shugy” Simon is calling on
Prime Minister Gaston Browne and his Cabinet to stop playing
“water politics games” and resolve the crisis, as they promised
nearly 10 years ago.
 
Simon is also disappointed and distressed that Esworth Martin – a
St. Mary’s South (SMS) resident and the general manager of the
Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) – has been placed on early
retirement leave.
 
According to Simon, who represents the SMS constituency, “It was
extremely upsetting to learn, last week, that Esworth Martin… has
become the latest scapegoat in the water politics game.”
 
If Browne has an issue with “performance,” Simon says, then he and
his entire Cabinet should have been fired long ago. They have not
performed; nor have they fulfilled their political obligations or
promises to the people of Antigua and Barbuda, the MP adds.
 
“Why is it that only APUA management is being penalized?” Simon is
asking; “and what about the previous minister, Sir Robin Yearwood,
one of the longest-serving utilities ministers in the Caribbean and
current chairman of APUA?”
 
Going further, he inquires: “Where is the blame for the current
minister, Melford Nicholas, for his gross incompetence… and why
are these ministers, as well as the APUA Board, who were all
appointed by Gaston Browne, still in office?”

 
Referring specifically to the Martin situation, Simon describes him as
a proud son of St. Mary’s South who has served both the United
Progressive Party and the Labour Party Administrations well.
Hence, he is curious to know why it has taken almost 10 years for
the Browne Administration to discover Martin’s alleged
“incompetence.”

And as the prime minister makes unsubstantiated accusations of
sabotage, Simon says he is displeased that Browne continues to
malign, misinform, and mislead the public about the employees’
capabilities – especially since many of them have held their
positions for over two decades.
 
The UPP MP recalls that Browne had blamed the UPP for the water
problem and pledged to have it resolved in 14 days. “Now, after
[almost] 10 years, having failed to address the water issues, the
problem is … the staff and management of APUA,” Simon says
sarcastically.