LETTER: Kelvin “Shuggy” Simon’s Hypocrisy Exposed: YASCO Bathroom Criticism Backfires Amid UPP’s Own Record of Waste

Kelvin “Shuggy” Simon’s Hypocrisy Exposed: YASCO Bathroom Criticism Backfires Amid UPP’s Own Record of Waste

St. John’s, Antigua – In what many are calling a classic case of political hypocrisy, United Progressive Party (UPP) MP Kelvin “Shuggy” Simon launched a public tirade against the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP), criticizing the state of the bathroom facilities at the YASCO Sports Complex. However, Simon’s condemnation has quickly drawn sharp backlash, with critics pointing out that the very structure he decries was initiated under his own party’s tenure.

Simon, who now serves as a vocal opposition figure, attempted to distance himself from the genesis of the YASCO project, claiming that he was not part of the government that approved what he called an “unfinished facility.” He further alleged that a party supporter received over $600,000 for incomplete work. Yet, what Simon failed to admit is that the YASCO facility was commissioned during the UPP’s term in office—a time marked by fiscal mismanagement and wasteful expenditures that left many national projects half-baked and under scrutiny.

Observers and constituents alike were quick to point out that Simon’s party presided over what is now seen as one of the most reckless eras of public spending in modern Antiguan political history. From putting beads on sidewalks to lavish and questionable spending on gabion fencing, the UPP administration became synonymous with financial irresponsibility. One of the most egregious examples includes the installation of water funnels in the contaminated Country Pond—just feet away from a major primary school—raising public health concerns while accomplishing little in the way of sustainable development.

Furthermore, the UPP’s tenure was riddled with costly acquisitions of derelict buildings, which were left to rot rather than being developed into meaningful public assets. Many believe that if those funds had been allocated toward national sports infrastructure like YASCO, athletes today would not be training in substandard conditions.

Political commentators say Simon’s criticism rings hollow and serves as a stark reminder of why the electorate rejected the UPP in the first place. “You cannot attempt to rewrite history simply because you weren’t in the room when the decision was made. Kelvin Simon is part of a party whose legacy on public infrastructure is both embarrassing and indefensible,” one senior political analyst remarked.

The irony is not lost on the sporting community either, which continues to call for real investment and leadership—qualities they argue are absent in Simon’s political playbook. Rather than offering constructive solutions, his latest comments are being viewed as an attempt to score cheap political points by deflecting responsibility.

As the government pushes forward with plans to rehabilitate and modernize YASCO, the public appears increasingly wary of opposition figures who seem more interested in stirring controversy than contributing to national progress. Kelvin Simon’s remarks, intended to shame the government, have only served to remind the nation of the UPP’s failed stewardship—an era many are eager to move beyond.

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