Shefflorn and Ann-Marie Ballantyne, two educators dismissed under St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ 2021 COVID-19 vaccine mandate, have co-authored a book titled ‘I Do Not Consent’. The book delves into the Vincentian chapter of the pandemic, focusing on the government’s controversial mandate and its profound effects on workers. The couple aims to ensure that the actions of the Ralph Gonsalves-led Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration are remembered as a dark period in the nation’s history. The book, launched online to mark the fourth anniversary of the mandate, features personal stories of vaccine-injured individuals, testimonies from dismissed workers, and the role of trade unions and lawyers in challenging the mandate. In March 2023, a High Court judge ruled the mandate unlawful, but the government successfully appealed the decision in February 2025. The workers have now sought leave to take the case to the Privy Council. The Kindle version of the book is available for free download on Amazon, with a local launch planned for the upcoming year.
‘November vax mandate will not be forgotten,’ dismissed teachers vow
