The year was 1985, the month was September, I was still recovering from an extensive surgery, to repair injuries sustained from a stab wound to my stomach, an incident which happened on Villa Beach. I was at home when a message came to me that my constituency representatives: the Hon. John Horne, wanted to see me at his constituency office; It was suggested by the bearer of the message "he may have a job for you."
I dropped out of High School while I was in the fourth form, with a promise to my sister and sole guardian Clare, I will complete my secondary education at evening classes. As a result, of my education standard, I was qualified for very few jobs, all of which were menial level and I understood that.
At this stage of ST. Vincent and the Grenadines history, anyone with three Ordinary (O levels) passes, could earn a spot in the Government Service, and three O levels passes including English Language; qualified an individual to be employed as a teacher. Just a few years earlier, a Primary School Leaving certificate, qualified an individual, to become a grade teacher. I did not expect anything special; I just wanted to be kept busy.
I went to Mr. Horn's constituency office, to meet with him as he requested, with no serious expectations. Whilst in the meeting, the politician inquired about how I was doing, then he asked if I was working, I told him no. As far as my work history was concerned, I had a short stint working with the Vector controlled unit a division of the Ministry of Health; I did some sales but nothing much after finishing school. By this time, I was out of school just about 2 years.
Then Mr. Horne said in his big official tone of voice, "Allan how many subject do you have?" We all lives in a small community and everyone knew the history of everyone within the community. When I heard those words, I emotionally sank in the chair with embarrassment. I said, I don't have any subject, I pause then I continued; Mr. Horne, you know I dropped out of school in form 4. Then he continued; "We have a few opening, but you need to have subjects to qualify for those Jobs." Disappointed and embarrassed, I shook my shoulder bringing both of my shoulders up and forward cupping my chest.
I knew if Mr. Horne was serious in getting me a job he would have. But then again, a year earlier, I refused to Join Mr. Horn's West Kingstown party group, when he requested that I become an official member. I took the opportunity to express clearly to Mr Horne how I felt about political affiliation. I supported Mr. Horn's bid to win the West Kingstown constituency in the general elections, but I was not going to now give him my unconditional support, by joining his party group.
As a result, of my refusal to join Mr. Horne's West Kingstown constituency group, Mr. Horne threw me off of the Rose Place Play Ground Committee, without me knowing that I was no longer a member. I knew Mr. Horn's invitation to his office, was an act of grandstanding, with ulterior motives; he really wanted to know if I understood, the spiritual workings behind my stabbing. He also wanted the people who was talking about me and my incident on the beach, within the community see me coming to his constituency office. It was never about me and I suspected that.
However, I left Mr. Horn's constituency office, with one thing in mind, never again, will I be caught in that situation. That same week, I did what I was putting off for over two years. I signed up for evening classes, and that begin my quest to complete my secondary education fulfilling a promise to my sister and creating an opportunity to better myself.
Adult school was not as difficult as I thought it would have been, because Mr. Horn's questions and the way he made me feel, stuck with me, it found a special place in my mind. Added to that fact, I had two of the best tutors, both tutors took a personal interest in my academic pursuit; Mrs. Heather Williams and Mrs. Joseph, the wife of Calypsian Alexis Joseph. Those ladies’ encouragement was all I needed, Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Joseph made me feel like I could walk on water, and I took that confidence to the other classes.
Before I realized it, I had signed up for, taken, completed and passed my O levels subjects. I was happy with my accomplishments; but there was someone who was extremely proud of my accomplishments; there was no one more proud of my accomplishment like my sister Clare Palmer.
When my mother die, I was only seven years old. Clare was just out of her teens, starting her nursing career, she had her whole life ahead of her; she had suitors who had proposed to her, proposals which she turned down. She did not have to, but she took upon herself, the responsibility for mothering me and my sister Andrea and she was not going to let anything get in the way of that. Not to down play the role of other family members, but my sister Clear invested her money, her time and her life in me and my sister Andrea. At times, it did not look like a wise investment, for she got mainly stress in return for her investments, but I never heard her complaint.
For quite a while, it seems like My sister Clear’s investment was not going to yield any dividend. A total unproductive investment but she never gave up on me. She was always there reminding me to push on. Clear was not looking for any personal benefits from me, all she wanted, was for me to do my best, and to achieve what she knew I was capable of achieving.
About two year after my first disappointed encounter with John Horne, I went to the Ministry of Education to conduct some business. While I was in the general office, Mr. Horne returns to work from lunch. He saw me in the office; he greeted me and then he said Allan I am happy to see you, come with me. Mr. Horne used me as a ploy to avoid interacting with the people who had gathered all around waiting to see him; people he had promised to help and had been coming for the help he promised. People who was more cantankerous than I could ever hope to be or even imagined myself to be.
The conversation started the same way it began the last time I saw him. He said Allan are you working, I answered "yes. I am working at Bulah Yachts." He said in his big official tone of voice; “Allan I might have something that you can do.” Then he turned to me and he asked the question I was hoping he would ask. He asked “Allan do you have any subjects?” I looked at him square in the eyes, with a rewarding smile on my face; I proudly said yes I do.
I waited for this moment for two long years. Immediately Mr. Horne facial expression changed. My answer caught him off his guard. It was just two years ago, he asked me the same question and I did not have any subjects; now I am answering yes to his question. I saw the curious anticipation on Mr. Horne's face, as he patiently waited for me to complete my answer. I looked Mr. Horne in his eyes and I declared; "I have four O levels, including English language." The news was so shocking to Mr. Horne that he could not helped himself but to immediately offer me a job.
At this stage, I was qualified to be a teacher; I was even more qualified than a fair amount of the teachers in the teaching system. In fact, there were teachers who were employed on Mr. Horne's watch, who had three subjects without English Language, and in other cases, there were teachers who were employed with only two O level passes. I could remember clearly it was the talk of Kingstown that the Hon. Jerry Scott's daughter only had one subject and found employment at the SVG National Bank the National Commercial Bank.
Then Mr. Horne asked, in his official voice, "Allan, have you ever considered being a teacher?" I replied Yes, then he continued in his big shot official voice, "this is what I want you to do, go now, prepare an application, get two recommendations, your O levels certificate and bring it to me as soon as possible". he paused and he thought for a brief moment then he said; "As a matter of fact, take it to the Chief Education officer, let him know that I told you to apply."
My first stop was to find Leroy Mulraine AKA Porkes: ex-chief Education Officer, who was happy to and immediately give me a recommendation, the next person I found was George Federicks, who also give me a recommendation. I got proof of my qualifications and I return them the same day.
I was all excited, for the simple fact, My eldest brother: Albert "Skipper" Palmer was a teacher who had developed a stellar reputation in the field, my Sister Andrea was also a teacher, holding her own and enthusiastic about her career and the fact, Over the pass year I met with a young lady whom I was working with in preparing her for O level Principles Of Business and she passed the subject. She credited me with the ability of making complex things simple.
I waited for four long years and there was no word on my application to be a teacher. In the summer of 1991, I attended a Graduation of the boys Grammar School, on the invitation of a friend, at that Graduation John Horne's was making a presentation, he saw me in the audience, it was then he took the liberty to tell me from the podium that I will never be a teacher under his watch. He did this by saying that his ministry has raise the minimum qualifications for teachers from 3 subjects including English Language to Five O levels subject including English Language. making my four years old application useless.
Some ten years later, Mr. Horne was getting back at me for choosing to be independent thinking young man and embracing my democratic and constitutional rights to refuse to be or to become affiliated to any organization I choose too.
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