Is Shaina M. Smith an early flip-flopper?
However, the public is left baffled by this move, which they believe makes her a flip flopper as just a few short months ago she gave a totally different position as to her intentions regarding the upcoming elections.
Ms Shaina M. Smith, speaking exclusively to Virgin Islands News Online in January 2015, confirmed that she would not be running in the next elections with the NDP, neither At-Large nor in any district, or has she joined that party. In fact she said, “The PPA is in the process of organising a team to contest as a viable option in the next elections.”
When quizzed about allegations that she has been approached by the NDP to run in the first district, she neither confirmed nor denied that she was approached, but responded, “I am with the PPA. How can I run on two slates?”
Running as NDP
However a press release on Monday April 13, 2015 from a group calling itself The Committee to Elect Shaina M. Smith as the First District representative said “[The Committee] is pleased to announce her candidacy for the First District seat in the upcoming general elections as a member of the National Democratic Party’s team.”
“When asked why the change, the former Public Officer; currently the Principal Consultant at her company Smith & Associates, Inc., replied that upon her examination of the issues facing her district she came to the conclusion that she would best serve her country at the district level,” the release said.
A better VI one district at a time
According to the release, Smith said that she believes the way forward is to build a better Virgin Islands one district at a time as nation-building is a progressive process: bottom up and top down.
“She sees this an opportunity for the first district to move out of its holding pattern and realise its potential through a focus on business development, physical infrastructure improvements and a long term plan for the district over the next 12 years,” the release said.
Similar priorities
“Why the National Democratic Party's Team? When I look consider the vision that I have for the country and at the achievements of the National Democratic Party, I see a team that has similar priorities for the advancement of the Virgin Islands for now and years to come,” the press release quotes her as saying. “The approach of the National Democratic Party to the country's development is aligned with my own development philosophy and I see myself as a good fit with this team,” she said in the release.
43 Responses to “Is Shaina M. Smith an early flip-flopper?”
More to come.
You got freedom of press and freedom of expression why cant she have the same fundamental rights too. Nothing but all you feel the girl because she caught some off guard. She is going forward and not looking at the negative spinmasters.
Let Shania exercise her freedom of expression and choice by joining the party of choice.
This above is a straight-forward observation about splitting the vote and being careful what you wish for.
Reception(real or unfounded)..Slow party risk us being left behind on the world stage, fast part risk making the people of the country servants to the rich and the outsiders. Some where in the middle is best, enough economic growth allowing the people to live well provide for their family have positive future without the risk of losing what their forefathers have work hard for.