Kevin C. Smith out of Digicel! In on the campaign trail!
He has resigned from his post and it’s unclear if the departure was amicable. While this news site had this information some three months ago, it was also confirmed late last week by Digicel (BVI) Chief Executive Officer Mr Conor Looney.
Mr Looney told our news room in an exclusive interview that "Mr Smith has played a key role in Digicel over the last 16 months. He has had a positive impact on Digicel’s team and business…… Digicel wishes Kevin every success in the future," added Mr Looney.
Prior to taking up the position at Digicel, Mr Smith held the position of Acting Director of the Trade and Consumer Affairs Department with the Government of the Virgin Islands, and raked in a government consultancy after losing the election in 2011.
Back on the campaign with NDP
According to this news site's senior sources within the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), Mr Smith will be back on the slate as the NDP Third District candidate. This was confirmed after a series of meetings and negotiations with Mr Smith. At one point there was even a debate about Mr Smith going At-large, according to our sources.
Mr Smith first ran in 2011 against the incumbent Third District Representative and veteran Legislator Hon Julian Fraser RA (1999-current).
While it was a good challenge in an anti- incumbent year, Hon Fraser defeated Mr Smith in a 613 to 557 count.
Mr Smith will be back at it again trying to unseat the now Virgin Islands Party Chairman and Premier in waiting- Hon Fraser. There is expected to be about one or two other candidates beside Hon Fraser and Smith in the Third District race, according to information reaching our news room.
Mr Smith has started canvassing the Third District and is leaning on the NDP to help him get things done for the district, a political strategy the NDP has used for the past three years with the intention to sideline the duly elected Representatives.
NDP gearing up for election
In its continuing effort to have a full slate of 13 candidates for the upcoming general elections expected this year, the NDP has now filled 3 out of 4 open seats. Along with their 9 incumbents, they will have in the First District former People’s Patriotic Alliance (PPA) member Shaina M. Smith who had earlier this year told our news room she was not running with the NDP, Dr Hubert O’Neal who lost four times in the Ninth District, and Mr Smith who is now in the Third District.
The party is still debating its Second District candidate. The two names being debated so far are former candidate Claude O. Skelton Cline and Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull who has started to campaign.
According to public opinion, the NDP is very unpopular; however, the voters are yet to see a viable alternative, with no Virgin Islands Party and People’s Empowerment Party candidates announced as yet.
33 Responses to “Kevin C. Smith out of Digicel! In on the campaign trail!”
At the rate it is going I am not sure that the NDP will get any seats at all, but as bad and corrupt as are they are we still need to have an opposition VIP ALL THE WAY DO NOT LEAVE THEM WITH ANY
We haven't seen since 2011.. We only see him at the sp@ni$h b@rs. We never see him at the district functions.
Where is NDP going with this dead horse...he put on too much weight to beat the next Premier…plus the NDP hates the 3rd district
all of a sudden I see a man putting up family pics on face book page but they cannot fool us this time that they close with wifey and kids, him along with action man tried that last election but we all know the distance between these guys and wifey. Show how deceitful tem guys can be and should never be trusted. When you can use your wifey to try get power what else you won't do