Rajah A. Smith declared as Independent At-Large Candidate!
This time, Mr Smith, an Indigenous Virgin Islander will be contesting the 2019 General Elections, as an Independent Candidate At-Large. In 2015, he was part of a three-man race for D2 where he only secured 25 votes as the VIP candidate.
Second time in the race
The winner was the National Democratic Party’s (NDP) Hon. Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) aka ‘Mitch’ receiving some 600 votes. The other candidate in the race was Elford W. Parsons who obtained 290 votes and ran with the now defunct, People’s Empowerment Party (PEP).
Mr Smith, a Businessman—in a social media video released on Sunday, January 6, 2019—said that Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon D. Orlando Smith (AL) is, “The weakest Leader in the Virgin Islands (VI) history”.
The young political aspirant also stated that in the mind of many, Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Dr the Hon Kedrick D. Pickering (R7), “is the worse Minister in the history of the VI.”
NDP eroded VI Culture - Smith
Mr Smith noted that the NDP has “eroded the way of life of our people” and that “this administration has abandoned fishing and farming.”
He condemned the educated class, the Lawyers and Doctors and said, “they have not done anything for the country and that he was running because he is a “common man.”
Mr Smith in his declaration speech, promised to pass legislation to protect Virgin Islanders and Belongers, improve farming and get a Labour Department that works.
He claimed that “it’s time to put Virgin Islanders first” and declared that we have “nothing to lose by voting for Rajah A. Smith.”
Why not the PU?
Mr Smith has been the first independent candidate to announce his bid for the 2019 Elections, however, many social commentators are asking, why he has not joined the party of his longtime mentor, Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3), the founder and Chairman of Progressives United (PU).
When asked that question by our news desk, Mr Smith declined to comment. There are now five political parties contesting the 2019 General Elections that must be held by April 16, 2019.
These are, the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) headed by Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), National Democratic Party (NDP) headed by Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL), an NDP breakaway group Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) headed by Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL), Progressives United (PU) headed by Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) and the new Reform Action Alliance (RAA), with their leader unknown.
Please see full video clip at bottom
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18 Responses to “Rajah A. Smith declared as Independent At-Large Candidate! ”
At some stage, Smith will be seen as a great leader.
Yes there were failures, but all Chief Ministers and Premiers had them, even the great HLS.
Did Rajah forget that he was the worst performing candidate ever, on a major party ticket?
Politicians it is time for a separate labour code to address domestic workers only like the UK has. The amount of stealing,breakage, and taking advantage of that local employers of domestic workers face is dumbfounding.
So Mr Rajah and other newbie politicians you want a Platform then address the immigration and labour department slackness