Mr. Moleto A. Smith Jr., a Democratic Candidate for Governor of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), has brought his campaigning a step higher in the Virgin Islands (VI). Photo: VINO

Mr. Moleto A. Smith Jr., a Democratic Candidate for Governor of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) brought his campaign to the Tortola, VI where he had a well engaged session with local reporters and declared that he is looking forward to the “Big Dance”. Photo: VINO

On Mr. Moleto A. Smith Jr.’s nine point strategic plan are the fostering of a sustainable economic development through strategies to diversify the economy, promoting employment and fostering the increase in the circulation of dollars in the local economy. Photo: VINO

The media meeting with reporters was held today February 26, 2014 in the conference room of Maria's By the Sea. Photo: VINO

“I want the people of the BVI to know that I am here. I am looking for them to know that once elected the Smith administration would address [issues] those that of interest to both jurisdictions,” assured Mr Smith.

The candidate made the observations as he brought his campaigning to a step higher in the Virgin Islands (VI). While he has been a constant visitor to these shores and has been engaging persons at different levels especially at the grass roots level, yesterday February 26, 2014 was his first step of venturing out into the wider communities of the VI. This step was taken in the form of a press conference which saw reporters grilling him for almost two hours.

The grey area of Customs and Immigration was specifically fingered as an area of concern to both jurisdictions. Mr Smith said that to an extent the concerns of travel of entertainers between the two Territories should be made much easier.

“I believe it’s an area of general concern as [are many] of the concerns that I’ve heard from BVIslanders who travel to the US about the long waits and the interaction Immigrations and Customs. That’s a point for discussion.”

He stated that the VI/USVI friendship day should be designed to include conversations of those natures, “Not just on that day but it should culminate on some type of structural form where there is community discussion.”

Another area of mutual interest is that of a proper health care system and according to Mr Smith while his team is yet to put together a proposed policy plan that addresses this issue, he stated that he is confident what will be put together will work. He is assured of this since most of their issues are not because of the lack of resources but because of mismanagement.

“It’s because there is fundamental mismanagement in certain areas…Some of these things can be done very quickly with the political courage and the competence to get it done,” he stated. “Some of the things we need to do would require an inspiration of confidence from the people to make the choices to make a decision,” he further stated.

Mr Smith said that he is working at engaging both the communities of both the VI and USVI in a robust way as he sees it important that the electorate re-engages itself in the process. “I am looking forward to frequent robust ongoing and public debates and forums with all candidates to discuss our plans…”

While he is cognizant of the fact that the campaign of which he is part will be a competitive one, he has insisted that he will not be running a campaign that focuses on personal attacks.

See previous story posted February 26, 2014:

“I am looking forward to the big dance” – USVI Gov. Candidate Moleto A. Smith Jr.

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Mr. Moleto A. Smith Jr., a Democratic Candidate for Governor of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) brought his campaign to Tortola, VI where he had a well-engaged session with local reporters and declared that he is looking forward to the “Big Dance.”

“I am not going to make this election a referendum of this Governor who is currently sitting, or any other,” was one point that Mr Smith was very keen on stressing as he sought to table his strategic plans for elections in the USVI later this year.

Mr Smith’s nine-point strategic plan includes fostering of sustainable economic development through strategies to diversify the economy, promoting employment and fostering the increase in the circulation of dollars in the local economy, as well as positioning the Territory as a regional leader in the global marketplace through tourism, trans-shipment, agri-business, entrepreneurial development, financial development, tax policy and trade relations.

Mr Smith professed be a keen follower of the politics and government of the VI and has identified a number of areas of interest with which he has familiarized himself. Among those areas are immigration related issues, the recent leak within the Financial Services which had flooded the international scene, matters of health and related services and tourism. He also touched on concerns surrounding the much touted airport expansion project in the VI.

The gubernatorial hopeful said that he was not afraid to look at issues considered “the elephant in the room,”. When asked about his position on gay and lesbian rights, he said he will uphold all federal and local laws of the USVI. 

He has been well known for being very vocal publicly on his position about the use of marijuana.

“For all Virgin Islanders to gain prosperity tomorrow, I'm asking each of us to focus on excellence through individual and community empowerment today,” he said as he reiterated one of the platform messages being used in his campaign – ‘Empowerment today – Prosperity tomorrow’.

Mr Smith is said to be advocating for excellence through transparency, accountability, improving government services by streamlining government operations and enhancing human capital and technology, diversifying the economy and addressing the educational and social issues of the Territory.

He is one known to have a strong reputation for achieving outcomes and is highly respected for his commitment to the Virgin Islands community, his professional judgment, ethical behavior, integrity and passion.