‘Crux of the matter’ in VI is really about nation building- Shaina M. Smith-Archer
Smith-Archer was at the time guest hosting the Tuesday, May 24, 2022, edition of Claude O. Skelton-Cline’s Honesty Speaking radio show.
The conversation comes as Virgin Islanders and regional leaders have been advocating for no UK direct rule, which was recommended in a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report.
“To me, the crux of the matter is everything that we are seeing and discussing is about nation-building, so whether we call it direct rule, that's only one aspect of it,” she said.
More knowledge needed
“Because then it goes back to the whole notion of a question that was put to me a few weeks back. Aren't we already are self-governing country, or self-sustaining and I started to explain to them that you know there are some definitions that we have lost or not aware of,” she added.
Smith-Archer said while words like self-determination, and self-governing have been continuously thrown around, no one has paused long enough to explain exactly what does that mean to the man on the street.
For the grassroots population, she added that persons are left to question why they should care when hearing words like decolonisation.
“One of the things that’s been in my heart these past few months is that you know, for a lack of knowledge, people perish,”
She added that in the VI, persons cannot talk about the way forward for territory until the people have some knowledge.”
“And in that knowledge get some understanding, so that we can make wise decisions because without, we definitely are going to perish.”
18 Responses to “‘Crux of the matter’ in VI is really about nation building- Shaina M. Smith-Archer”
Let's look around our Community for the men and women that are quietly running successful businesses without looking for the spotlight. Their accomplishments speak for them. These are our true leaders; let's approach them!
Each week she’s calling for a certain part of government to be dismissed. They she wants all those people to vote for she like really?
It's a daunting task, and should not be taken lightly
To bash any person' for just even trying, and not offering up of any services to help our country, is just not fair.
Congrats, Mrs. Smith- Archer for your continued persistence..