'Most of the Boards I served on I never was paid a red cent'- Ian S. Smith
Smith, who served two consecutive three (3) year terms as Chairman of the Social Security Board (SSB), was at the time giving his introduction speech at the PVIM’s presentation of Candidates at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park on Sunday, March 19, 2023.
'I am not your typical candidate'- Ian S. Smith
During his speech, Smith declared, “I am not your typical candidate” while boasting that he is a trained economist who has served the country in many areas and capacities for over 30 years.
“Today I learned of comments that I served on Boards for money. Are they serious? Most of you know better and know better than these diversion tactics. I’ve served on Boards for over 30 years under every administration, because of my skills, knowledge and experience and expertise and they were in high demand...Most of the Boards I served on, I never was paid a red cent. So try again. I say, try again,“ Smith declared.
He said he has been listening, more intensely over the past year, to issues that should never have had the opportunity to take root in the Virgin Islands (VI).
VI in 'shambles'
Smith, who also served on the Board of the Financial Services Commission, claimed that the VI is in shambles, the town has raw sewage running through it and is dirty.
He added that garbage, pollutants, export-only pesticides and over-reliance on imports are making the people severely ill, while agriculture and fisheries continue to take a back seat.
Smith, who is a banker, went on to state that many youths are misdirected and uninformed as to how they can take their proper place in society and when they try financing is inaccessible.
'What an embarrassment for this little country'
“Trade licences and work permit processes are enshrined in bureaucracy, lack of trust and confidence. And of course we cannot do better because we do not have what it takes to negotiate access to substantial regional and international financing, funding and support. What an embarrassment for this little country that there are so many persons who want to invest in our progress but just don’t want to trust us and our government”, he said.
Smith continued that a lack of trust and confidence is what is wrong with the picture and his Party is there because the people want leadership they can trust and who believes that contracts and work should be awarded based on merit.
'Not a fashion show'
He said the country is in such a state due to a band-aid and temporary fixes mentality.
“This is not a fashion show, or campaign for who shouts the loudest or talks the best. This is the people’s lives and livelihood you are talking about…A country with as much offshore financial business and tourism activity as we do but has children waking up and going to school without being able to bathe because the water system keeps getting band-aids,” he said.
As Chairman of the Social Security Board, Mr Smith was one of the architects of the controversial Joe's Hill Manor Estate Project.
He will come up in D4 against two female candidates, Luce D. Hodge-Smith of the Virgin Islands Party and Sandy M. Harrigan-Underhill of the NDP.
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81 Responses to “'Most of the Boards I served on I never was paid a red cent'- Ian S. Smith”
People can’t lie with FACTS
CHECK THE GOVERNMENT RECORDS
You just illustrated the point they made ????????
Ian is one a we
We voting Ian all the way
Social security ain’t benefits you
Payroll tax ain’t represent you
Improve telecommunications ain’t benefit you
STOP SPREADING SHYYT
Which person looking for a pushover representative
Ian is the right man for he don’t stand for nonsense
He is a l**r and he is a terrible person. He has a chip on his shoulder from losing his post at Banco. He treats people very badly. He is not a good person ????????
When visions don’t align and you have better opportunities you move on. If you didn’t qualify for a loan YOU JUST DIDNT QUALIFY! that don’t make the man a bad person