‘Past defeat does not disqualify you’ - Rajah A. Smith on running again
Mr Smith, an Indigenous Virgin Islander was part of a three-man race for D2 in 2015, however, he lost when he secured less thatn 30 votes as a VIP candidate.
The winner was the National Democratic Party’s (NDP 1) 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 under the now defunct, People’s Empowerment Party (PEP).
This is a democracy – Smith
“This is a democratic country and I would love to see more young people step up to the plate, put your name on a ballot,” he said on “Hard Talk” a show on Tola Radio VI last Thursday, January 24, 2019.
In encouraging youths to take up the challenge, he said don’t be afraid to try, “it’s better to prepare for the opportunity and not have one, that to have an opportunity and not be prepared.”
“I’m not in this for wins and losses, I’m here to try to represent the people of the Virgin Islands” he said, “I think that our territory really lost its way and I’m giving people a choice,” he told the listening audience.
VIP in the Past
When questioned by host Julio S. Henry on how many votes he got in the past, Mr Smith remarked, “[it is] a crowded field, the people of the Virgin Islands have an option.”
“I’m not going to stay here and bash the Virgin Islands Party, I wish them well… just as well, but the situation with that is a little more in-depth… yes, I get 28 votes,” he said, however, records show it was infact 25 votes.
“What you [are] saying to me is that because I failed, or I didn’t succeed I shouldn’t move forward… defeat does not disqualify you… so here I am again,” Mr Smith said in lashing back.
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