Arlene Smith Thompson Declares Independent Candidacy
Businesswoman and educator Dr. Arlene Smith-Thompson has entered the race for the upcoming general election as an independent At-Large candidate. She stated that party politics is failing the territory and pledged to represent all residents across the Virgin Islands without partisan constraints.
Arlene Smith-Thompson has officially declared her candidacy for the upcoming general election, entering the political arena as an independent At-Large contender. Announcing her decision, she strongly criticized the traditional party system, arguing that partisan politics is no longer serving the best interests of the Virgin Islands community.
Smith-Thompson previously ran for office in 2019, when she made history as the first woman to contest the Third District seat. After seven years away from the electoral frontline, she explained that her time outside active politics reaffirmed her belief that meaningful national development requires leadership unburdened by party loyalty.
By running for a territory-wide At-Large seat, she aims to advocate for citizens across all islands and collaborate across political lines. Her campaign platform highlights several pressing challenges confronting the territory. Among her primary concerns is community safety, particularly the more than 30 unsolved homicides recorded over the past two decades.
Smith-Thompson characterized this unresolved violence as entirely unacceptable for a territory with a population of approximately 35,000 residents. In addition to public safety, Smith-Thompson is focusing heavily on public sector accountability and efficiency. Drawing from her background as a senior public servant, she pointed out that government bureaucracy frequently delays vital services to residents and businesses.
She emphasized the need for modern, responsive administrative processes to restore public confidence in state institutions. Other key pillars of her platform include resolving the territory's longstanding water supply challenges, lowering the cost of doing business, and executing comprehensive improvements across the public education system.
Smith-Thompson brings a diverse professional background to her campaign, having served as a classroom teacher, higher education administrator, education policy consultant, senior civil servant, and local entrepreneur. She maintains that this broad spectrum of experience equips her with the practical insight needed to address the territory's legislative and developmental priorities independently.
Primary source: BVI News