“About two weeks ago, I was asked, in fact, I was told that the story was going to be printed and I said then that I was seriously considering, and today I can tell you that I have made my decision that I will contest the elections, as I said, as an At-Large candidate,” Smith said on JTV’s The Big Story.

When asked what qualifies her to be a candidate, Smith said she is skilled in negotiations and has worked for several leaders of the territory, including former Chief Minister H. Lavity Stoutt and her husband and former Premier Dr D Orlando Smith.

“My mission as a professional has always been to make sure that the territory of the British Virgin Islands got the best — I’m running to fulfil that mission,” she shared.

She alluded to global issues that impact the BVI, such as the Ukraine war and said the territory needs to continue to be a global competitor.

She also pointed to her international experience and noted that she had been instrumental in establishing both the BVI’s Hong Kong and London Offices.

Smith said she is also passionate about education, infrastructure and climate change, among other things and said these were important areas that need to be looked at.

I never ran the country

Meanwhile, the former First Lady dismissed suggestions that she was the proverbial ‘power behind the throne’ while her husband served as leader of the territory for three four-year terms and said she learned a lot from him.

“I learned a lot from Dr Smith, the premier. I learned to listen to as many people in the community as possible because part of communications, in fact, probably the most important part of communications is listening,” Smith said.

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” Smith said about the allegations. “In fact, I’m very proud, as I said of my husband… he is one of the most brilliant persons in the British Virgin Islands.”

While admitting to sharing her opinions like anyone else in the territory, Smith said her husband, at the end of the day, has a very fine mind and makes his own decisions.

“We need experience and we need strength to guide the BVI into the future. We’re not running a popularity contest,” Smith said. “We can’t afford it. So it is not about who is better liked, it’s about who you trust and who is more competent. I consider myself to be trustworthy and to be competent.”