'We have become more unfriendly & unloving to each other'-Lesmore Smith
Former Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) At-Large candidate Lesmore Smith has urged that the core values and principles of late Chief Minister Hamilton Lavity Stoutt be upheld by the [British] Virgin Islands (VI).
Mr Smith's statement came on March 6, 2023, the public holiday to celebrate the birth anniversary of the late H. Lavity Stoutt.
“Let’s remember his mantra: ‘Where there is no vision the people perished,’" Mr Smith said.
“Our survival as a people and a nation, beholds us to become responsible, for what we say or do about and to each other.
“I’ll be the first to admit I’m not and would never be perfect in this life. That doesn’t give me the right, to look down at the other person despite their strengths or weaknesses. We organised marches to the government house, to save our democracy, but at the same time we create social media conversations to destroy what’s left of us and this is not right”, he continued.
Businessman Lesmore Smith, who
unsuccessfully contested for a seat at the 2019 General Election in the
Virgin Islands, had made it known since December 2022 that he would be
vying for a seat at the 2023 elections.
Where is the love?
Smith said there is also a need for love and respect toward each other.
"We seemed to [have] become more unfriendly and unloving to each other...What more do we need for us to respect and appreciate each other?”
He pointed to the present climate with young people, whom he noted are crying out for help while adults constantly fight against each other.
“Where is our leadership and support in their success?
“The things we do and say are not helpful, in them making positive decisions. They’re looking up to us for directions but it seems like we’re looking at them instead. We claimed it’s the British Invasion but we are our own invaders. We asked the rest of the world for help to save us but we need to help ourselves by changing the things we say about each other. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link”, Mr Smith said.
'I'm a proud Virgin Islander'- Smith
He noted; however, that each individual has a right to democracy and they have to live with their decision.
“Our friendship or association is also a democratic process. We don’t have the right to affiliate or align it for our own selfish gains.
“I’m a proud British Virgin Islander. This country and its people have done well for me in my development. I’ve never been ungrateful in giving and helping anyone in time of need”, Mr Smith said.
Smith, who is now contesting as an Independent At-Large candidate, had initially announced last December, that he was running as At-Large candidate with the Party, only to later be forced off the ticket, after he was asked to run in the Fifth District.
He reportedly opted not to, as his slot was taken by a former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Ingrid A. Moses.
