“Arlene At-Large” and she’s rejecting party politics

Dr Arlene Smith Thompson Businesswoman and educator Dr Arlene Smith-Thompson has officially entered the race for the next general election, declaring herself an independent At-Large candidate while arguing that party politics is no longer serving the Virgin Islands as it should. Smith-Thompson, who unsuccessfully contested for the Third District seat in 2019, said seven years away from electoral politics have strengthened her belief that she can make a greater impact outside the traditional party system.

“I have tried party politics, and I believe party politics is no longer serving the people of the Virgin Islands in the way that it should,” she said while announcing her candidacy. She said running At-Large will allow her to represent residents across the territory without being “bound by a party line” and to work with anyone willing to advance the Virgin Islands. Smith-Thompson enters the race with a wide-ranging platform, pointing to crime, government accountability, the longstanding water woes, high business costs and weaknesses in the education system as issues requiring urgent attention. She described the territory’s more than 30…