Orlando Smith
Encyclopedia
D. Orlando Smith, OBE
(born August 28, 1944) is the current Premier of the British Virgin Islands. He also formerly served as Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands
(as the role was formerly known before the 2007 constitution was adopted) from 2003 to 2007. He first won the office when his National Democratic Party
won the 2003 general election
, being the party's first victory at a general election in its history.
Dr Orlando Smith, OBE
originally qualified as a physician
, specialising in obstetrics
, and was the Territory's chief medical officer for many years both before and after entering politics. He entered politics at a relatively late stage of his career, being first elected to the Legislative Council of the British Virgin Islands
(now called the House of Assembly) in the 1999 general election
, as the head of the newly formed National Democratic Party (NDP). In 2003 Dr Smith led the NDP to victory, defeating the ruling Virgin Islands Party
for the first time since 1971 in the 2003 general election
.
However, in the 2007 general election
Dr Smith and his party suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Virgin Islands Party, retaining only two seats (one of whose was Dr Smith's) out of 13 elected seats. Dr Smith barely retained his seat as the at-large candidate receiving the fourth largest number of votes. Dr Smith remained in the legislature as the head of the opposition.
In the 2011 general election
Dr Smith and the National Democratic Party rebounded, and won an overall majority. Accordingly, he was invited by the Governor to form a new government.
During his political career Dr Smith has stood in each election as an "at large" candidate, and so is not affiliated with any individual political district. In each election that he had stood in other than the 2007 election, he had garnered more votes than any other at large candidate (under the current political system in the British Virgin Islands, the four at large candidates with the highest number of votes are elected to the Legislative Council together the representatives of each of the political districts; each voter casts up to five votes - one for the representative of their district, and up to four for the at large candidates). He also retains the distinction being the only person to have been elected as a territorial at-large candidate in each of the four elections where at-large candidates have been elected.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born August 28, 1944) is the current Premier of the British Virgin Islands. He also formerly served as Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands, often called the British Virgin Islands , is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The islands make up part of the Virgin Islands archipelago, the remaining islands constituting the U.S...
(as the role was formerly known before the 2007 constitution was adopted) from 2003 to 2007. He first won the office when his National Democratic Party
National Democratic Party (British Virgin Islands)
The National Democratic Party is a political party in the British Virgin Islands.In the 2007 general election the incumbent NDP was crushed by the Virgin Islands Party and lost all except for 2 of its seats....
won the 2003 general election
British Virgin Islands general election, 2003
General elections were held in the British Virgin Islands on 16 June 2003. They were won by the National Democratic Party, which took 54.4% of the vote and 8 of the 15 seats on the Legislative Council.-Individual territorial seats:...
, being the party's first victory at a general election in its history.
Dr Orlando Smith, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
originally qualified as a physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, specialising in obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
, and was the Territory's chief medical officer for many years both before and after entering politics. He entered politics at a relatively late stage of his career, being first elected to the Legislative Council of the British Virgin Islands
Legislative Council of the British Virgin Islands
The House of Assembly of the British Virgin Islands, until 2007 known as the Legislative Council, has 15 members; 13 directly elected for four year terms—nine in single-seat constituencies and four "at large"—one ex-officio member and one Speaker chosen from outside the house.The first...
(now called the House of Assembly) in the 1999 general election
British Virgin Islands general election, 1999
The British Virgin Islands general election, 1999 was held in the British Virgin Islands on 17 May 1999. The result was a victory for the incumbent Virgin Islands Party led by Chief Minister Ralph T...
, as the head of the newly formed National Democratic Party (NDP). In 2003 Dr Smith led the NDP to victory, defeating the ruling Virgin Islands Party
Virgin Islands Party (British Virgin Islands)
The Virgin Islands Party is a political party in the British Virgin Islands, led by Premier Ralph T. O'Neal.The Virgin Islands Party has held power in the British Virgin Islands for all except for 15 years since the adoption of the modern Legislative Council in 1967. It was originally formed by...
for the first time since 1971 in the 2003 general election
British Virgin Islands general election, 2003
General elections were held in the British Virgin Islands on 16 June 2003. They were won by the National Democratic Party, which took 54.4% of the vote and 8 of the 15 seats on the Legislative Council.-Individual territorial seats:...
.
However, in the 2007 general election
British Virgin Islands general election, 2007
The British Virgin Islands general election, 2007 was held in the British Virgin Islands on 20 August 2007. The result was a landslide victory for the opposition Virgin Islands Party over the incumbent National Democratic Party ....
Dr Smith and his party suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Virgin Islands Party, retaining only two seats (one of whose was Dr Smith's) out of 13 elected seats. Dr Smith barely retained his seat as the at-large candidate receiving the fourth largest number of votes. Dr Smith remained in the legislature as the head of the opposition.
In the 2011 general election
British Virgin Islands general election, 2011
The British Virgin Islands general election, 2011 was held in the British Virgin Islands on 7 November 2011. The result was a decisive victory for the opposition National Democratic Party led by Orlando Smith over the incumbent Virgin Islands Party , led by Premier Ralph T. O'Neal...
Dr Smith and the National Democratic Party rebounded, and won an overall majority. Accordingly, he was invited by the Governor to form a new government.
During his political career Dr Smith has stood in each election as an "at large" candidate, and so is not affiliated with any individual political district. In each election that he had stood in other than the 2007 election, he had garnered more votes than any other at large candidate (under the current political system in the British Virgin Islands, the four at large candidates with the highest number of votes are elected to the Legislative Council together the representatives of each of the political districts; each voter casts up to five votes - one for the representative of their district, and up to four for the at large candidates). He also retains the distinction being the only person to have been elected as a territorial at-large candidate in each of the four elections where at-large candidates have been elected.