Orlando Smith
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the BVI politician. For the basketball coach: Orlando "Tubby" Smith, see Tubby Smith.
| Orlando Smith | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office June 17, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Ralph T. O'Neal |
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| Succeeded by | Incumbent |
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| Born | August 28, 1944 Tortola |
| Political party | National Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Lorna Smith |
Orlando D. Smith (born August 28, 1944) has been the Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands since June 17, 2003. He achieved that position when his National Democratic Party won parliamentary elections for the first time 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 in 1999, 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.
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 has stood, he has 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).
