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Written by
Shaina Smith-Archer

June 22, 2022

COMMENTARY — Gov’t urged to up civil service pay

Since watching the recent press conference where the governor and premier discussed overdue police service increments, I have been waiting for the wider conversation. Payment of increments should be step …

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by Shaina Smith-Archer
April 28, 2022

COMMENTARY — Waiting on UK response to COI

I am not surprised by the timeline published by the governor for the publication of the Commission of Inquiry report, because from his first announcement I estimated it would take …

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by Shaina Smith-Archer
March 30, 2022

COMMENTARY — Turning ‘learners to leaders’

I had the honour this month to participate in an important dialogue about how we prepare our students for life. The discussion centred around two questions: “Preparing learners to be …

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by Shaina Smith-Archer
March 16, 2022

COMMENTARY — Call made for gender equality in VI

International Women’s Day is a marker in our calendars to cause us to pause and recognise the accomplishments of women and girls. This year I felt it was important to …

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by Shaina Smith-Archer
January 19, 2022

COMMENTARY — VI urged to review 15-year plan

Virgin Islands family, question for you: “What do you envision our beloved Virgin Islands will look like in 2040?” I will be in my 60s, and I most definitely want …

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by Shaina Smith-Archer
November 24, 2021

LETTER — ‘Enough is enough,’ writer says

This week as we marked the 72nd anniversary of the 1949 March, when our ancestors walked Main Street saying, “Enough is enough,” we find ourselves having to stand up against …

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by Shaina Smith-Archer
November 17, 2021

COMMENTARY — Questions asked about UK, VI speakers

I have observed lately that we like to take our cues from the United Kingdom to give reason for our decisions, so I went and researched the role of the …

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by Shaina Smith-Archer
November 3, 2021

COMMENTARY — Value of planning explained

Picking up from where I left off recently about a national development plan, let us talk about the value of planning. If you missed that article, it can be found …

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by Shaina Smith-Archer
October 13, 2021

COMMENTARY — USVI’s 20-year plan seen as example to follow

There has been a “talk shop” over the last 20 years about where we want to see our territory in the future. Two decades later, we are still talking. I …

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by Shaina Smith-Archer
September 29, 2021

COMMENTARY — Call made for ‘legacy’ mindset

I have been hearing the phrase “young democracy” in conversations lately when referring to the Virgin Islands’ development. I am not sure when the “birth” of the territory is being …

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by Shaina Smith-Archer
September 1, 2021

LETTER — COI viewed through history lens

I recently shared this with some friends during a conversation about the ongoing Commission of Inquiry. I view the COI through a historical context, where our foreparents built this territory …

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by Shaina Smith-Archer
August 25, 2021

LETTER — Call made for more women in politics

As a woman in politics, I have been listening intently to the recent discussion about women leaders and the merits of an all-female Cabinet. I believe in life there should …

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by Shaina Smith-Archer
August 11, 2021

COMMENTARY — Call made to return to ‘roots’

A few mornings ago, as I thought about current local affairs, a map of the Virgin Islands popped into my mind with the words “We the people” on the back. …

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by Shaina Smith-Archer
July 29, 2021

COMMENTARY — Alarm raised over border security

It is not breaking news that the Virgin Islands is surrounded by water and so there are only two ways to enter the territory: by air or sea. From childhood, …

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by Shaina Smith-Archer
July 21, 2021

COMMENTARY — Call made for love, kindness

I have been pondering the tone of the current public dialogue, and it hurts my heart to see how we have come to a place where 1) People’s identities are …

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by Shaina Smith-Archer
February 17, 2021

COMMENTARY — Governance questions posed in light of ongoing inquiry

In August 2020, I wrote a commentary discussing the Constitution being a tool for good governance, and it turned out to be a prelude to current affairs. The launch of …

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by Shaina Smith-Archer
September 2, 2020

COMMENTARY — Constitution seen as a means to an end

We find ourselves in thought-provoking times and not just because of the Covid-19 pandemic. This December will mark 70 years since the local legislature was reconstituted and local elected representation …

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by Shaina Smith-Archer
August 21, 2018

COMMENTARY — Ideas offered to find Festival’s ‘roots’

Every year leading up to and after our August Emancipation Festival, there is plenty of commentary and critique over what has transpired, and this year has been no exception. What …

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by Shaina Smith-Archer

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