Aug. 20, 2006 – After spending the last 15 years out of the public eye, former Planning Commissioner Alan Smith is now speaking out about St. John issues.
The St. John resident is spearheading a group called the St. John Coalition. Smith said that while the group is in its fledgling stages, he hopes to bring together people from the diverse St. John community to work together for the common good.
"We'd like to be a forum where groups, organizations and individuals can be heard," he said, adding that what form that forum will take is up to the community. He said it could be a formal organization, ad hoc committees or working groups established to tackle issues as they come along.
"I want it to be a positive action group. Not just talking," Smith said.
Smith said forming a group like the St. John Coalition is necessary because St. John has undergone such rapid change during his time on the island.
"I've seen the demise of the sense of community," he said.
Smith added that while the divide in community comes along economic lines — affecting those born on St. John and those who called St. John home for many years — it manifests itself by race.
However, he said there still is time to bring the community back together
Smith stressed that the coalition will remain nonpartisan.
"I want people to understand I'm not gearing up for a political campaign," Smith said.
Smith, now 59, was working as an assistant attorney general with the V.I. Justice Department when he was appointed to the Planning commissioner's post by the late Gov. Alexander Farrelly. After serving four years in the job, he went into private law practice with the St. Thomas law firm of Hodge and Francois.
Smith, his wife, Magda, and son, Derik, arrived on St. John in 1976 as pioneers of the Baha'i faith to develop a community of Baha'is.
His son and his wife, Narmin, have two children, Badi, 7, and Shiraz, 2. They live in Dubai where Derik Smith works as a university teacher.
A graduate of the University of Michigan law school, the Manistee, Mich., native said he's returning to the public arena as part of his faith.
"As a Baha'i, my whole reason for being is to know and love God and to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization — to be of service to the community," he said.
He said he felt he hadn't fully been of service to the St. John people.
Smith said after consulting with his wife, he decided to devote more time to this pursuit.
However, he said he isn't cutting back on work, but rather his free time.
Smith said he thinks he can be a force in bringing together the diverse community because he believes he is perceived as person who is not aligned with any person, party or political agenda.
"People see me as someone who is fair and objective," he said.
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