Career
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. Orlando Smith 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. In 2003, Smith led the NDP to victory, defeating the ruling Virgin Islands Party for the first time since 1983 in the 2003 general election.
Smith barely retained his seat as the at-large candidate, receiving the fourth largest number of votes.
Smith remained in the legislature as the head of the opposition. Accordingly, he was invited by the governor to form a new government.
Assuming Smith continues to serve a full term as Premier he will pass Willard Wheatley as the third longest serving head of Government in British Virgin Islands history on 14 February 2016. During his political career, 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).