Ensure the Road Ahead Remains Strong
Speaking at the 2026 Sunday Morning Well Emancipation Service, Junior Minister Hodge-Smith urged Virgin Islanders to protect the progress of past generations and build a society that leaves future generations feeling safe, proud and empowered. She highlighted the guiding role of faith and called for unity, civic responsibility and continued pride in BVI heritage.
Junior Minister Hodge-Smith used the platform of the 2026 Sunday Morning Well Emancipation Service to appeal for unity and long-term civic responsibility, urging residents to safeguard the progress achieved by earlier generations. "It is up to us, as the people of the Virgin Islands, to build and protect a society where future generations will feel safe, secure, proud, and empowered as Virgin Islanders," Hodge-Smith told attendees, according to Virgin Islands News Online.
Her remarks came as the territory reflected on the meaning of emancipation, faith and freedom. Hodge-Smith emphasised the central role faith has played in guiding the community through trials and change. "Their faith brought us this far," she said, acknowledging the perseverance and strength of those who fought for freedom and laid the foundations of today’s society.
The Junior Minister challenged residents to look beyond immediate concerns and consider the legacy they are creating. She said the current generation has a duty to protect and strengthen the gains made by previous generations so that the road ahead remains strong for those who follow. "Our duty is to ensure the road ahead remains strong for those who follow," she added, underscoring the need for collective effort.
Her message focused on three practical themes relevant to everyday life in the BVI: unity among residents, civic responsibility in public life, and pride in Virgin Islands heritage. Hodge-Smith encouraged people to take active roles in their communities, support institutions that foster security and opportunity, and pass on the values of resilience and service to younger Virgin Islanders.
The Sunday Morning Well Emancipation Service forms part of the wider Emancipation Festival observances, which commemorate the journey from slavery to freedom and invite reflection on the work still required to strengthen society. For BVI residents, those observances are often a moment to reaffirm cultural identity, educate youth about local history, and plan community actions that translate commemorative sentiment into sustained social progress.
Hodge-Smith’s remarks served as a reminder that freedom carries ongoing responsibilities: preserving rights, building safety nets, and nurturing the institutions that allow future generations to thrive. Her call to action was rooted in gratitude for the past and a forward-looking insistence that the territory’s people remain vigilant in protecting the road ahead.
Primary source: VINO