Hodge-Smith Pushes For District Councils
Junior Minister for Culture Luce Hodge-Smith has renewed a call for district councils across the Virgin Islands to strengthen local governance and community input, proposing the Fourth District as a pilot. Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn opposed the idea in the House of Assembly debate on the Constitutional Review Commission Report, warning it could add cost and bureaucracy without improving services.
Junior Minister for Culture Luce Hodge-Smith has again urged the creation of district councils across the British Virgin Islands, arguing they would give communities a stronger voice in local development and service delivery. Speaking during the House of Assembly debate on the Constitutional Review Commission Report, Hodge-Smith said district councils would “provide a direct and localised form of governance to enhance the needs of the community it serves.” She suggested the Fourth District — which contains the capital’s highest concentration of businesses and civic activity — as a natural starting point for a pilot council if residents support the idea.
Hodge-Smith outlined a flexible model for the councils, which could include elected or nominated members, a chairman or mayor, and administrative staff. She said councils could “enhance local representation, improve local services, foster community development, and promote community spirit.” Acknowledging potential downsides, she admitted limited public interest and increased workload as risks but insisted the benefits outweighed the disadvantages.
Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn questioned the necessity and effectiveness of adding another layer of local government. Walwyn pointed to challenges already facing a 13-member House of Assembly and argued the priority should be improving efficiency and representation within existing structures rather than multiplying bureaucratic layers that may increase cost and complexity without guaranteed service improvements.
The proposal has become a focal point in broader constitutional reform discussions. Supporters say district councils would empower residents to influence planning and service priorities at a local level, while critics worry about duplication of responsibilities, financing, and whether new bodies would be sufficiently active and representative.
For BVI residents, the debate raises practical questions: what powers and budgets would councils hold, how members would be chosen, and how councils would interact with national ministries and statutory agencies. Hodge-Smith’s suggestion of piloting a council in the Fourth District signals a cautious approach that could allow policymakers to test the concept on a localized scale before wider rollout.
As the Constitutional Review Commission Report continues to drive debate in the House of Assembly, the fate of district councils remains uncertain. Lawmakers will need to balance calls for greater local participation with concerns about cost, governance clarity, and the effective delivery of services.
Primary source: BVI News