Sandra Phillip-Hodge Declares Independent Run, Pledges 'Service
Sandra Phillip-Hodge announced on Facebook on August 19, 2026, that she is standing as an Independent candidate, posting under the caption "Declaration of Service" and describing herself as a "prayer warrior." She outlined a pledge she calls "Service Before Spoils," rejecting political favoritism, discrimination and the exploitation of foreign workers, and added new details including a proposed temporary guest worker visa scheme and renewed calls to ratify the National Youth Policy.
Road Town — Sandra Phillip-Hodge announced on Facebook on August 19, 2026, that she is running as an Independent candidate, posting her message under the caption "Declaration of Service," according to VINO. In the post Phillip-Hodge, who describes herself as a "prayer warrior," said her approach to public office would be guided by the principles of her faith and a respect for public policy.
In what Guavaberry reported as a "Declaration of Service" titled "Service Before Spoils," Phillip-Hodge set out a list of commitments framed as things she "will not do" if elected. She said she does not make "any wild promises to impress or deceive anyone," and instead offered a clear statement rejecting political favoritism, discriminatory practices and any clique-based bias that sidelines parts of the community.
Among her strongest pledges was a rejection of the spoils system. "I believe in equal opportunity for each and every Virgin Islander," she said, adding that opportunity should be determined by capacity and aspiration within constitutional rights and privileges. Phillip-Hodge argued that tribalism and favoritism create civic tension, division and stagnation, undermining national unity and economic progress (Guavaberry).
On labour and immigration, Phillip-Hodge said she would not support systems that exploit foreign workers and acknowledged the Territory's continued reliance on foreign nationals across business and trade. She called for a review, proper implementation and enforcement of the Labour Code and urged greater emphasis on education and training — particularly technical and vocational education and training (TVET) — to reduce unemployment and increase local capacity in trades and vocations (VINO; Guavaberry).
Guavaberry added further specifics: Phillip-Hodge proposed that foreign workers be properly screened and clearly informed of the conditions and limitations of their stay, and she suggested a temporary guest worker visa programme sponsored by employers, with workers expected to repatriate when their authorised period expires.
She said effective enforcement would require full commitment from government and the wider community, along with public education on immigration rules. Phillip-Hodge also said she will not "sit quietly" while the National Youth Policy remains unratified and unused. She told Guavaberry she has been advocating for a formal youth policy since the 1990s and believes it should guide preparation of young people across education, sports, culture, entrepreneurship, trades, professions, civic engagement, politics and faith-based organisations.
The candidate said this summary captures where she stands and that she plans to present a fuller platform at a later date. She is running as an Independent alongside others who have already declared, including Lesmore Smith, Rosemary L. Lettsome and Dwight Hill — a field that could affect party dynamics and voter choices in closely contested constituencies.
Phillip-Hodge has been promoting her message under the themes #FocusForward and #LeadershipMatters (Guavaberry). Her early pledges put a spotlight on equal opportunity, labour policy, immigration enforcement and youth development — issues that directly affect residents, small businesses and the Territory's workforce — and observers will be watching for further detail when she releases her full platform.
Primary source: VINO