Beautiful Virgin Islands

Sunday, Jul 27, 2025

'I pledge to give my all’ to culture, tourism & D4 – Hon Luce D. Hodge-Smith

'I pledge to give my all’ to culture, tourism & D4 – Hon Luce D. Hodge-Smith

Newly elected Fourth District Representative and Junior Minister for Tourism and Culture, Ms Luce D. Hodge-Smith has pledged to give her all to her portfolios of culture and tourism and a representative of the Fourth Electoral District in the VI.

“I send a hearty thank you to the voters of District 4 for placing their confidence in me to serve as their representative for the next four years in this Honourable House. I am truly grateful to all of you, and I look forward to working with you and together we will build a better District 4 and by extension, a better Virgin Islands,” she said while thanking family, friends and her campaign committee.

Mrs Hodge-Smith, a former Director of Culture, was at the time delivering her first speech as a member of the Fifth House of Assembly during the Swearing-In Ceremony and First Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex on May 18, 2023,

“I certainly cannot take my seat without expressing gratitude to you, Honourable Premier, [Natalio D. Wheatley] for entrusting your confidence in me to serve as a Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism, two areas I am passionate about and have experience in and knowledge about as well.

Mrs. Hodge-Smith added that she looks forward to working with legislators on both sides of the aisle to advance our territory forward.



Culture & Tourism significant to growth of VI - Mrs Hodge-Smith

“I recognise that this role is very important and significant to the growth and development of our territory, with tourism being one of our two economic pillars. I take these responsibilities very serious, and I pledge to give my all and to work with everyone to ensure results are garnered in these areas.”

Meanwhile, Mrs Hodge-Smith said the advancement of the 4th District plays an intricate role in the safeguarding of VI’s cultural and historical heritage and enhancing its tourism product.

“There's still so much more to be done in District Four; however, I recognise the infrastructural work and other works that have already been started and, in some cases, completed in the District and I look forward to the continued efforts to transform the district, especially the capital Road Town into a clean, pedestrian-friendly, safe, noise-free and with ample parking and a green environment,” she said.

A pledge to work with both sides

Mrs Hodge-Smith added that she looks forward to working with legislators on both sides of the aisle to advance the territory.

“It has already been said on many occasions that we have been through some trying times with the hurricanes, starting before that, the floods, the COVID-19, with the COI etc, but what this has proven to us as Virgin Islands is that we are resilient, and we will continue to move this territory forward together with our resiliency.”

Smith further urged Virgin Islanders and residents that they have a role to play in securing the future of the territory for the present generation and those yet unborn, while calling on all to play a part.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
×