Hodge-Smith pushes for district councils to strengthen governance

Junior Minister for Culture Luce Hodge-Smith has renewed calls for the establishment of district councils across the Virgin Islands to improve local governance and community engagement — a proposal opposed by Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn.

Speaking during the House of Assembly debate on the Constitutional Review Commission Report, Hodge-Smith said local councils would give residents a stronger voice in shaping development within their communities.

“I am a strong supporter of establishing district councils and I believe that district councils would help in governing our territory,” Hodge-Smith stated. She added that such councils could “provide a direct and localised form of governance to enhance the needs of the community it serves”.

Hodge-Smith said she would support the creation of the first district council in her Fourth District, describing it as the capital’s natural starting point given its concentration of businesses and civic activity. “If the people would have it, [we could start by] establishing the first district council in the Fourth District because of its makeup,” she noted, adding that the councils could “enhance local representation, improve local services, foster community development, and promote community spirit”.

The Junior Minister said a council could include elected or nominated members, a chairman or mayor, and administrative staff. She acknowledged that limited public interest and increased workload could be potential drawbacks, but insisted that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

However, Walwyn took a different view. During his contribution to the same debate, he questioned whether additional layers of local government would be effective or necessary. He pointed to the existing challenges of representation within the current 13-member legislature, arguing that the priority should be to improve efficiency, not to multiply bureaucratic structures.

While Hodge-Smith framed the proposal as a means of empowering communities, Walwyn cautioned that it could add cost and complexity without guaranteeing better service delivery.

The issue remains a key point of contention in the constitutional reform debate as legislators weigh how to balance national oversight with stronger local participation.