Stop bashing the BVI’s aesthetics on social media
Tourism Minister Luce Hodge-Smith has pushed back against what she described as excessive and damaging criticism of the territory’s appearance on social media, even as she acknowledged that Road Town and other areas need urgent and sustained cleanup.
Her comments come amid renewed criticism from Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn, who has argued that the capital needs to be cleaned up, as well as growing frustration from residents online who have decried the state of the territory as the tourism season gets underway.
Speaking in the House of Assembly, Hodge-Smith said she is acutely aware of the complaints about cleanliness in the capital and insisted that government agencies are actively working on long-term solutions.
“I hear the cries from various sources on the uncleanliness of our capital. Believe me, I get it from all sides,” she said. “There is a lot of work taking place behind the scenes to put permanent plans in place to clean up the capital and to maintain that cleanliness.”
The minister explained that discussions are ongoing between the city manager’s office and the Department of Waste Management, but an announcement on the way forward has been delayed until early next year due to the recent appointment of a new director at the department.
“We’re going to pull that back until January of next year, and we will announce our decisions as to how these two entities are going to work together to maintain the city’s cleanliness,” she said.
While conceding that the territory is “unclean” and “untidy” in areas, Hodge-Smith took issue with residents and commentators describing the BVI as “filthy” on social media, saying such language harms the territory’s image at a critical time for tourism.
“I don’t agree with going on social media and displaying or announcing how our territory is unclean and using such words as filthy,” she said. “I don’t think it’s filthy – it is unclean, it is untidy, there’s a lot of work to do, but filthy is a bit strong, and I wouldn’t use it. Some people say our place is clean, our visitors come and say we are one of the cleaner destinations that they have been to.”
She pointed to derelict vehicles as one of the major challenges, noting that the Department of Waste Management is still awaiting a designated site to place them. Until that issue is resolved, she said, abandoned vehicles will continue to be visible in public spaces.
“The effort is there. The plans are there, and we will see some results at the end of our planning,” the minister added.
Hodge-Smith said she supports calls for permanent maintenance teams across all districts, describing the idea as “ideal,” but stressed that community cooperation is essential in the meantime.
She urged residents to take responsibility for their surroundings, particularly owners of private land and mechanics who use public spaces.
“Just have some pride in yourselves, have some pride in this territory, and help to keep it clean,” she said. “Help to keep it tidy, so that nobody will be going on Facebook and saying how filthy our territory is.”
She maintained that the government will continue to work to bring the aesthetics to an acceptable point, amid the criticisms that many are leaving on social platforms.
Copyright 2026 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
So the Minister accepts (i) that Road Town is a mess, and (ii) that the various Govt departments have not really done anything but are discussing how toclean it up, (iii) there is no agreed plan yet.
However, she does not want us to complain.
I think something is totally wrong with what she is saying. She doesn’t want anyone to talk about the mess, yet she is not cleaning it? Two, she is seeing what everyone else is talking about. Isn’t it not bothering her? Even if you don’t clean your bedrooms, you should clean your living room. Plus, you are inviting visitors to your house. This is down right nasty behaviour.
Gov’t is one of the worst offenders. Here are several examples:
– allowing cement mixers to empty or clean the trucks on the side of the road. Have you noticed the piles of hard concrete all along the roads. This is blatant polluting.
– when water & sewerage effect a repair they just leave the dug up concrete & asphalt on the side of the road. this is everywhere
– look at the absolute mess that was the recent ridge road pipe laying project. Trees knocked over and piles of aggregate & soil everywhere and large unfilled holes in the road.
Would be easy to go on and on. And before some bohog says go back to where you come from this is my home. I just pointing out the awful state of the place. Our islands are drop dead beautiful, but we just don’t care about them. I remember once picking up some work colleagues from their cruise ship and driving to Trellis Bay, and them to Brewers Bay. They commented how beautiful the views were looking out over sparkly water to other islands, but then pointed ou the rubbish by the roads and the newly unending parade of abandoned vehicles. This is OUR island and we need to take better care of it. And the sister islands too.
Should spend less of their budget on personal jollies and entertainment and do a little more housekeeping at home.
public shame is part of our culture, shame until you do right.
It’s not just the squaller but the direction the islands have taken in the years since they boasted, “Yes, We’re Different”.
There are hundreds of other destinations that can offer mass tourism better than we can. But very few that can offer the idyllic, all embracing visitor experience that these islands offered before they became the same as everywhere else.
Why she don’t go siddung.
We quiet for 2.5 years and nothing got done. Now we fed up and making a lil noise and she want to shut us up. Good this she wont be there next term.
Let me get this right.
So what we need to clean up is talking about the filth and the chaos.
What you do not need to fix th following:-
Electric panels on their side for 8 years with wire hanging out.
Dirty puddles because water does not drain away.
Path with holes in.
Paths that just end.
Derelict cars that sit and rot.
Lamps bent and broken.
Signs that don’t light or have all letters.
Plaques missing from our cherished Noel Lloyd statue.
Damaged benches and seats.
Dirty broken shacks in crafts alive.
Faith and sewage around town.
Missing paint on road edges.
Missing paint on road crossing is for pedestrians.
Missing road markings.
Signs at neck height that cut your head.
Holes where covers should be.
Stench and stink everywhere.
Water where paths should be by Bobby’s.
Garbage everywhere.
Bush rocks and stones where roads should be.
Containers where cars should be or parks could be.
An empty hulk where an admin building could be.
Faded peeling paint that should be fresh.
Shacks and sheds where a ferry terminal should be.
Rotting concrete where jetties should be.
Landfill where coral and mangrove should still grow.
If it wasn’t like this we could not say it.
Why don’t you fix these things and other nonsense and then it could not appear in social media.
You think people dream of being able to write about the SHIT piled up in the SVIT all the time.
Or do people dream of and want a better place.
A place with leaders not in it for themselves.
No Dirty HOA13.
ALL13MUSTGO.
FIX THE VI AESTHETIC AND YOU WILL FIX THE SOCIAL MEDIA
Seems like someone’s pride got hurt. My question is, if the politicians ignoring the people and we don’t want to complain to the Governor, then who do you go to to get these lazy bums to work?
I didn’t see this energy when the white guy took a photo in the potholes. Or when Branson got damaged on his bike.
Do yall damn jobs so the people don’t have to do it for yall.
“The Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and the British Virgin Islands (BVI)
consistently generate the most significant economic activity and revenue for the UK’s Overseas Territories, primarily through finance, insurance, and global business, with the Caymans
often leading in total GDP, followed by Bermuda’s high GDP per capita, and BVI’s crucial role in financial secrecy.
These territories act as major financial centers, attracting investment and contributing heavily to global finance flows,
making them economic powerhouses despite their small size.”
imagine that we stil look and operate like a 3rd world country look at those other two countries pics and google and compare to the bvi….. we suppose to have moder big buildings, good roads, modern services , online services etc but every big project we got inflated numbers to billions and millions only for the project to fail or come out cheap cheap and dont last………………
HOW is it bashing when we hard factual photos of how the place look like a run down 3rd world hog pit depsite having USD, DESPITE HAVING BIG ANNUAL BUDGET INCREASING EVERY YEAR AND HIGHEST BUDGET IN THE CARIBBEAN………… we dont even need A.I to do any bashing cuz he got proog right in front of us.
Do yall not smell the sewage in road town? do yall not see the potholes on the highway do yall not see the uglyy old run down looking buildings… do yall not see the crazy parking situation???? build some multi level parking lots!!! instead you sell plots of land to people in town to create a paid parking area to make thing worstttttt
Stop not fixing the aesthetics! Somebody needs to talk to Luce honestly. These blonde statements are beyond ridiculous now.
This lady is the worst representative since Dr Doolittle. People of the 4th look at Long Bush from Chillie opposite BVIEC to the corner heading towards the Dungeon road. Don’t talk about Lower Estate, who doesn’t have a car wash, rental cars, and boats blocking up either the main road or the side of the road; it’s disgusting. I bleed for my old neighborhood, Imagine people who own houses and apartments can’t even park in-front of there properties because it got boats and car rentals. This lady here telling us nonsense about we shouldn’t go on social media and complain. Who should we complain to Luce not you for sure? Ms go siddung as for City Manager it’s about time someone younger takes up this post.
It’s about time someone with forsight and the abillity to get things fixed take back that post and the whole of government for that matter.
I wish I could give your post 20 likes. This is the #1 comment!
I am convinced of two things:
Luce ain’t got no shame and she lives in another world from the rest of us.
Incorporate Road Town like any other town or city in the developed world.
I really hope you enjoyed your 1 term as an elected member, because honey you ain’t getting back in…. You are such a disappointment, haven’t done anything yet don’t want the people to shame you by mentioning it. Pathetic!!
Well now we know that they are paying attention to social media. Then that’s where we will meet them.
Stop telling people what they can and cannot say. It is filthy, to some people.
It’s not just the derelict cars but also the derelict construction machinery, don’t people have a responsibility to deal with that?
Dear Politicians,
I agree that negative comments on social media hurt the VI. However, I also agree that it is the only way to let our political leaders know how frustrated we are with our infrastructure and the aesthetics. The simple solution is to put measures in place to fix it. There needs to be accountability for the persons that are being paid for years to tackle the issues but have neglected these responsibilities. The short of the story is that the community is beyond frustrated and expects much more from you guys.
Love the new site @all13mustgo
Tooo much partying and not cleaning up when done is what it looks like to me.
Give me the big job…
Give me the big salary…
Give me the big office…
Give me the big free ride…
Give me the big pat on the shoulder…
Give me the big accolades, titles and honors…
Give me all these things while I achieve absolutely nothing towards moving this country forward…
But you see that thing called criticism? Keep that.
So who dirty the Road Town?
True, it damages our reputation among tourists but guess what, tourists think it’s disgusting, too. And when they hear that this same govt wants to expand the airport and bring in even more people, destroy even more of our natural beauty and create even more trash, sewage and destruction, they think we are crazy, corrupt or stupid.
Are we a confused territory? Oh. Yes. We. Are.
BVI has turned into a real sh*thouse. Lazy residents fling garbage at the skip and if it misses, oh well, too bad. Third world country and the banana republic look in government is growing bigger everyday.
It’s denial.You tell someone to loss weight or they will die and your a hater.Your marginalizing and shaming them.Stop pointing out the truth basically.