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August Monday Parade 'has nothing to do with our emancipation’- Hon Hodge-Smith

- but said public will decide ultimately whether parade stays on August Monday
Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism, Honourable Luce D. Hodge-Smith (R4) addressed concerns regarding the decision to move the August Monday Parade to Saturday during the 4th District Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Photo: Facebook
The Junior Minister for Tourism made it clear that although the parade is a longstanding tradition among Virgin Islanders, it is not tied to emancipation and therefore defended the decision to shift the parade day. Photo: VINO/File
The Junior Minister for Tourism made it clear that although the parade is a longstanding tradition among Virgin Islanders, it is not tied to emancipation and therefore defended the decision to shift the parade day. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Concerns have arisen among Virgin Islanders following an announcement by the Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism, Honourable Luce D. Hodge-Smith (R4), regarding the announcement to move the August Monday Parade to Saturday.

Hon Hodge-Smith addressed these concerns during the 4th District Town Hall Meeting at Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. 

Parade not related to emancipation

She emphasised that while the parade is a significant part of our festival celebrations, it is not related to our emancipation.

"I misspoke when I said it was because of the visit of Queen Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth visited in 1966. It was actually the ascension of Queen Elizabeth to the throne, when, in 1952, our people decided to celebrate her ascension to the throne with a parade," Hon Hodge-Smith clarified.

Longstanding tradition

The Minister made it clear that although the parade is a longstanding tradition among Virgin Islanders, it is not tied to emancipation and therefore defended the decision to shift the parade day.

She stated that the goal is to improve the overall quality of the event and, to help determine the best course of action, the ministry plans to conduct a survey.

"It could be the Saturday before, we are going to do a survey. It could stay on Monday. It could move from the Saturday before, it could move Saturday after."

Hodge-Smith also highlighted that various activities occur throughout the territory during the festival season.

"East End/Long Look gets Tuesday and Wednesday. You don't want to take that from them, although we had the horse races on Tuesday, and then you go into East End in the night, Wednesday and Thursday, and Friday is Carrot Bay. You have these things as part of the tradition. You don't want to take them away from the community," she said.

Hon Hodge-Smith added that something needs to be done to recognise the actual day, stating that, "So, we are going to do a survey and let the people decide whether we're going to keep it on the Monday."

See related article below: 

August Monday Parade to shift to Saturday- Hon Hodge-Smith

28 Responses to “August Monday Parade 'has nothing to do with our emancipation’- Hon Hodge-Smith”

  • Consider this (05/03/2026, 11:29) Like (7) Dislike (17) Reply
    Due to the significance of August 1st, hold the rise and shine tramp on 1st August each year regardless of the day of the week.... those who wish to participate can take the day off (vacation day) from work if they wish. Clear the street by 8:30 am for those who have to traverse to work. Have the parade on August Monday as usual.
    • shhh (05/03/2026, 12:42) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      HUSH!!!!! YO DONT BE DEY!!!!
      • smdh (05/03/2026, 14:01) Like (41) Dislike (3) Reply
        Ms Luce, the festival MIGHT have started that way (we still need to verify) but in OUR lifetime the August festivities have been about celebrating our emancipation. Don't try to rewrite the script to cover ignorance and bad decision making.
    • @Consider This, (05/03/2026, 13:41) Like (17) Dislike (3) Reply
      It has to be the 1st Monday in August, the parade the Saturday before is great. Ms. Minister if you reading this. Get some good brass band in the Village let see people playing. I love to hear good brass. There is a good one in Dominica, Santo Domingo, the new Jam band not bad. One brass in the Village I am coming..BVI need a good Brass band, they have a lot of good Combo bands, blend the entertainment with some brass bands. .
  • Every year attendee (05/03/2026, 12:41) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    Mrs Smith. The most suitable change would be the Saturday before August Monday for the rise and shine. Doing it a week after makes no sense. When I travel to enjoy the festivals I can't wait a whole week for town to commenced the celebrations. I'm sure speak for others in the diaspora and visitors alike. Also the booths should be allowed to open earlier seeing that they have invested so much money and on the evening not night of the official opening they should be asked to cease sales until the territorial song and national anthem is rendered. Doing the opening at night and wai5ing for persons like the Premiere is ridiculous qith all those long speeches. Limit the remarks time please. I got the hook stick.
  • Stealth (05/03/2026, 13:15) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
    Move the J’Ouvert to the Saturday before August Monday. It is a casualty not teaching Virgin Islands history in school. I’m hearing for the first time that the August Monday parade started with the coronation of QEII. Moving the parade to the Saturday after is not a good move, for by then most of the visitors are gone back, perhaps. Start and end with something directly related to emancipation of our forebears . End with the Carrot Bay culturerama. The East was first in freedom and they need to do more better. Last year was an improvement. East need to show more interest, pride, in its history, heritage, etc. Carrot Bay found a way to secure a spot in the celebration. It has laid down a marker. Common on East. Leh we goh!
    • @Stealth (06/03/2026, 00:51) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      The budget for east is like peanut change but we have a Premier from the East.
    • Rattler (06/03/2026, 11:04) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Indeed, Carrot Bay has found and carved out a niche in the Emancipation celebration. Agree, EE/LL must do more better ( Ebonics). Make the first in Freedom mean something. Do something with the Greenland Field. By the way, who owns the GreenLand field? Can the Greenland Field end up like The Ellis Thomas Downs? Lots of talent, skill, etc., in the East; do something with it more than talk. Does the East have a 250 year anniversary coming up ? How does the East plan to recognize and celebrate it? Is the East all pealing thunder, flashing lighting, swirling clouds but no rain? The most populous village lags other areas; they should be leading.
    • Lessness (09/03/2026, 13:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Who bex, vex, but the East has demonstrated lessness. Lots of mouth but no action. Common on East put in drive and Leh ah rip. The East had a Chief Minister, a Premier ( current), have two elected members in House of Assembly, several financial secretaries from East. The Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport ( TBLIA)is in the East. The East is one of the gateways into the the BVI. June 30, 2026, is a one off official holiday in the BVI, celebrating 250 years of Nottingham Plantation freeing 25 slaves and leaving them approximately 50 acres of land. The slaves in Long Look were freed first before others in the region ( 1834) and even the US who became independent on 04 July 1776;slaves were freed inn1862.

      Will the East capitalize this momentous occasion with a splash? Or it will be Lessness again. It is the East never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.. Let us go East showcase you talent, skill, etc.
  • Lord 0. (05/03/2026, 13:31) Like (18) Dislike (28) Reply
    Hon Smith Hodge, you already made a decision that I and a lot of people believe to be the right one. Stop answering everyone that disagreed, let it go, "Decision Made". You have to now focus on putting rules and serious people in place to ensure the parade starts on time, serious business. No more Jokey stuff.. Get on time start with a flow. Caribbean people has a problem with time .Next year we working on moving VG from the Holy weekend and Honour our greatest leader HLS Having that Celebration on his Day. August is to honour our fore parents, March Festival in VG is to Honor our great leader. HLS.
  • YOU (05/03/2026, 14:06) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    You lie!. It's a celebration of freedom and new beginning. Monday is good!
  • Cieear (05/03/2026, 14:12) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    Girl you do not know Virgin Island history. You must ask the older folks. August Monday was always celebrated after emancipation. One year the Anglicans organized and the the Methodist. It was only referred to as festival after the Queen,s visit. That was when it got down to the level where it is. You are making a big mistake.
  • dude (05/03/2026, 15:29) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Hello ms. Lady please stop talking. You are using facts to defend your misunderstanding. This is where knowledge of facts doesn't help without Wisdom and Understanding. None of you can think and process information well. Be silent now, your opinion is noted. This is proof that some people need to be followers instead of leaders. The problem is that those people covet leadership more than those more qualified.
  • Bone Dice (05/03/2026, 16:16) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply

    How Luce get her mouth fix to talk like that?

  • Herbs Powa (05/03/2026, 16:52) Like (3) Dislike (9) Reply
    Luce failed to mentioned Saturday belongs to Carrot Bay. Its better in my opinion to have the Jouvert before the parade. Sunday should be jouvert and Monday parade. The bible is a big time lie, and shouldn't be promoted no longer. Only the real emancipated minds will equalstand.
  • really ? (05/03/2026, 17:12) Like (24) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is very obvious that she don’t know the history of BVI festival and every time she try to speak on this subject to justify the change she want to make, she makes herself look more foolish. Blunder after blunder.! 1, 2, 3! One would have imagined if you are going to discuss such a sensitive topic as this, that you would do your research and have the correct information to present to the public. By the way, It is recorded in history that after the emancipation proclamation was read in August, 1834; the people took to the streets of Road Town on the First Monday in August to celebrate their freedom, hence the tradition for the August Monday parade which was organized and celebrated by the Anglican and Methodist Churches annually. Go ahead and change the jouvert tramp to Saturday if you really want change and leave our August Monday parade alone.
    • @Really (06/03/2026, 11:09) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      I agree with you whole heartedly. Why does the August Monday Parade moved to accomodate the Jouvert that is down in the dark of night with naked, sweety, nastiness? I remember when Jouvert was made up of business people and any and everyone who wanted to come. Some in their pajamas and everybody have a good time minus the water spraying, the nakedness, the paint throwing and the dry rumping.

      This change of course is in keeping with the Premier's objective of leh we jam, jam, jam. Leh we jam, jam, jam. Jump up is all that they care about. What the Honourable should be doing is telling the persons who take part in the August Monday Parade on August Monday to keep their backsides covered in front of people's children and seniors especially. They are out of shape and turning yo stomach to be honest. No one wants to see that.

      Anyway, World War III has started so this too will end. God is coming soon. Hon. Luce needs to retire. She brings nothing to the table, nothing!!!
  • Me (05/03/2026, 17:23) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    The celebrations, which began in the late 1930"s have always been on the first Monday in August (way before the Queen's Coronation in the 1950's). The Rise and Shine was a precursor to the parade. It has gotten out of hand.
    I have always heard that the Emancipation Proclamation was read in the churches; not on the streets! The churches were the first to organize the celebrations on August Monday. I am quite sure it did not include the activities we see happening now a days.
  • Truth (05/03/2026, 18:23) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Luce, please, why did you bite off this in an election year? Neither is the Sunday morning well the place where the proclamation was read. The whole story of Black slavery is a debacle filled with lies and misinformation.
  • freedom (05/03/2026, 18:33) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    From time I know my self, history tells we were set free on the first Monday in August, and the people took to the streets rejoicing. There are history books written about this am sure, and the minister should ask questions, knowing there are locals still around who knows about this. August Monday parade, you can't mess with that, it's inbodied in us.
  • So you say (05/03/2026, 23:52) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    You all know Luce Hodge didn't make that decision.

    She's just the messenger, so I don't know why our Hon. Premier is grinding her under the bus
  • BRAD BOYNES (06/03/2026, 00:13) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Leave festival in peace. Discipline your selves and start and end events on time.
  • Hon. Smith (06/03/2026, 07:03) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Please bring prove of what you said. It is past time for you to go. Mrs. Do-Little.
  • one eye rooster (06/03/2026, 20:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    With a mess here we go
  • dots (06/03/2026, 23:33) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The people have spoken. Surprise! time to educate and update the moo moo dem.
    Let the theme and attire reflect the history emancipation and coronation.
    Hands off monday. Family, fun and commitment to freedom and culture. All In lets go.
  • Stealth (07/03/2026, 11:29) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Here dis ya! Can someone settle the debate on the origin of the August Monday parade. Was it the Coronation of of QEII or was it our forebears from all villages, hamlets, islands, etc, taking to the “Street” on August 01 August 1834? The Emancipation celebration should be a remembrance, reflection, recommitment, etc, not to forget past.The future should be driven by the past, the present. Are we forgetting and trivializing the dehumanizing, abuse, disparaging, disrespect, lack of rights, freedoms, liberties,,exploitation, etc., of our forebears? Is the commercialization of the Emancipation celebrations indicative of the foregoing? Is the jump up, wuk up, J’Ouvert, a true celebration of the remembrance of our forebears? Have we forgotten the pain, suffering, sacrifice, brutal abuse, etc., of forebears.


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