Honourable Luce Hodge-Smith made the remarks while responding to questions about the progress of the DeCastro Street sidewalk improvement project, which is being delivered through the RDA, during the Honestly Speaking programme hosted by Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Photo: Facebook

Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism, the Honourable Luce Hodge-Smith, has said that while bureaucracy is necessary for delivering major public projects, inefficient systems and processes can create avoidable delays. Photo: Facebook

Hon Luce Hodge-Smith said that, although the Road Town Development Partnership involves bureaucracy within both government and the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), the RDA offers an important advantage since dedicated funding is available and can be applied directly to the work. Photo: Facebook

She made the remarks while responding to questions about the progress of the DeCastro Street Sidewalk Improvement Project, which is being delivered through the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), during the Honestly Speaking programme hosted by Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Bureaucracy has a role

Hon Hodge-Smith acknowledged that bureaucracy is frequently criticised, but argued that it remains essential because public servants are responsible for carrying out the government's work.

“There is a lot of bureaucracy, and I’ve said it before: bureaucracy is good, and it’s not so good sometimes, because without bureaucracy, you really wouldn’t get the things that you need done, because it is bureaucrats that are going to do the work,” she said.

However, she stressed that the real challenge lies in how government systems and processes are applied. “But it’s the systems and processes that you have in place, and if they’re not used properly, in order for you to be efficient in what you’re doing, then there are delays,” she explained.

Delays in the project

The Junior Minister said delays are sometimes unavoidable, even when officials believe a project is ready to move forward. 

“And naturally, for reasons, there are delays, and you have explanations for the delays, and you just have to be patient and work them through,” she said. “When you think that you are fully engaged and ready to move forward, something happens and you have to deal with it. And then, the project goes on and on.”

Her comments come as the Road Town Development Partnership continues through its planning and design stages. The initiative aims to revitalise the capital through improved pedestrian infrastructure, accessibility, public spaces, waterfront beautification, signage, and climate-resilience measures.

RDA funding advantage

Hon Hodge-Smith said that, although the Road Town Development Partnership involves bureaucracy within both government and the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), the RDA offers an important advantage since dedicated funding is available and can be applied directly to the work.

“And the good thing about being in the RDA is that you have bureaucracy all over in government systems and in the RDA as well. But at least the funding is there, and it could be used,” she said. 

Hon Hodge-Smith added that using funds directly through government can be more complicated.