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Hon Hodge-Smith: Comments on VI @CARIFESTA XV 'disheartening'

Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism, Honourable Luce D. Hodge-Smith (R4), seen here speaking at CARIFESTA XV in Barbados, has urged the Virgin Islands to be mindful of spewing negative comments about the youngsters participating in CARIFESTA XV. Photo: Office of the Premier
Junior Minister for Tourism and Culture, Honourable Luce Hodge-Smith, has expressed her disappointment with the negative comments coming from Virgin Islanders about the young people's performances at CARIFESTA XV in Barbados. Photo: Facebook
Junior Minister for Tourism and Culture, Honourable Luce Hodge-Smith, has expressed her disappointment with the negative comments coming from Virgin Islanders about the young people's performances at CARIFESTA XV in Barbados. Photo: Facebook
A delegation of 53 members, led by Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) and Junior Minister for Tourism and Culture Honourable Luce Hodge-Smith is currently in Barbados for the region's greatest celebration of culture, creativity, and connection. Photo: Facebook
A delegation of 53 members, led by Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) and Junior Minister for Tourism and Culture Honourable Luce Hodge-Smith is currently in Barbados for the region's greatest celebration of culture, creativity, and connection. Photo: Facebook
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados- Junior Minister for Tourism and Culture Honourable Luce D. Hodge-Smith (R4) has expressed her disappointment with the negative comments coming from Virgin Islanders about the young people's performances at CARIFESTA XV in Barbados.

A delegation of 53 members, led by Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) and Honourable Hodge-Smith, travelled to Barbados for the region's greatest celebration of culture, creativity, and connection.

In an interview conducted by Director of Communications Karia J. Christopher at CARIFESTA XV, which is ongoing in Barbados, the Junior Minister stated on Facebook Live on Monday, August 25, 2025, that it is disheartening to hear the negative feedback about the delegation's performances this year.

Young people affected by negative comments- Hon Hodge-Smith

She urged the community to remember that these performers are young people who are aware of the comments being made and are affected by them.

Hodge-Smith emphasised, "I want to plead with our people to understand that these children and young people are reading the comments. They do not feel good when our people at home make negative remarks about their efforts, especially when these comments are spreading worldwide."

She also explained that there are reasons behind the choices made for the performances at CARIFESTA. "CARIFESTA, as the Caribbean Festival of Arts, showcases the performing, visual, and literary arts, as well as culinary arts. There are symposiums and workshops where we engage in significant conversations," she stated.

While acknowledging some criticism regarding the dance performances, she pointed out that each country hosting CARIFESTA tends to focus on different aspects every year.

Although some Virgin Islanders questioned why the premier dance group, Heritage Dancers, was not present, Hon Hodge-Smith clarified, "It's not that they haven’t participated in CARIFESTA before; this is an opportunity for our young people to gain exposure and showcase a different side of our performing arts in terms of the dance aspect."

15 Responses to “Hon Hodge-Smith: Comments on VI @CARIFESTA XV 'disheartening'”

  • WTF (26/08/2025, 09:44) Like (52) Dislike (9) Reply
    Disheartening - TO YOU! What's disheartening TO US as taxpayers is that we just paid for 53 PEOPLE(!!!) to travel(more travel!!!) to a cultural festival while we don't have working roads, water, schools, or healthcare. Furthermore, the group has failed to accurately represent the people's culture while conducting its business on their behalf. Perhaps you need to reconnect with your constituents, remember who elected you, and why.
    • stop (26/08/2025, 10:41) Like (6) Dislike (22) Reply
      I doubt you even employed to even being paying Tax. A lot of you only have energy for negative. I wasn’t there I also paid tax and I’m not upset about it- it was a good investment.

      Sign
      I also pay tax
    • @wtf (27/08/2025, 06:34) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Luce Hodge-Smith is not responsible for nothing you mentioned here. Take your nerves somewhere else. Do not pass them to her for God's sake.
  • Selection Process (26/08/2025, 09:54) Like (27) Dislike (3) Reply
    We are sending our young people out in the world unprepared. How were they selected? We need a dose of reality. Train people properly and take emotions out of the equation. It is not the young people's fault but our fault as the ones responsible to train them up.
  • Lb (26/08/2025, 10:13) Like (39) Dislike (1) Reply
    I believe 95% of the criticisms are leveled at the politicians and the adults who pulled this together. I didnt hear anyone criticizing the kids.
  • Senior native citizen of the British Virgin Islands (26/08/2025, 11:00) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    When the majority of B.V.I people are continuing being politicallly deliberately, and often misrepresented, often flattered, and left to fin (make out how they can) for themselves in economics hard times as these, while the minority elites using the votes to spike the ego by material gains both legal, and elegal, do you expect them to rejoice as you do, when in fact they know that their personal needs are willfully, and deliberately being ignored, and opportunities to excell as other do are often promised to all by political leaders, but will never be experienced by them?
    Sadly the fog of lies, deceptions, and deliberate negligence to in entire demografic of the people of the British Virgin Islands is shamefu, and others that are living among us, is as a mythical illutionary dream, or like (gigo) garbage in garbage out.

    The A B C Consequence Of Deceitful Behaviors.

    A. Whatsoever a man/woman sows, the same shall he/she reaps.

    B. They that sow to the wind, shall reap the wirl wind.

    C. They that sow to the flesh, lustfully, shall sadly reap corruption regretfully.





  • Help (26/08/2025, 12:41) Like (31) Dislike (4) Reply
    4 district is in mess lady haven't done a thing since in there but every time a plane lift off she making she's on it going is this who we elected help
  • BVI/UK (26/08/2025, 13:12) Like (24) Dislike (3) Reply
    Ms. Smith it's about yourself, premier and the rest of politicians traveling spending taxpayer money and not doing anything for the country.
  • She knows (26/08/2025, 13:59) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    She is a one-termed so she is getting as many trips as possible. That is all she will have as a keepsake.
  • Disheartened (26/08/2025, 15:04) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    "this is an opportunity for our young people to gain exposure and showcase a different side of our performing arts in terms of the dance aspect."

    Its disheartening that the young people are not encouraged to gain exposure to our local dances before going on an international stage.
  • Really (26/08/2025, 16:35) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is disheartening is the deceitful process in the way in which the 53 member delegates were selected. Not a single negative comment was geared towards the participating youths at Carifesta. She must get her act together before she makes these baseless comments. It doesn’t make sense of complaining just to be in the media. Focus on D4 and try to get things done.
    • oh boy (28/08/2025, 19:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Did you listen to how the delegates were chosen? They were not just hand picked
  • Cindy (26/08/2025, 17:28) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    Ms Luce you are right let them go from here with their hate
  • ??? (27/08/2025, 12:34) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    we will never blame our young people, but we do have concerns that you all continue to use them for various reasons.
  • Disgusted (28/08/2025, 18:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am sure everyone of you who are blogging are not from the BVI. 25 countries were represented, 2500 delegates. I am sure if you were watching you were reping your country. The were workshops that had to be attended in every area for those who are wondering about growth and preparation by qualified professionals. The delegates performed dam well but you wouldn't know you were too busy blogging. The BVI won at least 1 ICON award, one of our writers will be published and oh the BVI will be featured in National Geographics. But you bloggers are too busy ripping everything apart, watch you the youths in their faces and repeat everything you have written better yet meet them at the airport on Monday


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