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'I do not support abolishing the positions of Jr Ministers'- Hon Luce D. Hodge-Smith

- Said Jr Ministers should instead be given more autonomy
Junior Minister for Tourism and Culture, Hon Luce D. Hodge-Smith (R4) has said she is not in support of removing the positon of Junior Minister as recommended by the does not support the Constitution Review Commission (CRC). Photo: YouTube/HoA
Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL), is the other Junior Minister serving in the Virgin Islands and is responsible for Financial Services and Economic Development. Photo: GIS
Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL), is the other Junior Minister serving in the Virgin Islands and is responsible for Financial Services and Economic Development. Photo: GIS
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Junior Minister for Tourism and Culture, Hon Luce D. Hodge-Smith (R4), has said she is not in support of removing the position of Junior Minister as recommended by the Constitution Review Commission (CRC).

Hon Smith said that, as a Junior Minister herself, she felt compelled to share her thoughts while contributing to the debate on the 2022-2023 CRC Report during the Continuation of the Ninth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fifth House of Assembly on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. 

“I do not support the recommendation of abolishing the positions of junior ministers.”

There are currently two Junior Ministers- Hon Hodge-Smith and Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL), Junior Minister for Financial Services and Economic Development. 

Jr Ministers do a great service, but aren’t treated as equals

According to Hon Hodge-Smith, Junior Ministers provide a great service, though in the capacity of assisting the Ministers with their duties. 

“However, I don’t really feel that Junior Ministers are treated equally, but I don't mean it in a mean way. Junior Ministers don’t have full authority in a sense because we still have the overarching minister responsible for the areas.”

Hon Hodge-Smith said that despite having the title of Junior Minister and the full support of a team, they work just as hard as Ministers. 

She also said she was not opposed to the title of Junior Minister being renamed Minister of State. 

“I don’t have an issue with that; however, to me it’s just business as usual.”

Meanwhile, Hon Hodge-Smith called for Junior Ministers or Ministers of State to be given more autonomy, power and decision-making responsibilities. 

“I also believe that this should be done in writing that once the Junior Minister, the Minister of State, is given areas of responsibility, they should be given an instrument in writing, outlining what they can and what they cannot do.”

7 Responses to “'I do not support abolishing the positions of Jr Ministers'- Hon Luce D. Hodge-Smith”

  • Local (24/09/2025, 10:05) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    You don’t have to worry because you won’t be there much longer
  • My Major concern.. (24/09/2025, 10:10) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    In our new constitution I would like to suggest 1 thing 1/ Speaker of the house be elected by the people, knowing that they are working for the peple and not the party that selected them, that will keep the Govt honest and accountable...Junior ministsrs is not an issue or the issue, its the people holding the position, it looks bad now, because the present holders of that position are very weak, unacertive, unsure, no direction, no clout, like they are lost useless...We need to vote for competent people..
  • resident (24/09/2025, 10:42) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    she's a one termer if its a two person race
  • Say no to Kishma and Will (24/09/2025, 10:48) Like (1) Dislike (5) Reply
    4 more years for Luce
  • WHAT!!! (24/09/2025, 11:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Of course you don’t it would take away your inflated salary from our tax payers money.
  • BuzzBvi (24/09/2025, 11:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Not really much point in this commission!!

    Maybe better if we just gave Claude a consultancy and have him right the Constitution.

    At least that way we know we wouldn't get one.
  • Stealth (24/09/2025, 11:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Are junior ministers needed because ministers are overburdened or growth and development for those who are not ministers, or payback for those who didn’t make the cut for being appointed as a minister? Do the number of ministerial position need to be increased ? Does this mean increasing the number of elected members, etc.( Berrmuda has 36 elected membets)? Can the constitution be amended to permit non-elected person to serve as ministers? The 4th district rep needs to get more engaged in the constituency, more retail politics, etc. The word on the street is the people are unhappy. They not feeling representation. Politics is not a spectator sport; it requires active participation? Get off your @$$ and rep the people, do the people wuk, stop disappointing.


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