Candidate calls for 'revolution' in how VI values its history

Sandra Phillip-Hodge, an independent candidate seeking a seat in the House of Assembly, is urging Virgin Islanders to fundamentally rethink their relationship with the territory's historical heritage, saying that development is erasing irreplaceable sites.

Speaking via Facebook ahead of the 2027 elections, Phillip-Hodge drew on her background as a former assistant curator at the Virgin Islands Folk Museum in Road Town to describe what she sees as widespread indifference to old buildings, ruins and artefacts. Many residents treat historic structures as obstacles to progress, she said, viewing them as "some old stupidness to replace the irreplaceable".

Phillip-Hodge stressed that appreciating the past requires education. "It takes a special kind of person to appreciate the past for what it means to us, for what has been handed down to us," she said. "But I believe there will be more special people if they were properly educated about it."

She connected heritage conservation to three broader concerns: strengthening national identity, giving young people a sense of their ancestry, and building sustainable tourism. Preserved sites offer visitors meaningful experiences while reflecting who Virgin Islanders are as a people, she argued.

"As a tourist destination, we need to have things that tourists could be interested in and learn something from," Phillip-Hodge said. "We need to have something that could reflect on our identity as a people."

Declared as an independent at-large candidate in August 2026, Phillip-Hodge committed to making heritage protection a priority regardless of whether she ends up in government or opposition. She called for teaching residents and visitors about the territory's legacy while strengthening safeguards for ruins that currently lack proper recognition, preservation or protection.

Phillip-Hodge linked heritage work to sustainable development more broadly, rejecting the notion that quick profits should come at the cost of cultural assets. "It is not just about making the fast buck," she said.

Even if voters do not elect her, Phillip-Hodge expressed confidence that her advocacy could shift public thinking. "I hope whether or not I do get in there, I hope that there will be a revolution in the attitude of the people towards historical preservation," she said.