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National Monument Design Competition launched for Road Town Roundabout

- envisioned monument will serve as a signature feature of Road Town
Designers and other creative minds are asked to submit original design concepts for a landmark that will embody Virgin Islands pride and be visible from every angle of the Road Town Roundabout. Photo: Google Earth
The Government of the Virgin Islands, through the Road Town Partnership (RTP) Committee and the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), has launched the Roundabout National Monument Design Competition. Photo: RDA
The Government of the Virgin Islands, through the Road Town Partnership (RTP) Committee and the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), has launched the Roundabout National Monument Design Competition. Photo: RDA
Co-Chair of the Road Town Partnership (RTP) Committee and Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism Honourable Luce D. Hodge-Smith (R4) said the Roundabout National Monument Design Competition is an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy, as the monument will stand at the roundabout for generations to come. Photo: GIS/File
Co-Chair of the Road Town Partnership (RTP) Committee and Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism Honourable Luce D. Hodge-Smith (R4) said the Roundabout National Monument Design Competition is an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy, as the monument will stand at the roundabout for generations to come. Photo: GIS/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Government of the Virgin Islands, through the Road Town Partnership (RTP) Committee and the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), has launched the Roundabout National Monument Design Competition.

As part of the broader Road Town Development Project, this competition invites individuals and creative teams across the Territory to submit original design concepts for a landmark that will embody Virgin Islands pride and be visible from every angle of the roundabout. 

"This is a national call for innovative, culturally reflective, and enduring monument concepts to anchor one of our Territory’s most prominent public spaces directly in the heart of Road Town," the RDA stated in a press release today, February 24, 2026.

Signature feature of RT

The envisioned monument, according to the RDA, will serve as a signature feature of Road Town—one that celebrates the history, culture, and identity of the Virgin Islands. To ensure safety, all design submissions must be freestanding with only low shrubbery or ground cover to maintain a full 360-degree visibility around the roundabout. 

Co-Chair of the RTP Committee and Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism Honourable Luce D. Hodge-Smith (R4) said, “I am truly excited to invite those among us with creative talent to participate in this competition. There are very attractive monetary prizes, but this is more than just a competition. It is an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy, as the monument you help to design will stand at this roundabout for generations to come.”

Design sketches must be accompanied by a short concept description explaining the inspiration, symbolism, and proposed materials. All submissions must be original works created specifically for this competition. 

Prizes & Recognition

Participants will have the opportunity to earn significant recognition and rewards, including a 1st Prize of US$3,000 along with official recognition as the winning designer or team and the opportunity to collaborate with the RDA on refinement of the final design, with the winning concept also receiving public acknowledgement in RDA publications, media releases, and exhibitions. 

The 2nd Prize winner will receive US$2,000 and a certificate of recognition, with inclusion in public exhibitions and media acknowledgements, while the 3rd Prize winner will receive US$1,000 and a certificate of recognition with similar public exposure. 

All submissions must be emailed to info@bvirecovery.vg by March 27, 2026. Incomplete entries or designs that block visibility or fail to comply with competition rules will be disqualified.

The RDA encourages artists, architects, designers, and all creative thinkers—whether experienced professionals or emerging talent—to participate in shaping a permanent symbol of the Virgin Islands’ resilience, culture, and future.

"This national monument will stand at the heart of Road Town as a reflection of who we are and what we aspire to be. We look forward to receiving visionary designs from across the Territory," the RDA stated.

20 Responses to “National Monument Design Competition launched for Road Town Roundabout”

  • How much? (24/02/2026, 14:46) Like (34) Dislike (0) Reply
    How much will this "monument" cost? Can we hold off on this project & just landscape the roundabout, then do this project when the BVI's infrastructure is not in such disarray?
  • bystander (24/02/2026, 15:25) Like (1) Dislike (7) Reply
    It would be a good place for the war memorial that we are supposed to be getting. It can commemorate Samuel Hodge VC as well as all the other BVI Islanders and Residents who fought against Nazism and other aggression.
    • (25/02/2026, 10:31) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
      @by stander: they did not fought any Nazism, the loved queen Victoria their slave master, they were slaves . When Hitler saw black skin people he asked queen Victoria if she is arming monkeys with guns to kill white people, and all Victoria reply was she don't care, so she did not defend black people as human being, she acknowledge Hitler ethno supremacists ideology which white people share to this day, that's the reason there is a white blue eye blond Italian boy painted picture called jesus, and all the resources of Africa just like Venezuela oil must be owned by white people, and the reason the BVI is owned by UK, so we are commodity that they own to this day.
  • Fix the water (24/02/2026, 15:46) Like (41) Dislike (0) Reply
    What monument, and people can't get water ?
  • suggestion (24/02/2026, 15:49) Like (9) Dislike (4) Reply
    Let us put a statue of Foy, after all he deserves something.
  • fair is fair (24/02/2026, 15:51) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    RAS UHURU deserves a statue after getting blows for Wickham's Cay.
  • Fix it felix (24/02/2026, 15:57) Like (26) Dislike (0) Reply
    How about a fix the road.
  • FREEDOM FIGHTERS FOR WICKHAM'S CAY (24/02/2026, 15:57) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
    4 Positive Action statues>>>>>>>>BRUSHY FACING EAST....RAS UHURU FACING WEST....WILFRED FACING SOUTH....NOEL FACING NORTH
  • Streups (24/02/2026, 17:39) Like (24) Dislike (1) Reply
    How about keeping the water on, everywhere, all the time?! This place is savage!
  • Groove Governor (24/02/2026, 19:39) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    How about paying tribute to our maritime heritage as we boast of being the sailing capitol of the world. From being the home port of the fleet that captured Jamaica from the Spanish to our local produce directly to the New England Colonies in America and Bristol and Liverpool in the UK. The Virgin Islands Sloop has been our lifeline. The first missionaries John Cadwallader and John Estaugh arrived from Pennsylvania on a Tortola sloop. Tortola was prized for her timber. Post emancipation local boat building continued to be a popular industry and a lifeline for trade with Puerto Rico Danish West Indies\USVI and Greater and Lesser Antilles. As a youngster I witnesses the construction of the Ferry boat "The Virgin Queen" across the street from the Old Prison in Road Town also in the Queen Elizabeth Park area the construction of a cargo vessel "The Charmaine." It would be a shame if we were to turn our back on what is probably the most enduring legacy of these islands.
  • guy hill (25/02/2026, 04:55) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Groove Governor. I remembered the Virgin Queen being Builtñ in that yard across from the prison. And the day it was launched. My brother of sainted memory Jerome "Current" Hill used to hold my hand and walk me down the street to watch. Kodak moments in my mind growing up Road Town, living on main street.
  • How About (25/02/2026, 06:40) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    a statue of a cookie jar
  • Well (25/02/2026, 07:49) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    It's time for OUR MASTER NAT-AL-EO to flex off heself with a statue of himself in in his " ORANGE JUMPSUIT "
  • solution (25/02/2026, 10:52) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Just put a burst pipe and a pot hole with somebody peeping out a window
  • smh (25/02/2026, 10:54) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    I was hoping the RDA was going to focus in our infrastructure, not this kind of beautification projects :sigh:
  • BUSY BEE (25/02/2026, 11:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Please find a design that points to the future.
  • Roger Burnett (25/02/2026, 12:25) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Perhaps a sculpture from my series "Daughters of the Caribbean Sun" would ease the island's water woes.

    https://youtu.be/uVQP-63V_6w
  • No Statue (25/02/2026, 12:37) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    We don't need any statue there.
    Put the statue in the Noel Lloyd park. You barely have space to accommodate the roundabout.
    Its better you pave the roads properly and keep the place clean.
  • Merry go round (25/02/2026, 13:18) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Expensively going nowhere.
  • Boynes (25/02/2026, 15:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Leave The roud a bout alone


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