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Belongership contravenes Civil & Political Rights - VI Election Observers

-Echoes UK Parliamentary Committee report on removing status
Released Yesterday, February 27, 2019, a preliminary report from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) British Islands and Mediterranean Region (BIMR) Election Observation Mission which cited distrust in the Virgin Islands (VI) Electoral System is also pointing out that the VI’s belongership status contravenes civil and political rights. Photo: Internet Source/File
Under a section entitled Suffrage Rights, the elections report notes, “Under the constitution, the right to vote is extended to persons who “belong to the Virgin Islands”, have reached the age of 18 on election day, and are either domiciled and resident in the Virgin Islands or domiciled in the Virgin Islands and resident in the US Virgin Islands.” Photo: Internet Source
Under a section entitled Suffrage Rights, the elections report notes, “Under the constitution, the right to vote is extended to persons who “belong to the Virgin Islands”, have reached the age of 18 on election day, and are either domiciled and resident in the Virgin Islands or domiciled in the Virgin Islands and resident in the US Virgin Islands.” Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Released Yesterday, February 27, 2019, a preliminary report from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) British Islands and Mediterranean Region (BIMR) Election Observation Mission which cited distrust in the Virgin Islands (VI) Electoral System is also pointing out that the VI’s belongership status contravenes civil and political rights.

This comes following the February 20, 2019, report from the UK parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committees calling on the Theresa May-led administration to set a date for all Overseas Territories (OTs) to remove belongership status, legalise same-sex marriages and implement the public beneficial ownership registries.

Under a section entitled Suffrage Rights, the Election Report notes, “Under the constitution, the right to vote is extended to persons who “belong to the Virgin Islands”, have reached the age of 18 on election day, and are either domiciled and resident in the Virgin Islands or domiciled in the Virgin Islands and resident in the US Virgin Islands.”  

Rights to Vote

However speaking specifically to the belongership it states, “Belonger status is not automatically acquired by birth or through citizenship, but by descent or by having held residence status for a minimum of 21 years and, reportedly, undertaken an additional application process likely to last several more years.”

According to the report, the status “contravenes the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which seeks to ensure all individuals within its territory have the right to vote and stand as a candidate without distinction of any kind such as national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”

It says due to that, there are citizens with resident status who are not granted suffrage rights and non-citizens residing abroad with the right to vote and stand, “This again undermines the principles of equity, fairness and representation,” it notes in echoing the UK report.

Belongership elevates one group – UK Report

The UK Parliamentary Committee Report had previously stated that belongership status elevates one group, “While we recognise that the OTs are small communities with unique cultural identities, we do not accept that there is any justification to deny legally-resident British Overseas Territory and UK citizens the right to vote and to hold elected office.”

26 Responses to “Belongership contravenes Civil & Political Rights - VI Election Observers ”

  • Nick name (28/02/2019, 10:31) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Hmm.
  • Interested (28/02/2019, 10:47) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    It has begun.
    • People in glass houses... (28/02/2019, 14:31) Like (20) Dislike (5) Reply
      ...and I observed this about the UK

      Caribbean immigrants who came to UK decades ago 'criminalised' due to 'hostile' government policy
      -Ministers urged to act as Commonwealth citizens who arrived as children with ‘windrush’ generation denied access to healthcare, losing jobs and even threatened with deportation-
      https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/immigrants-uk-caribbean-immigration-hostile-environment-a8300236.html
      and...
      'Man born and raised in UK told he is not a British citizen'
      https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/aug/29/joiner-shane-ridge-born-and-raised-in-britain-told-to-leave-home-office

      Go fix your own household before trying to boss others around. Independence First!!!
      • VIslander (28/02/2019, 16:46) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
        EXACTLY...they come here telling us how we ought to be but look what they're currently doing
  • 123 (28/02/2019, 11:29) Like (26) Dislike (2) Reply
    we need to fix our country for our people
  • l (28/02/2019, 11:38) Like (23) Dislike (40) Reply
    Whether we want to accept it or not, we have to start seriously thinking about independence. In a few years we are going to regret being a British Overseas Territory.
    • @ I (28/02/2019, 13:15) Like (28) Dislike (5) Reply
      May the Lord be gracious unto you and give you peace. Which part will you regret? That you wont be able to have the USD as your national currency? Or the fact that people who born here of parents not from here will be full citizens like you?
      • @ @I (28/02/2019, 14:40) Like (7) Dislike (5) Reply
        What must be, must be! This is our country. Don't try to bring God into your heartless mess. Yes, God will be gracious as He have always been.
      • l (28/02/2019, 15:05) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
        Open your mind. We cannot remain a British Overseas Territory for ever.
      • Pay attention (02/03/2019, 04:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        In a few years the USD will be valueless. And we won’t regret that persons born in BVI will all be citizens regardless of where their parents are from. What we will regret is our failure to see that the U.K. and the EU are trying to destroy our economy and make us dependent on them once again and we did nothing.
  • tretretrete (28/02/2019, 12:46) Like (21) Dislike (13) Reply
    The Britian choose to leave the United Kingdom now they want to lean on the black nation of the Caribbean once again to support them. This time not through plantations but by getting their hands on our government and using taxation as a means to support themself. Britian turned their back on their Black Caribbean countries years ago......but now they want us to pay for their bad deeds.
    • Moron (28/02/2019, 14:24) Like (18) Dislike (2) Reply
      When did Britain choose to leave the United Kingdom? Britain IS the United Kingdom.
      When did countries acquire color? Countries are completely without color.
    • @hmmm (28/02/2019, 15:22) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      "The Britain choose to leave the United Kingdom" I think you may wish to check your facts on that one, not sure how that could be even more incorrect.
      • Music (28/02/2019, 17:19) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
        I think he means leave the European Union.
        • @ lodger (01/03/2019, 00:28) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
          Yes, I bet that's what Hmmm meant.
          • Moron (04/03/2019, 18:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
            Of course. It's easy to see how someone could confuse the UK with the European Union. All you need to do is not read a paper since the 1970s.
  • Blessings in disguise (28/02/2019, 14:18) Like (19) Dislike (12) Reply
    Look at the how they discriminated Myron Walwyn for his background and they won battle but they are going to lose the war. This should be interesting (:
    Hey Mr Walwyn, your defeat politically only made it clearer to the UK regarding this belonger status issue. Talk about digging a hole just to find out it's for you, lol.
  • Dot the I(s) and X the T(s) (28/02/2019, 16:25) Like (16) Dislike (2) Reply
    Smart People will have to show me how this is something to fear, but I believe if you allow people to work and live amongst you then you should understand that they may procreate, therefore there should be a system and a way of thinking that include their children as citizens-(you are from where you are born, but you are of where you were raised) Make the VIlanders not VI-Haters

    Important is the idea of residency:- you must have the right to vote firstly and second, must reside in that country/district to vote, if this is lacking in our laws then it should be addressed.

    If were are an educated, aware, prepared and motivated to succeed people then this complete inclusion-as UK citizens isn't something to be afraid of, I see it as an opportunity to build real strength as full citizen...Yes we have the history of White rule-slavery, racism and economic injustice looming as this scary figure, but there is a real possible here if this move is fair and equatable.....See above.
  • Charley Rose (28/02/2019, 16:45) Like (9) Dislike (4) Reply
    This is a very interesting development that the British is trying to recolonize the Overseas Territories. For many years the British plundered the colonies to build the British Empire and when they granted them their political independence many countries were left with illiterate people and ravish economies. The BVI was left as a bird sanctuary and the people dedicated their energies and skills to develop the country to this point. Now the British are coming to deprive us from the little that we have.

    Well we have to make a decision and tighten our belts and as Ronald Webster said in Anguilla even if we have to eat salt we will not surrender a grain of salt to the British. This message must be sent to the British loud and clear and the people MUST unite with the government to safe guard the future of these islands.
  • Norris (28/02/2019, 19:36) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply

    England is a b***

  • Lb (28/02/2019, 20:00) Like (10) Dislike (10) Reply
    The UK is slick in trying to infiltrate our countries. It is not just us. It is Cayman, Anguilla, Bermuda, Montserrat, Turks etc... But the UN speaks to colonial powers not intervening in the culture and identity of their previous subjects. We need to hold one head.

    This has nothing to do with Caribbean nationals. But they are so slick that they will try to pit us against each other while the white UK nationals slide in under a black on black fight. Just based on the few comments here, it is already clear that colonial UK is winning.

    Why are 30 million trying to dictate the lives of 30,000. Why are we so important? Stay woke people.

    Bottomline is that former slaves should not be living better than their former slave masters. The hurricanes opened ordinary UK Citizens (relief workers) eyes to how good we live compared to them in their tiny flats and nasty subway Trans every day.

    Our average citizens earn more than members of the House of Commons. And that does not sit well with them.

    Stay woke people!

    You Caribbean nationals who have taken your independece I applaud you. But do not join the fight against the rest of your Caribbean brothers and sisters who are not in a position to seek independence yet. Do not fall for the trap. Support our cause as we emybrace you all in our country for a better living.

    Use us in the BVI to continue to benefit from our position with the UK. Don't allow them to turn you against us.

    BVI people respect you Caribbean nationals in your countries. We are not trying to take your rights in your respective countries. We embrace you for who you are. Help us to preserve who we are as Virgin Islanders, while still benefitting from the good economy we have which allows you to send good earnings back home to take care of your families.

    See the big picture and stay woke!
  • Challenger (01/03/2019, 00:19) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
    every british virging islander has the right to a briish passport and almost every Britiah Virgin Islander i know has taken full advantage of this right and its associated benefits..( schooling...healthcare unobstructed travel in and out of Great Britain...the right to live there without hinderence...the right to work there...without obstruction...yet here we are.....blaming.."the white folk" .....for trying to fix a simple civil rights issue. If a Britosh Virgin Islander wanted to move to UK and had to live there for over 21 years before havjng the same rights as those in UK enjoy and had to obtain permission to live and work there each and every year..with a fear that one year their immigration statuss may not be granted...i would suggest that thise same people who are saying that the "white folk" want to rule us would be cryjng out for civil rights to be changed in UK.

    cake and eat it....??
    • Lb (01/03/2019, 12:12) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      You can count the number of BVI persons living or working in the UK. There is very little benefit to us going to the UK. We quicker go to the USA. UK gives us little or nothing. All the things you mentioned like healthcare, schooling and unobstructed travel are afforded to other nationals too. It is no special benefit afforded the BVI. So give me a break with that.
  • Socrates (01/03/2019, 02:19) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    Is this coordinated effort a Trojan Horse for recolonizing the Overseas Territories? How is the UK doing on exiting the EU? Look like there is buyers remorse on Brexit? What was the driving force on the Brexit? Was xenophobia part and particle of the Brexit vote?
  • cop (01/03/2019, 10:56) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    @challenger...et al. .. I will never live in England. In the end you will be you and I will be I. Big fuss about chicken shit.
  • reason (01/03/2019, 11:48) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    What exactly would be the reason the UK wants to re-colonize the VIs? BVI population is less than 1/20th of a percent of UK's so it's doubtful that they want to do so to add more tax payers, or to make up for economic losses associated with Brexit. Only thing I can think of would be to catch UK expat citizens evading UK taxes. Seems like a lot of work and expense (re-colonize) to collect probably not that much money that possibly could be collected cheaper and more easily through other means (e.g. beneficial ownership rules).


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