Expats children’s birthrights up for Constitutional Review talks- Premier Smith
It was a topic raised previously by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, but elaborated with much emotion by Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn who appealed to his fellow legislators to present the British Nationality Act for revision as part of the upcoming constitutional review.
“The same way you can go and talk about dealing with the constitution and reviewing the constitution, go to Britain and ask them to re-negotiate some of the terms in the British Nationality Act,” Hon Walwyn had said.
“We all in here (HoA) should feel ashamed about it. That children who are born in this country are being treated this way, and we are not doing anything about it,” Hon Walwyn stated.
The Minister had also said it was unfair that a child could be born in "Timbuktu" but if adopted by Virgin Islander parents that child would be given all the rights as a Virgin Islander but a child born here is not.
Hon Walwyn out of place?
Despite it being a legitimate topic, Natalio D. Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru, during a recent talk show, blasted the minister for “usurping his authority” as it relates to speaking on the matter. Mr Wheatley contended that the Premier had already spoken on the topic, giving a position, and Hon Walwyn was ‘out of place’ in picking it up after Premier Smith would have spoken on it.
Nonetheless, the topic will be on the agenda at the upcoming constitutional review meetings to be held across the territory, a confirmation made by Premier Dr D Orlando Smith, yesterday October 12, 2016 as he responded to a question at press conference held at his Road Town offices.
A political response was given to the reporter who asked the premier if he thought the legislation requires serious consideration among the topics of proposed changes that will be put to the UK for approval next year.
“Anything which is being used for quite a number of years needs to be reviewed regularly. So naturally that (British Nationality Act) would need to be reviewed, and it would come up during our discussions as we go towards the discussions with the United Kingdom on the constitutional reform,” Premier Smith said.
He continued, “I am saying that it would be part of the discussion because we want to look at the whole relationship with the United Kingdom, and that includes how the British Nationality Act works.”
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30 Responses to “Expats children’s birthrights up for Constitutional Review talks- Premier Smith”
In small locales would jus sanguinis (citizenship is not determined by place of birth but by having one or both parents who are citizens of the state) be a workable and less disrupted action? Should the requirements for attaining Belonger status be changed? Should the VI have a stronger process for briefing immigrants on citizenship, Belonger status, naturalization……etc?