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MP Bellingham: No immediate answer to children born in OTs by non-national parents!

The reigning 2011 Road Town Calypso Monarch Luther B sang about the issue of identity for children born in the VI to expatriate parents . Photo: VINO
MP Bellingham speaking at the press conference yesterday, April 23, 2012. Photo: VINO
MP Bellingham speaking at the press conference yesterday, April 23, 2012. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – A frequent question that Henry Bellingham, a United Kingdom (UK) Member of Parliament (MP) is usually asked is how the UK intends to address the issue of children born in Overseas Territories (OTs) to parents who are not indigenous citizens, and at a press conference held yesterday April 23, 2012, he acknowledged there is no immediate answer but “it is something that we keep under close review I can assure you.”

He was responding to a question posed by a talk show host following the signing of the Protocols for Effective Financial Management, which will better manage the Territory’s finances, between himself and Premier and Minister for Finance Dr. D. Orlando Smith.

Julio ‘Sam’ Henry, one of the hosts of Speak Your Mind, opined that one of the things hampering the growth of the Virgin Islands (VI) right now is the “disconnect” because children who are born in the VI to parents not indigenous to the island have no identity attached to them.

“…they can’t get a passport based on the British Nationality Act. What is the UK doing right now to address the situation with those kids …it’s a problem to a growing society like the BVI,” he stated.

However, MP Bellingham pointed out that “obviously what Territories really want to do is to control migration because what they got are small countries that have limited resources and obviously they are going to need to control the increase in population.”

He added, “On the other hand, most Territories are looking at this very point and it is something I discussed with your Premier...and there is no immediate answer to it but it is something that we keep under close review I can assure you.”

Additionally, the UK MP stated that the constitutions the UK have for the OTs will always be a work in progress.

“Every constitution is a phenomenon; you are always trying to proof it, looking at ways of making adjustments and changes for the better.”

Premier Smith also touched briefly on the issue and told reporters, “It is something that is being discussed...and it is something that we will arrive at a conclusion and make some recommendations”.

34 Responses to “MP Bellingham: No immediate answer to children born in OTs by non-national parents!”

  • QICK SAND (24/04/2012, 08:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    well the BVI needs to step up to the plate....
    • Queen mary (24/04/2012, 10:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      well the NDP does not realy care about this issue outside of playing politics so ayo need to hush your trap!!!
      • Shara Parlin (24/04/2012, 11:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Why is everything got to be politics people??? relax and live a little.
        • sad day (24/04/2012, 13:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          Its unfortunate the country is divided over politics
          • cliff (24/04/2012, 14:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
            Too many children from expats are being born here they need to go back to their home country it’s another trick to overrun the BVI.
          • here here here (24/04/2012, 16:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
            Well said and me agree
          • jack be still (24/04/2012, 21:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
            give the kids their rights you cannot blame them or have them suffer for where the mother decided to lay them
  • teacher john (24/04/2012, 08:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who will be bold enough to address this matter?
  • polo (24/04/2012, 09:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Then they need to get the kids back where they are from
  • Village Girl (24/04/2012, 10:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    People this issue is not as easy as I Born here, so I am a citizen here..there is more to it.
  • dominant (24/04/2012, 11:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lots of people do not understand that is the UK that makes this decsion. The NDP has tried before with this type of discussion and only manage to get the time decrease form age of 18years to recieve passport to I think that is either 10 or twelve years old you can attain a paasport for the child. Once the child resides in the BVI for the years required. People, please read carefully the content, that Mr. Bellingham made.
    • FYI (24/04/2012, 11:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      That rule with regard to nationality was not changed by any local government. The rule about attaining status by registration after residing for 10 years has been there a long time now.
  • village ram (24/04/2012, 11:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    See how the uk mp duck the question
  • Damn! (24/04/2012, 12:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well from that answer it seems that the issue will not be worked on for a number of years!!
  • I agree (24/04/2012, 12:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It would be remiss of me to say that the MP has a point.
  • house rules (24/04/2012, 14:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The locals and indigenous people are already a minority and catching hell. I am one who say leave this matter as is!!!!! as I do not see what is all this hoopla about? Deem to belong we need a law that says if your parents are not form here you should have no rights….look the big mistake that happen with people who parents are not from here but in we House of Politics..now that is dawn wrong.
    • Sigh (24/04/2012, 16:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      So why you all running to st. thomas and PR to get you all children..... how can innocent children be pinalised in this matter...when some islands are considering not issuing birth certificates to these same children... what would be thier identity? and oh i know your response dont get them.... and yes if u know thats the law then dont get none but GOD governs this earth not man... I know of people who have taken all precautions and still get pregnant... so are u telling them abstain? we are all human beings. I think yes the expats should take these laws into consideration but it happens...... stop being so negative... not every one is the same. I am an expat and from when i heard of the law I swore not to get a child here....
    • Fairness (27/04/2012, 01:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      We also need a law that says, your a$$ need to born your kids here and not in the US.
      • OK (28/04/2012, 12:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        And we need to mek sure something in some law there to protect people, so when we need to sue peebles hospital backside for the stupidness them does do, it would be easy.. very easy.
  • BRAD BOYNES (24/04/2012, 14:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    These children are citizens of the country their parents are from. The constitutions of all those former Britsh Colonies who went and become independent recognise those children born in the VI as their Citizens. They can get passports, vote and the like. The VI unique position as an Overseas Territory extend Belonger status to these children at some point. Register the children with the Civil Registry. There is also some hypocrisy when it comes to this issue.
  • same old story (24/04/2012, 14:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    is this MP with the Lib Dem or the conservative??? it depends to get inside his head
  • so it is (24/04/2012, 14:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The uk looking out for uk not bvi
  • Simple Simon (24/04/2012, 19:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    People the world has become a global village. People have children all over. So what about the BVIslanders who have children in the US and elsewhere?
  • same as here (24/04/2012, 21:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    you all need to visit the UK as they are governed by the same British Nationality Act that the BVI is governed by....so talk dat!
  • Registrar (24/04/2012, 21:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why are people pushing the BVI to give passports to children born here to foreign parents, when no where in the World they can get that privilege? Children are born here to many European and African nationals and all of them can legally apply for a birth certificate in the Country of the mother, as well as for a passport. They all DO HAVE an identity!! The privilege of a BVI Passport is not only denied to persons from other Caribbean Countries, but to any European National as well. Every child is entitled to a B/certificate & passport at their country of orign, regardless where they were born. So what's the point?
  • sea lane (25/04/2012, 00:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We do not have a system of where you born is where you from so live with it!!!!
  • freedom (25/04/2012, 16:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Let my people go!
  • UK student (25/04/2012, 23:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    the UK looking out so the UK is not over ran my emigrants....
  • santosh (04/05/2012, 03:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is British Citizenship | Imperial Visas British citizenship – you can get Information about British Citizenship and other forms of British Nationality. UK Citizenship is one of the 6 Different forms of British Nationality as Stated in the British Nationality Act 1981. The most vital Evidence of British Citizenship is a British Passport. Keywords:-> British Citizenship, British Nationality, Contact Us:-> Telephone: +44 0203 627 4777 Fax: 0203 627 5488 Email: info@imperialvisas.com Location: 2nd Floor Cygnet House, 12-14 Sydenham Road Croydon Surrey CR0 2EE
  • alexstuart (14/05/2012, 05:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    UK Immigration Visa | UK immigration Services - Imperial Visas UK Immigration Visa British Citizenship is a Different form of British Nationality that is Defined in the British Nationality act 1981. The law Specifies how Citizenship can be Obtained and who has the right to Apply for British Nationality. Keywords-> UK Immigration Visa, UK immigration Services, Imperial Visas Contact Us- 2nd Floor Cygnet House 12-14 Sydenham Road Croydon Croydon, Surrey CR02EE, UK Phone No:+44 0203-627-4777


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