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Over 2000 expats given status under NDP regime- Premier Fahie

- majority were given before last general elections
The Immigration Department has confirmed that the backlog of applicants residing in the Virgin Islands for 20 years or more is less than 800 persons. Photo: VINO/File
According to Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), in the last seven years under the previous national Democratic Party (NDP) administration, over 2,000 expats were given some kind of status, with the majority being before the general elections. Photo: GIS
According to Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), in the last seven years under the previous national Democratic Party (NDP) administration, over 2,000 expats were given some kind of status, with the majority being before the general elections. Photo: GIS
The previous National Democratic Party (NDP) Government reportedly gave status to expats residing under 20 years residing in the Virgin Islands and without any records of proper vetting. A large portion of these approvals came just before the February 2019 general elections and were mainly of people who were not part of the backlog. Photo: VINO/File
The previous National Democratic Party (NDP) Government reportedly gave status to expats residing under 20 years residing in the Virgin Islands and without any records of proper vetting. A large portion of these approvals came just before the February 2019 general elections and were mainly of people who were not part of the backlog. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- “We are satisfied that it is being done in an open and transparent way, unlike what has happened in the immediate period before,” said Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) in referring to his Government’s bold initiative to address the long standing issues of status for expats residing in the territory for decades.

Government recently rolled out a programme dubbed ‘Clear path to regularisation: Residency and Belonger Status Programme,’ but the programme has received an expected blowback from locals, many of who have expressed fears of the territory being adversely affected.

Premier Fahie, during a National Address on June 2, 2019 on ZBVI 780 AM again sought to clear up misconceptions about the initiative, adding that the programme sets the pace for immigration reform.

He also said the Immigration and Passport (Amendment) Act, 2019 which the Government will seek to pass in the House of Assembly today, June 3, 2019 does not speak to the comprehensive Immigration and Labour overhaul, which will come down the road after even further consultations.

Facts of regularisation initiative

“What we are seeking to address does not involve new people or recent residents. There will be no flooding of our territory with new entrants. Initially, we had envisaged considering people who were here for 15 years or more. But coming from the consultation, and having listened to you, the people, we have lifted that ceiling for consideration to 20 years.”

Premier Fahie continued that not every person who has been living in the VI for an extended period of time would be eligible for regularisation of status – whether as resident or as a belonger. Only persons who meet the existing criteria and who have been making a contribution back to our society would qualify for consideration.

“Qualification for consideration does not equate to immediate regularisation. The existing evaluation processes by the Immigration Department and other government agencies remain in place and will be strictly applied in the evaluation of applicants. The only difference is that the length of processing time is being shortened in this single instance.

This fast-tracking initiative is for one time only, Premier Fahie said, adding that the objective is to mainly address the backlog of applicants that have been pending and to sort through which applications have merit and which do not. “With the backlog cleared, there will be no further need for these special provisions.”

Premier Fahie said he clearing of the backlog of applicants resident in the VI for 20 years or more, makes the coming reform easier.

“These reforms cannot be embarked upon with this backlog hanging over the Territory’s head as it can compromise the smooth implementation of the reform programme that will be in the hands of you the people. Starting from next week, we will begin a series of more public discussions to shape the new immigration and labour policies, and to consider the substantial amendments to the Immigration and Passport Act, in the best interest if every Virgin Islander.”

Closing the floodgates

According to the Premier, the comprehensive reform programme is aimed at closing the floodgates that currently exist and which have, in some regards, compromised the interests of VIslanders, leading to the fears that were raised during the consultation process.

“While all other previous governments sidestepped this difficult issue, may I say, to the detriment of all BVIslanders; this government has taken the bold step of allowing every Virgin Islander to now shape the new proposed immigration policies and laws.

“This first stage of this reform process is not a case of allowing people to over-run us, as some critics have claimed.”

Premier Fahie disclosed that the Immigration Department has confirmed that the backlog of applicants residing in the VI for 20 years or more is less than 800 persons. “And even so, under our current process, not all will automatically qualify.”

NDP regime gave status to over 2000 in past 7 years

And even as the Leader of the Opposition and Junior Minister with the previous National Democratic Party (NDP) regime, Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8) is loud in protest against the regularisation initiative, his government had made politics of the issue by silently granting status to expats close to general elections.

According to Premier Fahie, in the last seven years under the previous administration, over 2,000 people were given some kind of status. This he said was done quietly and silently and not in the transparent way his government is undertaking.

“Might I add, that a few of these people who received status was under 20 years residing in the BVI, and without any records of proper vetting. Interesting, a large portion of these approvals came just before the last general elections and were mainly of people who were not part of the backlog.

“This is the type of behaviour we must bring to an end.”

Stricter measures for work permits coming

Premier Fahie, in his address to the territory, said the Immigration and Labour reforms that the government is pursuing will ensure that persons who come to the Virgin Islands for employment do not develop unfounded expectations and that their presence in the territory does not remain unchecked.

“The labour reform policies will provide greater protection to BVIslanders and Belongers in the job market by closing the gaps that have made it possible for local persons to be locked out of certain jobs.

“When the government is finished implementing the reform packages that will be given to us by you, the people, there will be stricter screening procedures for allowing persons into the Territory for work, and also for the renewal of work permits.”

In terms of renewal of work permits, Premier Fahie said Government has welcomed the suggestions brought forward at some of the public events, that the employer applying for such must furnish the Labour Department with a good standing certificate from NHI, Social Security and Inland Revenue.

The government also intends to cap the number of expatriates that are allowed into the territory for work.

“However, before all of this and more can be done, the issue of the backlog must be resolved, and the sooner these issues are put to rest in a transparent and accountable manner, the sooner the government can move forward with the rest of planning and implementing protections for our people,” Premier Fahie said.

20 Responses to “Over 2000 expats given status under NDP regime- Premier Fahie”

  • long look me come from (03/06/2019, 07:24) Like (21) Dislike (22) Reply
    Ndp give away the country to whites just before elections

    Keep them out of office for life
    • Labour next.. (03/06/2019, 10:06) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
      Labour hmmmm... I heard these big companies greese hands to have their way... Do what they want. Oppress workers without fear...Workers get no representation... Hmmmm. .. From what I'm hearing labour is a mess and should be up next.
    • True (03/06/2019, 12:44) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      back before VIP got out 8 years ago the last Immigration Minister gave away over 200 in the last day of his office and nearly 90% were at HIS DISCRECTION as stated in the gazette go look it up, they are all at it....
    • @ Long Look (04/06/2019, 01:08) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      Really? Vip govt making it look like ndp did not give status. What the hell you think they doing now with this amnesty call? Stay focus my brother. We should not worry about the black expats getting status.. worry about the other color.
  • Expat Express (03/06/2019, 07:50) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
    Pardon my confusion, but I have a question about what's happening. But first I want to clearly state that I think what the Premier is doing, listening and responding to the Virgin Islanders, concerning the serious question of the preservation of their heritage rights to these islands, is the right thing. This is a small country and immigration issues can't be likened to the the States or the UK. My confusion (and my question) is this: does the "Fast track initiative" now only pertain to people who have applications already submitted (the "backlog")? Or will it include people who prepared applications in the previous weeks (who are here 20 years or more) who have prepared applications for Resident or Belonger status in response to the initial announcement of the Fast track? Thank you for any clarity offered.
    • True (03/06/2019, 12:48) Like (6) Dislike (11) Reply
      Let me answer your question with a question.

      If you have resided in the territory for more than 20 years why did you only now decide to apply for residency, was it because you could become a Belongers without the wait?

      That is is why the country is against it.

      The answer is only applications that have been submitted before this will be fast tracked so if you couldn't be bothered before, why bother now?
      • @True (03/06/2019, 16:01) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
        In answer to your question, there are people with current residency status who have not, as yet, applied for Belonger status. It has nothing to do with "not bothering".
        • answer (03/06/2019, 17:37) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
          Thats exactly what it amounts to, you didn't want to wait to become a Belonger due to the timeframe but when an expedited method arrived everyone jumped on the bandwagon. Now that is a fact that you didn't bother aoplying.
      • Too true (03/06/2019, 18:42) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
        To answer your question - I have lived here for 23 years & tried to submit my application for Residency to Immigration several times over the last few years, but each time was told I could not submit my application until the backlog was cleared!
        So, it wasn't that I couldn't be bothered, Immigration would not accept my application.
        Got it?
  • great (03/06/2019, 08:25) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    My understanding is that it goes for everyone who reach 20 years or more. So go ahead and put in your application if not those who are in authority will tell you what’s up.
  • Anonymous (03/06/2019, 08:50) Like (16) Dislike (10) Reply
    A premier that listens and love people

    You could not ask for a better combination
  • Seriously (03/06/2019, 09:21) Like (3) Dislike (19) Reply
    The NDP gov’t did not have an amnesty party like you did. I am sure that all procedures were followed and applications were properly reviewed by the boards. What your party is doing, is beyond the rational of both, no board and you giving amnesty. All of a sudden the whole entire message has change and you sir has caused this very same division. If you had initially listen instead of continuing your dictatorship behavior then people in the country wouldn’t have felt betrayed on both sides.
    Now, all of your conversation on the radio program on Saturday has a different speech to the outcome of all this. That sir is what listening to the people in the first place would have save how you had carried yourself and the opinions of others will be intact if you had only listen.
  • Spilt Milk (03/06/2019, 09:30) Like (11) Dislike (5) Reply
    Why do we need to bring up what the NDP did?

    Were those 2,000 20 years overdue? If NDP didn’t had this number “regularised” would it have been part of your number to regularise?
  • Ask Me !!! (03/06/2019, 10:02) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    1/ I think the Premier is on a good spiritual Journey..2/ From 15yrs to now 20 yrs is no compromise it should have been 18yrs as a negotiated compromise... 3/ Labour is more of a problem to us than immigration.. ..Lack of real aggessive caring and honest representation...The 3:months vacation with out pay.. .. I think employers should pay staff some thing whike they are homevbecause they are still considered staff.....Make staff redundant then hire people for their position 3 months after ..First preference needed to go to those people who were made redundant....
  • the future (03/06/2019, 10:11) Like (20) Dislike (4) Reply
    The main thing that Government has to do for the future is to rescind the law allowing people to naturalize in the Virgin Islands. This is the smallest community in the entire Caribbean. It is not a continent like Australia, Canada, or the United States that have large swaths of uninhabited lands. Immigration is a process of addition. The pass has show that most people that come here tend not to leave. I don't see how people can come here, present their papers to immigration and get twenty or thirty years. We must stop allowing people to stay indefinitely. If this law stays on the books it is inevitable the Virgin Islands will be overrun. We must also discard the fallacy that people are owed something beside their salary for coming here looking for work.
  • Bobby V (03/06/2019, 10:12) Like (7) Dislike (7) Reply
    Why are you still bringing up what the NDP did and didn't do? This is your chance. Show us what you can do. Its like you are playing a game with the people. Do what you have to do and stop blaming the NDP for your short comings.
  • @True (03/06/2019, 13:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    People were not applying before because they told us that we have to reach 20 years before we can apply. I live here 21 years and didn’t apply them and still didn’t do it with the fast tract. I ask immigration before and I was told it have to be exactly 20 years and over
    • True (03/06/2019, 17:40) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      so you didn't bother applying so what's your comment about then? I can apply to be a resident and Belongers but I choose to be who I am and still give service to the BVI.
  • legal team (03/06/2019, 18:05) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    We were satisfied before the general election that the VIP had presented a team of competent and intelligent men and women to run the affairs of this country.

    We acted accordingly a voted the VIP into office..

    We gave the VIP the mandate.

    Give Hon. Andrew Fahie a chance to run the country how he see fit and proper.

    Now-a-days every body wants to tell a government how to run a country.

    Let VIP run the country.

    We are not in a dictatorship;so give Andrew a daam chance to do his job and stop this anti-VIP protest..
  • NICK (03/06/2019, 20:21) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Two thousand in 7 years is less than 300 a year.....very different to what the Premier was proposing.....thousands in two weeks !!!


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