Over 2000 expats given status under NDP regime- Premier Fahie
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”
Keep them out of office for life
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?
So, it wasn't that I couldn't be bothered, Immigration would not accept my application.
Got it?
You could not ask for a better combination
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.
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?
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..