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Rights and Privileges a HUGE difference

Donald E. de Castro Photo: Provided
By Donald E. de Castro

“Too old to be intimidated”

For years, here in The Virgin Islands, there is a continuous conversation by so many people in regards to children being born in this Territory by expatriate parents and about the length of time that so many expatriates have been here and cannot get Belongers Status. So while this conversation continues, I will list a number of Rights & Privileges to add to this conversation.

Let me start with Rights.

Everyone has a right to make an honest living.

Everyone has a right to qualify himself or herself for the job that he or she would like to do.

Everyone has the right to the best medical care.

Everyone has the right to want to improve their living condition and if this requires relocating to another man’s country he/she has the right to seek the opportunity to do so.

Everyone has the right to respect the laws of the country in which they live.

Every expat in this country has the right to be treated with respect and dignity once they are legally admitted to visit or to work.

Every expatriate has the right to respect the culture of the country in which they choose to live and or work.

Every employer has the right and moral obligation to employ Belongers.

Every employer has the right to hire the best-qualified person.

Every citizen has the right to vote.

Everyone has the right to free speech.

Everyone has the right to their opinion.

Everyone has the right to legal representation.

Everyone has the right to a decent place to live.

Our politicians have a right to make clear the law as it pertains to children born to expatriates.

No expatriate has the right to permanent Residence or Belonger Status based solely on the length of time they have been here on a work permit or otherwise and POLITICIANS have the right to make this perfectly clear.

Every employee has the right to practice the proper work ethics and give their employer their best.

Every employee has the right to prove that they he or she worth more than they are being paid.

Every employer has the right to expect employees to produce.

Every Virgin Islander has the right to be respected in his or her country.

Every Virgin Islander has the right to act in a manner in which he is able to earn respect.

Persons that have no idea what they are speaking about have the RIGHT to keep their mouth closed and the RIGHT to LISTEN and to LEARN.

The Minister of Immigration, through the Chief Immigration Officer, has the Right to inform applicants when their applications are denied and have them leave the country rather than having people live in hope year after year for years

Those are some RIGHTS

Finally, there are those of us that can remember when The Virgin Islands were practically isolated from the rest of the World. Yet we were able to take care of ourselves and families and were still able and willing to welcome strangers with open arms.

Today we have seen the World evolved and it is now referred to as a Global Village of which we are a part. And while we have citizens from more than one hundred and one different countries living and or working here, this does not mean that we have to give up our RIGHTS as Virgin Islanders to them because the politicians want to be elected at election time and ruin our country.

We are responsible for our corner of the village, same as each individual or family is responsible for his or her home. Would you allow friends, family or strangers into your home and then permit them to run your household? Of course not. So why are we allowing our country to be run by outsiders with the help of our political leaders?

Privileges;

Many people in this Territory have difficulty understanding the difference between Rights and Privileges. Many people believe that because they were born here they have the right to certain things such as a licence. ANY type of LICENCE is a PRIVILEGE. For example, driver’s licence or a trade licence is a privilege that can be refused or if issued can be revoked.

There are certain conditions under which licenses are approved and which the applicant must adhere to. There are only two licenses that I know of, once ISSUED and EXECUTED, cannot be revoked and they are MARRIAGE and a BURIAL licences.

When one is admitted to a country, whether to visit, work or live that is a privilege and such privileges can be revoked at any time with or without a reason

Persons given the opportunity to apply for Residence, Belongers status or Naturalization must accept and understand that these are privileges and if granted, that they must and should cherish them, and that these privileges can be revoked

The length of time one lives in a country by itself does not qualify you to any particular privilege

Privileges are few and rare and that is why when we are granted them, we must cherish and respect them, for when they are taken away from us some get depressed, frustrated and just wish they could disappear from society.

There are many expatriates that understand the problem surrounding the issue of children being born here and the smart ones go back home and those with U.S Visas go to the U.S or one of its Territories to have their children. The others, with the help of the politicians and others that do not care about the country, are the ones that help to create the situation that we are now facing. What shall come is an eventual financial crisis that will be a burden on this and future governments not to mention generations to come unless the government enforces all applicable laws or make laws to combat this planned takeover by expatriates and their supporters. But how can this happen when so many, if not all our lawmakers, are encouraging the takeover?

9 Responses to “Rights and Privileges a HUGE difference”

  • qc (29/01/2019, 12:21) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    good read
  • reality (29/01/2019, 17:04) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Every country with respect for human rights has clear laws that stipulates how and under what conditions expatriates may acquire residency or citizenship as well as how this privilege may be revoked.
    Not at the whim of who likes who and who you know. All your Caribbean neighbors has this clearly established.
    Do We?? In most of them law abiding expatriates living and working in the country legally for 4-5 years continuously enables you to be qualified for citizenship.
    • two cents (29/01/2019, 23:07) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      I never knew that there was an international law on Citizenship. I do not agree with Mr. Decastro with much, but I have to agree with him on this point. It is a privilege to be allowed to live and work or even visit any country that you have no status in. I find only here in the BVI certain people come and expect all that we could never go to their country and acquire. Just for the record I would like to point out BVI is not the only country that children do not receive citizenship if their parents have no status in that country. This law is from the UK and it is in effect in all its overseas territories (Anguilla, Cayman, Turks, Bermuda, Montserrat, etc.). France also has this law, This is why I do not understand why people act like they have never heard of such a law. I do not necessary agree with it, but the law is the law.
      • Outsider (31/01/2019, 07:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        What are you talking about?
        What country do you know that you can lawfully live and work in for 20 years and still not have any right to permanent residency / citizenship?
        Saudi Arabia, surely. Is that the sort of country you want this one compared to?
        The territory governs its own rules around residency. Not the UK. You’re confusing nationality law (what’s controlled by a sovereign state, called the UK) and residency law (a local matter that the House of Assembly can legislate for).
  • Gaslight (30/01/2019, 14:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Nice Dog whistle I heard it nice and loud
  • Interesting (30/01/2019, 18:27) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    An interesting read, but Mr. de Castro forgot one of the rights:

    Every employee has the right to be paid a fair wage and to be treated like a human being within the work environment.
  • yes (31/01/2019, 00:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The big white dogs have right to do what they want include getting citizenship and there parents are from where? Fools give it to master he loves you so much you whorship and obey if you think this is correct your sick!!
  • VG68 (31/01/2019, 17:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What irks me as an “expat” from the U.S. is the amount of BVIslanders & others who travel to STT, STX & PR to have their babies so they can have that U.S. Citizenship & passport. How many BVIslanders are holders of U.S. Green cards but do NOT reside in the U.S. but happily & illegally use a relative or family members address at there U.S. residency address. I actually know of some of these people & I have also had some quite proudly tell me they take advantage of the U.S. Welfare program. (How one does that I have no idea!) I also wonder how many Green Card holders & U.S. Passport holders file their yearly U.S. Tax report every year to the IRS. It’s the law, that you are supposed to. Look it up. Did you know that if you are receiving BVI Social Security & claim U.S. citizenship, that your BVI SS income is taxable in the U.S.? Look it up. You know, there are “two sides to every coin.” BVIslanders (as well as many others) have taken advantage of the U.S. & other countries systems regarding rights & privileges. It just doesn’t happen in the BVI. I would be very interested to know the actual count of how many BVIslanders have left the BVI & now reside and call somewhere else “home” yet pull out their BVI Passport and brush off the dust when they return for a visit. Just my opinion ... as some who was not born in the British Virgin Islands.
  • Truth blaster (01/02/2019, 09:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This law sounds like it came from directly out of chapter one out of white supremacist manual book. I will prove to you that something is diffinately wrong couple of yrs ago maybe late 1800's we where working for free couldn't own anything even or freedom was bound against our will working excessively not being paid abused in every way possible didn't have rights for a passport or citizenship taken away from your family couldn't own land or businesses nothing that will improve one life master raped you wife's and daughters and you couldnt do nothing , your where a slave, fast-forward 2019 I knew something looks familiar everything In BVI laws and society is based on oppression period and that's why its the same results always !!!!!because to these rascist your just a blackslave not a citizen. Oh one more thing who own the land in the vi who can come in and get through tomorrow ? You guys a so lost no wonder you act this way,many books including the bible talks about people who sojourners move from place to place for his will we are not animals to fulfill y'all foolish and pointless desires


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