‘We need immigration reform’- Claude O. Skelton-Cline
According to the former Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority, “immigration is probably the singular most important challenge globally and the Virgin Islands (VI) is not exempt.”
The man of the cloth cautioned those, who he believes is stoking a fire that is destructive and not in the best interest of the VI.
He recounted how his grandfather, on his mother’s side, and other Virgin Islanders traveled throughout the Caribbean region, including the Dominican Republic and Cuba, in search of work so as to support their families.
The immigration debate has seen many expressing the feeling, the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) do not treat either locals or persons from the Caribbean Islands, fairly.
The debate heated up recently, when the Dr D. Orlando Smith led Administration, lobbied for and got granted, visa free access to the Territory for Chinese but has maintained the requirement for four Caribbean nations, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Guyana.
Treat Immigrants right
Mr Skelton-Cline noted during his show that, “we are and have been, for the last 30 years, at a place here in the VI where we have become a destination for our regional neighbors and expatriates to work and support their respective families in their place of birth.”
The radio commentator said, “…we should therefore be sensitive and acknowledge the legitimate concerns and fears of those who have laboured and lived among us as well as those for whom their fore-parents called these VI, the land of their birth.”
The former Second District Candidate with the NDP added also that, “Comprehensive Immigration Reform must begin with affirming the dignity of each person…we are all apart of God’s human family, we share a common ancestral history as persons of the African diaspora….whether you are officially or unofficially classified as indigenous, resident, be-longer, expat, local or VIslander, we must live together as our sisters and brothers keeper.”
He said “...we must re-imagine an Immigration Policy that represents the ‘melting-pot’ that we have become.”
Each category of persons needs to know in Law what their status is, and the responsibility and rewards of each.
Each category of persons needs to have some semblance of security in Law and their status not be left, up to the whimsicality of some government of the day.
Each category of persons concerns and fears, need to be acknowledged and reconciled in Law, the Pastor stated on the show—his guest at the time, Police Commissioner, Michael B. Matthews.
NDP immigration record
The NDP has long been accused of running a divisive government, opening the red carpet for European and American visitors to live and work, while discriminating against locals and Caribbean nationals.
They have also made it harder for persons to become permanent resident, amending the residency requirements to 20 years, when under the Virgin Islands Party (VIP), it was 10 years. Caribbean residents are most affected.
The NDP is also accused of granting ‘Belonger’ status, to 'lots' of persons ahead of an election, in order to have more persons vote for the party.
There was in fact, a proposal from the Dr Smith Administration, for him to have the power to grant ‘Belonger’ status, without having to go through the Immigration Board, according to information obtained by our newsroom.
Under the NDP, they have doubled fees for Work Permits, visas and immigration services, mostly affecting persons from the Caribbean region.
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19 Responses to “‘We need immigration reform’- Claude O. Skelton-Cline”
The BVIs is too small to have open borders that this man is calling for.
Where in the world are countries relaxing immigration policies?
Fix the broken system to better track those who are in the country illegally, without work permit,
etc.. and educate immigration officers how to do t background research before allowing individuals into the territory.
@game changer: that statement is a lie straight from hell, incorrect and you need to educate yourself on the law regarding those children and stop spreading dangerous unfounded information. I'm one of those children born here to expat parents and I have all documents to live here in the Virgin Islands without immigration control. Just stop now.
REALLY!!??. I beg to differ..."re-imagine "or re-examine? There needs to be an immigration policy that protect the people and Territory of the Virgin Islands and enforce it.
The whole darn world is a melting pot and a Ghetto.
The whole world is a melting pot and a Ghetto. Overpopulation of an area can make a place look like a dump.