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