Report on Belongership & Residency tabled in HOA
The issue of Belongership and Residency has been of particular interest to Governor John J. Rankin, CMG, who in April had already expressed dissatisfaction with what he said was the delay in the processing of applications for residency and belongership.
Premier and Minister responsible for Immigration, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) said during the Continuation of the Third Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly that the recommendations within the Commission of Inquiry’s Independent Reviewer’s Report on Belongership and Residency in the Virgin Islands offers a distinct opportunity in shaping the trajectory of progress in the Territory.
Premier Wheatley noted that, “The recommendations of this review have now been presented to us, and I wish to emphasise that this presents us with a unique opportunity; an opportunity to shape the future of our beloved British Virgin Islands in a manner that is firmly grounded in respect for the law and recognition of the privilege granted to individuals who wish to make these beautiful Virgin Islands their home.”
Changes must reflect evolving needs & aspirations of the people’- Premier
The Premier also stated that the independent reviewer's report will function as the basis for proposals and recommendations that will inform the necessary amendments to legislation, and the formulation of relevant policies.
“We understand that these changes must reflect the evolving needs and aspirations of our people and the challenges we face as a society.”
The report emphasises the need for considerations within the following areas for the creation of a more effective immigration policy: Economic needs; social and cultural impact; security concerns; legal framework; capacity and resources; political considerations; and international relations. Essentially emphasizing the focus, which must be paramount for the Virgin Islands to meet its Sustainable Development goals and needs in the interest of its people.
The independent report also highlights the significance of addressing pervasive issues surrounding immigration.
The report, which was prepared by Reviewer Mr Kedrick E. Malone, can be accessed on the Government’s official website.
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21 Responses to “Report on Belongership & Residency tabled in HOA”
...and this propaganda speech
(I agree we are losing our culture but that’s because we as parents are so busy making ends meet that we aren’t taking the time to teach our children our culture. We give them an electronic device or turn on the tv to keep them occupied and out of our way. What do we expect will happen? The music we allow them to listen to, the access to YouTube and what it exposes them to with no supervision, is what’s steering us and our children in the wrong direction. We have lost the pride we used to have long ago. It was beautiful back in the day. )
You are not a VI blogger...but nice try!
1. Who would say that our population count has remained the same for many years? The last census report was completed in 2010 and each day you see a new face in the land.
2. If you are stating that our home is not in order, what is wrong with this statement? (Residency and belonged status should be halted until we get our house in order.)
How are we going to allow all that you have mentioned when we cannot get our Labour Code in order? Over 60% of the population are on work permits or exempted. We are not rotating our sending away the labour force and many of these individuals are staying indefinitely.
We are a small dot on the map with little resources and all if not most of our labour force's countries are far larger in land mass and resources than these Virgin Islands. There could only be one reason why these individuals are sticking around so long...'because the grass looks much greener on their Neighbour's lawn and our gate is wide open with little restrictions!'