VI Gov’t 'failing to apply 10-year requirement for residency law'- Gov Rankin
The Governor was speaking during a press conference on June 9, 2023, to update the public on his Third Quarterly Review on the Implementation of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Report Recommendations.
2,226 backlog applications pending
“As I previously made clear, we need to deal with the continued backlog of applications for Residency and Belonger status which as at 1st June was reported to stand at 2,226 applications. I recognise that this is a sensitive area, but we need to resolve the applications of those who have been lawfully living and contributing in the BVI for many years and who are entitled under the law to receive status,” Governor Rankin stated.
According to him, he is; however, pleased to report in his Review that the Premier has committed to an early action plan to clear the backlog.
Mr Rankin also said the Premier also made a request for technical assistance in that area.
“My team, together with the Deputy Governor’s Office have been in discussion with Immigration on this matter and I made a number of recommendations to the Premier and the sort of steps that might be taken…its entirely a paper-based system, for example, it should be digitised going forward.
Only one official dealing with applications!- Governor
It was also highlighted that one of the bottlenecks was due to just about one official handling the applications.
“We still have a system whereby we effectively have only one official dealing with all these applications, so we can put in more staff to deal with the applications.
“And then we might have to consider how many of the individuals who applied need to be interviewed, some of them who may not qualify could simply have a decision made, they don’t meet the requirements, and maybe others who clearly qualify and actually don’t need to be substantively interviewed, so we would need to review those cases where there is doubt and further information is needed.
“So those are the sorts of areas in which we could speed up the process and get these applications moving more quickly.”
Governor Rankin said, ultimately the granting of the residency and belonger status is a matter for Cabinet decision but that decision-making capacity or part of government is constrained by what the law provides and what the relevant guidelines are in this area.
The Governor said it was stated in the COI Report that it is 10 years of residency to be considered rather than the 20 years that was being applied, “and in the Framework Agreement the Government committed to the application of that 10-year” requirement.
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52 Responses to “VI Gov’t 'failing to apply 10-year requirement for residency law'- Gov Rankin”
.Where other Immigration officers are telling the applicants go straight to Ms. Clyne.. They are still inside unhappiness and fighting, some want to do what the Governor wants and some wants to do what the Premier wants, The Premier on the Governor isn't on tbe same page on this Issue..
Hire more staff
Have shifts if needed
you all are nothing but paper Tiger. Hunting Dogs with no Teeth
The interviews gives points as to why they should be granted
Ppl living and don’t even know anything about the territory
They applying only to evade paying permits
They don’t even know a thing but living here for number or years
But the screening of the applications can cut down significantly the amount of applications inside make it faster process for those that may qualify
Moreover, I’m not averse to people seeking naturalization. . Nevertheless, the VI is a small locale and cannot mimick the same immigration policies as big countries, ie, US, UK, etc. Incidentally, the UK does not have automatic birthright citizenship, ie, jus soli. Further, in the VI given its small size, naturalization should be a deliberative, targeted, planned process. Moreover, rapid naturalization could have adverse social impacts. Moreover, the Governor represents the interest of the Crown , not the interest of the BVI people. He is appointed by the crown and the BVI populace had no say in his appointment. Immigration and citizenship should be a local government issue but it seems like the governor is putting his thumb on the scale, using his massive unilateral power to demand outcomes under the Coi. . The Governor will not have to live with outcome he is driving , for at the end of his term he is going to wing it back to the UK, unless he chose to reside in the BVI like other Brits. Government needs to fairly and equitably manage the immigration process that is in the best long term interest of the BVI. Government in managing the immigration and naturalization process by aligning conflicting policies.
a set of people coming VI telling Us what we should do but have no say where them from
this little place; folks run leaving their big homelands up in here looking refuge
Maybe being attached to the UK, even as it falls apart, is better than being alone economically and owned by cartels, China, India or whichever else wants us for an easy snack.
Aint no one outlined a viable independence model yet. We get that it is a desirable, natural part of decolonizing our islands and our minds. But when we've done it, and we wake up in actual poverty, and/or fear, we may wish we had stayed with the old idiots in London. That's the sad state of where we're at.
The VIs are small and we are now seeing the impact that our population explosion due to economics is having. It doesn't bode well for the future and the maintenance of a comfortable lifestyle. We are experiencing , relative to earlier years, high rate of crime, slums, homelessness, dependence on government, deterioration of infrastructure, strain on NHI and education system...and the list goes on.
Both of my parents worked next door on 29 days (they understood 'you are not entitled'). When that was done...out you go. Sorry, we have to preserve the VIs for our people, whether for those residing presently or for those who desire to return. And please don't say they don't contribute.
Government, you know your options...and they don't include 10 years! May God be praised!
A native Virgin Islander to the Nth generation
Many of you, full well knew, that soo many Outsiders, did not qualify for Belongership, but was granted, based on who they dated, or was distantly related to, or was gainfully employed by!
Now the shoe is on the other foot, where everyone else must now get status, and many of y'all mad?
What's good for the goose, is good for the gander!!
I say, give out the Belongership statuses- all two thousand and so, ALL AT ONCE!!
NOW, is the time!
Let them those application sit there and catch dust!
CHANGE THE DAMN REQUIREMENTS.....
Moreover, colonialism as espoused by the dishonest colonialists as a civilizing mission was/is a myth. The reality, the truth is, colonialism is a stronger power dominating a weaker force, exploiting their land, labour and resources. This exploitation enriched the colonialists and robbed and impoverished the colonized, grabbing their land, labour, and resources, and depriving them of basic human rights, culture, religion, livelihoods, way of life, etc, enforcing their way of life on the colonized, treating them as a permanent underclass, inferior specie. The colonialists see themselves as superior to the colonized and see the colonized having no rights, privileges, power, etc, that they are obligated and should recognized, being atop the racial and social acceptability ladder. The colonialists see it as the White Man’s burden conquer and colonized foreign lands and exploit them of their land , labour resources, enriching their homeland and individuals. Rudyard Kipling captures the White Man’ s burden myth in his 1899 poem,”The White Man’s Burden.”
Moreover, many may say, Manjack, that was history and now water under bridge and time to move on so I get what I get. Really, can we truly say that colonialism is history and was flung on the down heap. It does not appear so to me. To me we cannot move forward into the future without reflecting on the present and the past. It was Shakespeare who in Tempest says “ What is past is prologue. Further, the British Empire may be residing in the annals of history but colonialism lives on in the last remnants of the Empire in the OTs. Despite the post WWII urging of the UN on colonial powers, including the UK, to help non-self governing territories achieve a full measure of self-governing, it is still a work in progress. The weak attempts by the UK for the VI and other OTs still have many democratic deficiencies with the UK representatives still wields unilateral power. This unilateral power is evident in the VI. On the recommendation of a lone, personal handpicked commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom, inns CoI Gov John Rankin is pressuring the local government to move full speed ahead with alacrity with the recommendations without any further analysis to determine if the recommendations are in the best long-term interest of the territory. He is using an Order in Council decision to suspend the constitution which is being held abeyance, holding over the head of the BVI and people like the Sword of Damocles, along with his inherent unilateral power to drive things whether they are in the best interest of the territory or not, flexing his muscles. He is encroaching into areas that are under the purview of the local government.
The sad thing is that too many Virgin Islanders have been conditioned to believe that the colonialists knows what is best for them..They set aside what is in their best interest for what the colonialists wants. They ignore the positions of their own for Massa’s. This altruistic attitude and behavior may not be in the best interest of the territory.,It is as if the VI people suffers from Stockholm Holm Syndrome, ie, they are conditioned to take on the position of the captors. The BVI people better awake from their slumber or become strangers in their homelands.
That's the problem right there! Share the toy with your friend. 'Be fair!' The child already knows from past experiences that his/her toy will be no more... (You know how many years our people worked on 29 days?)
May the our Lord God lead us!
A native Virgin Islander to the Nth generation
Change the law there after to 20 years
Give permits to 5 years after that exit a year and come back if u choose
No more renewing of permits if u resided over 5/8 years u must exit for 12 months