20-year residency requirement for Belongership eligibility cut in half!
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has announced that, going forward, the Immigration Department will be using the 10-year threshold to grant Belongership status, as outlined in the constitution.
In his update on the Implementation of the Recommendations Of the Commission of Inquiry in the House of Assembly yesterday, Dr Wheatley said the Immigration Department has, “discontinued the use of the previous response given to applicants who did not meet the 20-year requirement”.
“Cabinet committed that from 1st June, 2022, the existing legislation on residency threshold – minimum of 10 years – would be followed pending completion of the above-mentioned review,” Dr Wheatley stated.
“A project commenced on May 29, 2022, to strengthen administrative systems within the Status Unit to be better positioned to process applications. Additionally, the board has been reviewing the processing guidelines. In the coming months, we expect to engage in discussions on the difficult, but the necessary subject of immigration reform,” he added.
The Belongership issue was brought up in the Commission of Inquiry Report where Recommendations B33 advocates a review of the existing policy and processes of granting residency and Belongership status, including the discretion by Cabinet to grant such statuses, and the number of residency years required for Belongership.
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gonna start climbing now!
I am so cross, angry, upset. What about the indigenous Virgin Islanders who can trace their ancestry on both sides? ?? A couple bottles of jack Daniels cant pull me out of this one!
It is unfortunate how because of you all having to compromise due to corruption, you all are been manipulated to give away the country. Rather than resigning and admitting you all did wrong.
Look it up
What’s Belongership? The Immigration Act doesn’t mentioned it. The constitution doesn’t mentioned it? Wa dat.
Fahie was an indigenous Virgin Islander. And where did he leave you? You need to get over your narrow-mind.
This Unity Government is a digrace. This cannot be allowed to happen! Puppets? You guys are idiots and a laughing stock.
Now we indigenous VI vex .We are outnumbered ! Take back we country ! Top jobs for us! Israelites never became Egyptians ! Go back way you come from ! It is a privilege!
Ohhh you here long enough ,you are one of us !
When Dey come , you can’t get dem out!
We preserving our country for our children !
BUT Belonger husband ! Belonger wife ! Belonger daughter in law ! Belonger sister in law , Belonger mother in law ! Belonger father in law ! Belonger nephews and nieces! Belonger cousins ! Belonger friends ! Belonger church friends !
We better learn to exists in peace or our climate would be unhealthy , badmindness and jealousy woukd stress us out and we drop like flies .
That mean 80% of the population is now belonger..
I have no problem with people getting a belonger.. but can the BVI infrastructure acomodate it.This schools already over populated shortage of teachers one hospital not much jobs etcc?? Oversaturation of businesses etc.. There is so much to consider.. when a person is a belonger you now have a obligation to those persons. Just make sure things are in place. This can have major effects.
That mean 80% of the population is now belonger..
I have no problem with people getting a belonger.. but can the BVI infrastructure acomodate it.The schools already over populated shortage of teachers one hospital not much jobs etcc?? Oversaturation of businesses etc.. There is so much to consider.. when a person is a belonger you now have a obligation to those persons. Just make sure things are in place. This can have major effects.
Wait
So after I wait 35 years and had to pay $2000 plus for the fast track, this is what going?
I want my money back. What kind of con man games ayo dealing with?
All them years ayo taking money from me I want a refund.
This is like a slap in the face.
I’d this a mental problem or what or them sucking up to UK.
Them follow UK ruling so rightfully I need to be compensated.
We are fast becoming an endangered species in our own land so let us implement the 7 year rule that was mentioned years ago
This is great news, so long as the relevant civil servants process the applications quickly. It will transform the franchise and allow democracy to happen in the BVI. More taxpayers will get to vote! Fancy, what a novel idea!
Wise up , this statement is political double talk it actually tells you nothing “ the incinerator scrubber is on it’s way” “ the east end sewage project nears completion “ blah blah blah hope is on the horizon bullshi!
BVI is not for sale. BVI is for free.
I bet the slave owners said something similar at emancipation.
The 10-year residency requirement, per the CoI report, has always been there in the statutes. BVI immigration policy was 20 years, and was the basis to invite people to become residents. Belongership 5 years later. So an issue of doing what the law says vs doing what you wanted the law to say.
Por fin tendre oportunidad de desarrolarme despué de 12 años de puro atropellos pero siempre Dios tiene el control de todos y como dice mi padre “Nunca es tarde si la dicha es buena”
Oh, look, now they are going to follow the LAW.
Employers will not have to look for belongers first anymore. Everyone will be a belonger.
This is the exact situation which has you all so backward that Britain’s conclusion is that you be recolonized. Which country on earth takes that long to give any immigration status and here you are talking about giving away the country.
Nothing wasn’t cut in half , the constitution was disregarded by present and past Administrations. All that happens now is the the constitution got to be followed.
but they are going with the law books. laws that fore parents made
the status should have ensured their children are born in the BVI.
Caribbean people use the BVI as a stepping stone, such as they obtain rights here while they get their children in the US which entitled their children to both free education in the BVI and the US.
this new Government is a sell-out to our BVI.
I guess the immigration department will have less work to do in that regard. in fact, they should be a shorter line starting now.
I wonder where the BVI income will come from since this will be a great loss for Government.
money to payout!
Yeo
Austria, Japan, Bermuda to name a few
They lie so much ,it was not cut just so, 10 years was there on thier law books from ever so long, is shame them shame and embarassed that they were force to institute the 10 yrs , this woman took to the street and demonstrated that 10 and 15 yrs is not enough and 20 years is ok , who manages the freaking country is it this mad woman. Or fahie and the rest of his government elective members and what is on the law books , is shame i shame , ,,,,thank god for UK UK UKUK,
Dont be narrow minded ,am not against top jobs for bv islanders,but look and see who is helping to build the country, treat expats like human beings not degrade them , dont treat them like dogs ,because when u all migrate u all am sure get better treatment then here,be honest and speak the truth,,,i feel so much embarassed when am in the bvi than any other country because there is always some bashing and negativity against expat every freaking day ,even on the job ,its not nice ,i would never encouràge anybody to step foot on there, my god lord .
tell them to collect taxes from every working residents here not just expats alone. expats had to prove they are paying dues to labour department. Example is landlord paying income taxes are taxi operators paying the right amount of taxes if they are paying any at all. are the local cleaners cleaning private homes paying taxes? are the bar workers and owners paying taxes? or the right amount. please find out.
But this people who are newly belongers will also be able to build businesses and infrastructure and provide jobs, as doing so without that status has always carried to much remember risk to commit property. Giving people roots allows communities to grow.
Will the new “belongers” be able to vote ?
Yuh too bad mind.
(Now we indigenous VI vex .We are outnumbered ! Take back we country ! Top jobs for us! Israelites never became Egyptians ! Go back way you come from ! It is a privilege!)
You are not indigenous, the original residents all died, we are all Africans/Europeans or from somewhere else.
Stop talking piss, yes you were born here but you are not indigenous.
@Jay, There is also a lot of bashing and negativity against BVI Islander, and you are the ones in our country, this is not a one sided thing.
@Jay, There is also a lot of bashing and negativity against BVI Islander, and you are the ones in our country, this is not a one sided thing.
Go drink some salt water it will send up your BP faster.
No matter where you come from, as long as you are a Black Man. You are an African, if you born in BVI, if you born in USA, if you born in UK and if you born in Russia and long as you Black you are African… Indigenous BVI woman are the Caribs, Arawak and Amerindians. Learn something now…
Finally !! ?
Stop drinking and start reading. First stop: look op the word indigenous.
If you sleep with your siblings you get funny looking babies.
Head Coach was a Taino Indian?
Or was he Karib?
All this time I thought his ancestors came over from Africa in the slavery days and now you all telling me he was a real live indian?
I never knew so much a these black folk who say they indigenous is actual Native American Indians.
Anyhow, I am a true blood Martian, son of the red planet soil, and we better than ayo. We out of this world, dawg.
You just racist. Read your Bible about loving your neighbor as yourself and then note that everyone is your neighbor. Then STFU.
just how they implement the recent shipping registry rule that was there just how the implement the visas for certain countries to be up to date even if you living here it still have to be renewed just how they implement the good standing certificate requirement. I guess you only want them to implement that goes in your favor and against expats.
They are already here, what difference will it make? The parents are working and the children are in school, is just that they will be getting residence.
The country has offically been sold out. End of story. Can I do this in other countries in the region? I’ll give it a try.
Respect for everyone love for everyone ❤️???
The day I took all you had to offer and left from among you prejudiced bigotted inbreds was the best thing I ever did. I had been warned to leave that place if I was to realise my true potential but sturbbornly for years I stayed becaused I loved a place which didnt love me because I happened to be born somewhere else. To this day I say thank God!
If S P**e can thief from the Government and still hold a job with the said Government tell me what else should be expected from this Government because they are the ones encouraging rong !!!!!!!!!
More & More
I cry shame shame
The earth belongs to God and every thing in it. How can we say we are BVI LOVE and we fill to over flow with hate. Jesus oh Jesus have mercy.
Cease from the ignorance and rage
Heaven has no chamber’s label
FROM HERE.
Give ceasar the things that belong to ceasar
See the picture before your eyes.
Why do left your comfortable gold Bvi and rush to born your babies in America soil. WHY
Who ran you out. Why do you nest with us and marry us.
Turn at your desk who do you see.
You came from riding donkey .push back sea water ect
We worked pay taxes .labor imigration.
We sopport you all big time rent the apt..
Work as slave
The best that ring from your mouth Get Out not from here stupz
Huns you must pass some day ,out place in a box and Face God He will judge you for hating us.
We love you and thank you for nesting with us
Someone needs to pay for all the pain , suffering and insult we the Public got from immigration who either didn’t know, wasn’t told or Ignored the constitution. Even to the fast Track all those application with 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 yrs that was returned for not enough yrs using the 20 yrs policy clearly in contradiction and against the laws of the VI. Again. Who is going to pay for the pain suffering and insults. Hope we find a brave lawyer out there to advocate law suits against the govt / immigration Dept. We just can’t let these things slide, to add I know people here for forty yrs, no criminal record but can’t get their belongers…the injustice.
I often wonder if these Caribbean Leaders who always quick to defend this place know how evil and hateful this place is. Hope they come out and condemn this long, long wilful unjust, criminal action by the BVI govt against Xpats
I warned many of you, in power, years ago to get this Belongership ” thing”, correct!
Instead, many of you, refused to follow the letter to the law. Many of you, refused, to allow the Constitution, and subsequent laws, – to define the rights of indigenous Virgin Islanders, and the preferred rights to ownership of land, employment, and the likes.
Today, we are now where our existence as a people could be erased in twenty years, because those of you in power, having spouses born ELSEWHERE,REFUSED to create laws to protect INDIGENOUS rights should they ever became under threat.
And now, they are at threat.
We are, as a people, in rough times ahead..
Perhaps, now is the time indigenous Belongers to start vetting land sales; to make sure land is sold only to Belongers.
We must, for the sake of our existence, start to rethink and regroup!
local law!! hahahaha stup… they cant control the country but abuse people yes