Belonger status has been dealt with hatefully, immaturely — Premier
The territory’s discussions on immigration issues should take a more mature course, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has suggested.
The Premier was at the time responding to questions from the media about recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report in relation to residency and Belonger status.
Calling it a “hot one“, Dr Wheatley recommended that persons read the section of the COI report on Belongership issues.
And while arguing that the issues of Belongership and residency status in the territory had been dealt with hatefully and immaturely in the past, Dr Wheatley said recommendations from the report suggesting that Belongership should be granted in accordance with the law, were part of the proposal sent by his government to the United Kingdom (UK).
“The report speaks to having a review and of course, that review will inform our policies and any amendments to the law,“ Premier Wheatley stated.
Open and transparent dialogue needed
Premier Wheatley said immigration issues have been something that persons are very passionate about in the BVI, adding that it has been an issue that leads to quite a bit of discord and disharmony in the community.
“We have to approach this situation, first of all, with a great deal of maturity. I think when we discuss the issues, that as we have in the past, we’ve done so in a very immature way in my view and in some instances in a hateful way,“ the Premier said.
Premier Wheatley said he was calling for an open and transparent dialogue on immigration issues in the community.
“Not one where one group is attacking another group, but let’s look at what’s in the best interest of the Virgin Islands and the Virgin Islands moving forward for generations to come,” he added.
The Premier noted that the COI report has brought much information to the forefront and said persons have been able to see what has been taking place by reading it.
“We want to continue to build our society to be a place that’s inclusive, but also that’s a place that of course where we preserve our history, our tradition, our culture, where we are able to provide opportunities for all,” he stated.
The Premier said he believes this could be done with persons who have come from all over the world while ensuring that those persons in the BVI don’t feel forgotten, lost, and as if they are disappearing.
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now. For the last 40 years Immigration drove away many potential good honest hard working persons who would have been an asset to the BVI. They settled down elsewhere and most will never come back here. Some visit on their private yachts or planes but will never invest in the BVI because of the toxic unpredictable business climate that discriminates against foreigners.
I think it is fair to say that foreigners discriminate against BVI belongers as well. This is especially prevalent in the workplace where many are managers or befriend the business owners.
It is very sad and unrealistic for foreigners to make it seem like they are the only culprits in certain situations. In fact, I say BVI belongers have more love and respect for foreigners than they do for their own fellowmen.
13 years here owning and building businesses, told I need a new permit because I’m away now to handle other obligations… BVI don’t love money not at all just pride
And your time starts again at 0 years…
Yup
People come here to live, work, raise a family and contribute to the betterment of the BVI. Yet we look upon them as outsiders with toxic mentality poisoned by a hatred and racism.
Then we separate our own citizens into a caste system. Allowing some to vote while others are pushed “to the back of the bus.” There is no equality of peoples in the BVI. Some are just more equal than others.
Maybe when the UK takes us over, we will experience a freedom of the citizenry – something everyone can enjoy
How would/will UK take over help the greater good of Black Virgin Islanders and their future generations? Please explain.
Ok…
The BVI claims to be part of the British commonwealth, comprised of over 50 former British territories. As part of such organization, they respect the equalities given to EVERY citizen within the commonwealth. As such, a person may travel from say, Australia, and reside in the U.K. with full voting rights. Therefore, a fully represented citizen.
This is not the case in the BVI. In fact, even black BVI born residents are not assumed to have belongership at birth. And therefore no voting rights.
So yes, U.K. take over would allow for EQUAL representation for everyone. Even the Queen has demanded it and my rule by Royal edict.
May your god of choice save the Queen
Let us go based on evidence not on what the Queen wants to do. Also, read the history on truly how much power the queen really has. There is major discrimination in the royal family, what makes you think they care much more for others?
puked again jim.
Thats a crock of s**t Jim.
Go look at Martinique….then you will see how its done.
@Jim and others who think like you, you said:
“People come here to live, work, raise a family and contribute to the betterment of the BVI. Yet we look upon them as outsiders with toxic mentality poisoned by a hatred and racism”
First of all who IS the “WE” YOU are talking about? I have heard the same sentiments in other countries when it comes to immigrants. But here in the virgin islands everytime peopke migrate here fir what ever reason they want 50% of what the vi-islanders have as soon as they clear immigration and Customs. Ill just rest this here.
All of You sat and watch this fast track s**t got out of control. Come to think of it! Was $ exchange or what?
This is exactly how your party ran its last campaign Sir. You have amnesia again?
The bxourgeoning prison population of imm grants and or their children,the FSn participants decline in quality of life and education speaks to the failure of immigration and its impact on a once quality BVI.Quality not quantity should be the guideline.
Can you confirm that you have now started following the law?
2016 to now
dem said residency/belonger given.
it part of de problem too
hmmmmmmm
Bvi Islanders have treat people with work permit and belonger status with hatred far too long. It is very sickening and no different from how the whites treat slaves. Some of these people are not nice. Trust me on that. Them is some users and abusers of good people. I will never step foot in bvi again. I leave you all to God and the UK.
And I hope whatever god you pray to hears you.
I said the same thing when I visited there several times . The people are hateful, wicked , and back word esp the to the “ island people “ as they called others . BVI is where? U have sewage water lining the streets like asphalt . It’s expensive and lack of so many modern infrastructure. The people most of all I didn’t like they believed they live at heaven gate . N their country is a pile of filth like Pocwood pond or where ever the dump is . I find a handful there that is ok they was from the other islands that lived there for yearsss . I will never return I will tell people not to go there. And if I do return I will come back here n share that experience again.
At wicked people yow et al… Not all bvi belongers dislike expats and vice-versa. Get real. God riddance, you will not be missed.
At wicked people yow et al… Not all bvi belongers dislike expats and vice-versa. Get real. God riddance, you will not be missed.
I have lived on this island for almost 23 years, I am with my husband for 21 years, and we have been married for 10 years with a person who has his bvi document. We have 4 children born here, 18, 17, 8, 9 years old, I have no residency and neither beloger and immigration does not allow my husband to give me status here. this is a clear abuse of hatred towards the immigrant.
Sad to hear but if you have been married for 5years or more they are obligated by law to give you Belongers by marriage. you need to apply, let them deny in writing, and file a complaint to the Governor. The law is the law they have to follow
I like how you state your children were “born here”. That is a term BVI belongers are criticized for using, but it is not the BVI belongers who use it. I hear it all the time being used by expats, then they claim that it is the locals who use it. But if its a true term, I don’t understand why people get so wired when it is used. LOL
You know very well that not all “born here” are considered “bahn hay.”
It is a terminology used here so to get the meaning across, it is used to convey the BVI meaning. Daaaaaa
They are probably aware that some people are only getting married for the status. Some have good patience and leave their spouses the day after it is granted. Hear jokes!
This happens all over the world, sorry to say but BVI status don’t do much for the everyday black man.
The same law that says you qualify after 10 years but they don’t even accept an application till 20? Clearly they don’t feel obligated under any laws so stop the noise.
The truth is that they would never reply
thats a dam shame…sounds like you staying in a place you not wanted or respected… I would leave if I were you.
Leave her husband and children? Foolishness
You are a second class citizen. Fact.
It is a caste system designed to only allow belongership to a select few to control votes and keep parties in power.
@anonimo. You need to read and understand the the immigration laws of the virgin islands and the Constitution.If you need help call me.
2022 and it have individuals that Born in the BVI and can’t get a passport up to this day
knows why, for he can see what’s in their heart and their long range, 50, 100, 200 year plan.
Look the VIP have a first lady from St. Vincent now after making all kind of noise about Myron wife being a Vincy. LOL. The VIP ain’t doing good this season at all. LOL LOL
There are many reasons for a more respectful approach to residency and belonger status. I have always held that if a person is just stopping by they never feel any attachment. When it is too difficult to buy a house; then sell a house; find a good job; feel accepted, that person becomes a “user” with no invested interest in the country. They work; send $ home and dream of the home they will build and go back to..These people could be investing further in the BVI and this could be home.I believe many of the social problems would be addressed if people felt a connection and belonging to the BVI and hope that the new procedures will give security and hope to more people.
I doubt that. Some people send home their money and find themselves by FSN getting food for themselves.
Love your level of reasoning. Social cohesion is important for every country, however it is not seen openly in BVI, this can be for lots of reasons. A, lack of inclusion to participate. I hear a lady told a school child that culture day is not for his culture only for BVI. Just this one incident send a strong message for the lack of inclusion. Another, is the holiday celebration, should this include on BVI people, or all people who live and work here. How might you include them?
When a person is not include to participate, they spend their dollars where they are wanted, people who are included feel a sense of purpose. Consequently, there are many Caribbean associations of the islands who are helpful in grafting their people into inclusion, one such is the fun raising activities that reels in 10k and more. This I believed where all person benefited when it comes to including foreigners in sharing your culture, norms, and more.
About two months ago Natalio was on the “I hate expats and the UK bandwagon” and now all of a sudden we have to be reasonable.
Natalio Two Face Wheatley.
Why would he hate expats? he is married to aone. You people would sling mud at others all day and the things you blogg do not make sense.
Love So is not always Have So. Racists can marry outside their racial group.
These people need to be vetted first before belonger status is granted and it their names should be advertised so in case there is an objection.
They are already vetted, and you don’t get to “object” to someone getting Belongership because you personally dislike them.
Sit down did the USA vetted your old a** before they give you there passport and they USA Dollars you’re collecting there taxes every year ? think about that now
I like how you state your children were “born here”. That is a term BVI belongers are criticized for using, but it is not the BVI belongers who use it. I hear it all the time being used by expats, then they claim that it is the locals who use it. But if its a true term, I don’t understand why people get so wired when it is used. LOL
YOU STILL TRYING TO DECIEVE PEOPLE ( EXAMPLE ) IN THE LAST ELECTION A POLITICIAN WAS TOLD TO GO BACK TO ANTIGUA , EVEN THOUGH HE BORN HERE , BUT JUST BECAUSE HIS PARENTS ARE FROM ANTIGUA / SOME OF YOU ARE TOO EVIL MINDED / WHICH IS AN INSULT TO THOSE WHO ARE REALLY NICE AND GENUINELY FRIENDLY AND LOVING PEOPLE WITH INTEGRITY , YOU AND THOSE LIKE ARE BAD APPLES , GO BACK IN YOUR HOLE
please Minister of immigration take a bill before cabinet and change the law that states 10 yrs for belonger status. Make the law to suit the policy that says 20 yrs.How on God’s earth you can have a law that states 10 yrs?? This was some seriously sick minds that make that law.A small county like this cannot give away belonger status to people that live here only for ten yrs.this is ridiculous. this is what the indigenous people of the bvi should March for and I would join any March and protest to repeal that law.wake up Virgin Islanders before its to late.if this have to happen you will not find one indigenous bvi lander in 10 yrs.mark my words.I am an expatriate and it seems to me that we expatriate are bent on taking over this small island from its owners the generous indigenous people of the bvi.and yes I said generous because they have accepted us for so many yrs that we now think that this island is what our parents and foreparents fought for .Even the politicians not even putting up a fight for their own people. what a shame. this is not America Jack.this is a tiny dot on the map.the politicians are allowing expatriate to take over this island one way or the other.the bvi landers are not flocking to the other islands. when we arrive here we are so humble and pretend to be so nice and within a few months we find all kind of faults about the country and its people. why are we trying to take these people land .why do we want everything to work to suit we expatriate needs?? why??.This place cannot house the world.It is just to small .when these lands are sold to the highest bidder it is not coming back to its rightful owners.the owners of these beautiful islands are the ones that fought to be free and also fought to have these Islands from generation to generation. we expatriate wants every laws and policy to suit our needs. my gosh man give the people room to breathe. It’s their parents and foreparents that fought for islands it wasn’t ours. find out where your parents and foreparents fought for and claim it you have that right. I would march with any bvi lander to change that stupid law about getting belonger status in 10 yrs.this County was doing very well before we arrive by plane load.we have this mentality as expatriate that if we move away the country would not do well.well let me tell you the proof the bvi has been doing well before we came and they would still continue to do well when we are gone.i would agree to have people go through the proper process of getting their belonger status and the 20 yrs that the policy stated but how could you as the expatriate community really think to yourselves that belonger status should be given to you in 10 yrs??? Most of the other Caribbean Islands got independence because the governments and its people fought for it.now we coming here telling these generous people how to run their affairs. wow.If this unity government cannot change that law they surely need to be remove.bvi landers would not go your countries and tell your government how to run there affairs. so why we come here and demanding that things should be done to suit us? We expatriate don’t have a dawn say in how the affairs of our country is being run.all the say we have is at the ballot box and most of the times we still leave the same governments that we say all sorts of things about some true some not so true. look at the great America that believe that they are the brightest people on earth but still voted in one of the dumbest man on earth.lets do our 20 yrs and then apply for the belonger status if we are qualified. check out how Bermuda gives out there belonger status and then come attack this post.check what cayman did to protect its own people. unity government if you can’t do something for your own people we would show you at the ballot box .we expatriate want it all for ourselves. why?is it because the indigenous people are so quiet and humble?? this belonger status going to wake them up .watch and listen.
U are saying trash
THEY SO DISLIKE THE BVI AND ITS LAWS SO JUST LEAVE GO AMERICA IS AS SIMPLE AS THAT..IS EITHER YOU ABIDE BY THE COUNTRIES RULE OR DO BETTER!!
WE LOVE EXPATS AND OUR CARIBBEAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS.. BUT WHY YOU GUYS WANT BELONGER SO BAD?? MAKE YOUR MONEY WORK HARD AND GO BACK HOME. THE BVI JUST CAN’T AFFORD THE INFLUX OF PEOPLE IS SIMPLE ITS JUST TOO SMALL..
“We love you but get out of our country?”
Do these fools even listen to themselves?
We can love you from afar. What is the problem with you guys that you don’t want your country with its overflowing natural resources and you are not fully welcomed or wanted in any and all countries… is it a curse of a demonic nature from which you suffer. Make your country a place worth living in and resist from transporting your cursedness where no one wants or should want your disruptive ungrateful covetous and muderous presence.
go your duttminded self back to the US where u were born.
Fair enough you should want to preserve what you see as your land as yours. But, if the BVIs truly wanted that, then there needs to be investment in education as well as vocational schools. You will need to generate laborers, carpenters, plumbers, masons, electricians and so forth for all the construction necessary to build the place back, all of which will require people to show up to do a full day’s work for a full day’s wages. You will also need a government that is up to stamping down on the easy money to be earned from transferring Colombian parcels.
But if you can’t provide your own skilled laborers, and need to import them, then go Bermuda way. Work permits last 7 years and are non-renewable. Make it crystal clear.
BTW: there are no indigenous people left in the Caribbean. They were wiped out in the 16th century by diseases imported by Europeans.
@please. Many will be mad at your truthful comment out of IGNORANCE.
You need at least 40-45 thousand people living on the island for commerce to thrive and flourish .
Some people are so hateful they cannot see past their big toe .
Yes you did not want a down island First Lady , More glass ceilings to be broken . God do not like injustice . The barriers are breaking one fence at a time and evil Is exposed one jail cell at a time . The results of consistent . Wickedness in high places .
The next one to get big exposure are those involved in human trafficking. Bringing in young ladies to perform at the bars , etc clubs. Know what is happening, but looking the other way . You see what happened at Port Royal , Pompeii … We did not learn from Irma …
“You need at least 40-45 thousand people living on the island for commerce to thrive and flourish ”
yea I dont want to this place to turn into a inner city rubbish bin. People come here to the enjoy the low population, no crowds and very safe environment.
A lot of these people are running from crime infested places and im not talking about big time cocaine im talking about getting robbed or assaulted on your way home or in your own home.
We can love you from afar. What is the problem with you guys that you don’t want your country with its overflowing natural resources and you are not fully welcomed or wanted in any and all countries… is it a curse of a demonic nature from which you suffer. Make your country a place worth living in and resist from transporting your cursedness where no one wants or should want your disruptive ungrateful covetous and muderous presence.
It’s about a very small number of people wanting to have cake and eat it. We want the global economy – tourists, financial services, immigrant labour – but we don’t want what it means, which is people who are not in our family or friend circle. We are insecure. We are itching to be offended and oppressed by anything or anyone because we are just a small group of people and the pool of us not big enough to throw up eg the kind of skills required to compete against outsiders in businesses or finance. So we complain they are discriminating against us and taking over. So we prefer to grow badly, corruptly, make stupid decisions because at least it’s we made them. Problem is, to outsiders this desperation to control makes us look exactly how we don’t want – like a small, stupid territory. Wish we could just aim for the betterment of the BVI and all who live here, instead of putting insider/outsider, white/black front and center of everything we do.
So…. as a Belonger you are entitled automatically to British Citizenship. You also get visa free entry to the USVI. All of this without visiting, paying taxes in or appreciating those countries….
But someone moves to the BVI, jumps through all the hoops and paperwork and downright rude ‘officials’ year after year after year to work and PAY TAXES in an enviroment that is hostile to foreigners AT BEST and all because they love this country and people and you have a problem with that?
Entitled much? SMH, go check yourselves
Governments had many opportunities to “FIX” Immigration but failed to do so. Size the time.
The whole thing need to be changed.
1. A person in the BVI on work permit should not be eligible for Belonger Status.
2. On work permit after X years can be eligible for residency.
3.Persons who have been given Belonger Status should show every year that they are gainfully employed. Because a lot of persons given Belonger Status – go out and hustle and are not gainfully employed. They don’t apply for trade licenses, nor pay tax, SSB, nor NHI; but when they die the GOVERMENT is responsible.
4. The Immigration and Labour Dept need to have task force teams that are able to enforce the laws.
5. A person (even if the have Belonger Status) once they are convicted of a crime (no matter the crime) they should be deported.
6. The laws of this land must be to benefit the people of this country.
See I told y’all how arrogant the people of the BVI is .. see this is a perfect example.
Well said Mr, Premier, you will be ridiculed and dragged through the mud, but hold on the your principles, You lead, debate and apply best practices for the peoples of this territory.
The vast majority of BVi do not like foreigners, they tolerate Americans because they are spending their money. I have spent 30 years here and I have never requested nor filed for belonger status and have been married for 2 decades. I have longed told myself, that no place on earth is preferred over my land of birth. For decades, I have known that the Immigration Act states, that an outsider joined in marriage to a native is a Belonger. Hatred for others is a demonic heart problem, which have no place in God’s kingdom, so I work, support my family and keep love in my heart for all peoples.
For decades, I have known that the Immigration Act states, that an outsider joined in marriage to a native is a Belonger”.
The immigration act does not say that.