Belongership applications increase as gov’t halts unlawful policy
There has been an increase in applications for belongership status in the BVI in the last few months.
This increase follows the Dr Natalio Wheatley administration’s commitment to do away with what the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report described as an unlawful policy requiring 20 years of residency before an application for belongership could be lodged. As part of a series of reforms mandated in the COI report, the government pledged to follow the existing legislation on the ‘residency threshold’, which is a minimum of 10 years.
But according to Governor John Rankin, this surge in applications has created some challenges for the government as it executes the COI reforms.
He said: “I am aware that a number of individuals have experienced difficulties with applications made since June, including not being given receipts for submission. I have raised this with the Premier as the Minister responsible for Immigration. I understand that the increase in the number of applications received in the period under review has posed some challenges for the Immigration Department.”
“Nevertheless, it is important that the government fully implements its commitment to follow existing legislation on the residency threshold, and to accept and process applications on that basis, pending completion of the review under COI Implementation B33, [which is for a review to be done on the existing belongership policy]. I am not currently fully satisfied that this is happening. I will continue to monitor this issue over the coming months,” Rankin added.
The Governor gave that indication on Tuesday in his first quarterly review of the ‘Framework for Implementation of the Recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry Report and Other Reforms’.
This review has been sent to ministers in the UK for consideration. He promised to hold a press conference once he receives their response.
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I could fully understand the rationale behind the 20 years requirement. We are a small island with very limited resources 10 years is too low given the aforementioned.
If the legislation requires 10 years, then there should be an amendment to the labour laws that requires expats to leave after 5 years (similar to Guernsey, Cayman, etc.)
I am not bashing anyone and I am also prepared for numerous dislikes, but we simply do not have the resources for expats to become belongers after 10 years.
This is what the UK wanted all along. I am sure a lot of those people are UK nationals. If we don’t wake up we will lose our country. Stop being stupid and sucking up everything these UK people saying. They have a record of deceitful and treachery that goes back 400 years. BVI people wake the hell up!
Given the possibility of an election and the effects of many new voters it isn’t difficult to understand the foot-dragging of the the locals. One solution is to postpone the election until such time as the processes within Immigration, Labour, etc., have been streamlined and all employees and the Minister are cooperating fully.
What do you mean by resources? they been here contributing to the economy for at least 10 years, so there won’t be a sudden demand for salt fish that the island can’t cop with.
Thousands of BVIslanders have emigrated. Immigrants from elsewhere filled the labour shortage.
Allow them to become belongers if qualified under the LAW and end the discriminatory policies.
Simple.
Some comments above give the impression that immigrants to the BVI have come to “steal” Nature’s Little Secret.
We need an urgent time limit for immigrants coming into this country…Too much poor people coming in and running down this country….STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT
WE NEED A GOVERNMENT WHO IS GOING TO LOOK OUT AND PROTECT THE INDIGENOUS…..GET RID OF THE UNITY GOVERNMENT
Go and google it….
I’m sure u are just looking at the black expats and not the white ones..we know u bvi islanders love y’all white expats
Indigenous ? Who exactly are they?
But they mean the ones from “down island” not the white ones from uk. The ones from down island can’t even afford land and living here for years but the white ones coming and buying y’all land up and own some of the biggest business.
Well said.
Our own lice does bite the hardest.
Salt island Tainos you mean? Cause can’t be full negros you calling indigenous…I thought those people were extinct like some history books put it but here they are and they don’t seem to be given the shine they deserve.. Elevate the Tainos!… Give them a bigger say in their Islands!
What are you talking about? The country is small, yes, but you still no have proper vocational training, the college is in poor shape, there are no programs to train people for any kind of services here. With no expats this country will fall to pieces in a matter of weeks. We all need to be on the same team, after 10 years living here, what more do you need to show your intention of wanting to make this place home?
And how is your previous premier doing? Yeah exactly, sit down and keep mouth closed. Locals have exploited the other islanders for years. Half ayo ‘locals’ are bahn in USVI or PR, you won’t have any true locals left…from your own doing.
And how is your previous premier doing? Yeah exactly, sit down and keep mouth closed. Locals have exploited the other islanders for years. Half ayo ‘locals’ are bahn in USVI or PR, you won’t have any true locals left…from your own actions.
So because thousands have emigrated does that mean government should not have laws in place for those that remain and for those who want to return home?
None of the comments above assumes that expats came to steal but I would give you an example of how things are changing for the next generation.
The cost of land has skyrocketed in recently years with the average young person cannot afford to buy land; the market clearly isn’t catering for locals. Look at how our cultural landscape is changing, etc.
The government has an obligation to safeguard the future of every BVIslander and the next generation of BVIslanders.
Hon Dr. Wheatley: Please change the laws to secure the future for every BVIslander. SET A TIME LIMIT ON WORK PERMITS AND LEAVE THE LAW AS IS. Please liaise with the Labour Minister in Cayman for a comparative review.
I am sick of the foolishness.
This is such a silly thing to say. Where is the proof of that?
If you want to know how the former Premier is doing why don’t you call him and ask him.
Our point remains the same term limit on work permits. PERIOD
If you don’t like it you have the option to leave.
What you talking about?
All the Carib and Taino Indians long gone.
Seems to be exposing themselves more these days also showing the world that in this 21st century after all our ancestors endured from the white racist , now they are proudly showing the black version of racism ( hello , we all came and meet this land and we all are going and leave it ) regardless of color, so let us all live in peace and love for eachother . respect the law wherever you are .AMEN
If this is the case i need to get my monies back from immigration department for the extra 20 years they have been charging me (30yrs total), and still
didn’t get it.It was only until the fast track which i now see was a con. Plus i also require my addition $2,000 fee they charged me for the fast track. Seeing that it was their fault at not recognizing 10 years.
Why should i have had to follow their rules just to get F&*% in the end.
My financial situation would have been way better off.
And by governments own admission that the policy was unlawful, i shall be seeking legal advice and taking them to court under the watchful eye of the UK.
Please do help persons to understand the requirement. What is now being applied is that after 10 years persons are now eligible to apply for residency status. This is not the same as Belonger status so if the law says that one can apply for Belonger status after 10 years then this is not happening. Persons are now applying for residency status. This is what has increased. Persons are told that after having residency status for one year then one becomes eligible to apply for Belonger status. What is the law with regard to residency status and Belonger status?
Someone told me that they are only applying for status to stop paying for a work permit until they are ready to go back home. once they finish building and get their business set up back home. the status can kiss their a..
I hope you get through. This wicked place use us expats until they done with us,send us back home. But we there islands dynamics must change in time,even there so called BVI Islanders are slowly losing there origins and the expats will soon have the generational rites they trying to wickedly keep. They can have u.s and british status but you that came and worked and contributed for over 10 years must not have any BVI or British status but stay and help their economy grow and help NHI and social security. Wicked place and wicked policies…..
If that was the case I wouldn’t mind Education would thrive and the economy.
The prison would be empty.A cleaner safer environment .. . Minus the treacherous bikes,loud music ..all in all a better quality of life.
Most important…property value would rise.
Hey @indigenious we not gone because im a Carib man that born in Tortola to Vincentian perants
Please Father let this be true.
They , in general?, have been the pox on the Vi and their gratitude us nil. Their country won’t thrive whether they are there or not. A cursed set.
Please Father let this be true.
They,in general, have been the pox on the Vi and their gratitude is nil. Their country won’t thrive whether they are there or not. A cursed set.
Menial laborers are in abundance worldwide. A choice to choose the updeislun set was most out of pity and kinship of sort.
And incest will continue . The skill labour will be gone , your apartments will be empty, your houses will be more filthy .stop you racist backside . Black raceism is the worst of all
You are obviously far gone. Try doing some research for yourself and not following hearsay. There are Carib and Taino communities in several Caribbean Islands. There are sites on the internet where you can learn their language and culture. A remnant of our ancestors are alive and well they were not all murdered by the European Savages.
The ministers who should be enforcing the law railroading the immigration department and looking out for their friends. How can things change. We need several rounds of COI in this place.
So you want the rich and mighty alone to come here? Well then if that’s what you want then you better start to take leaning classes.
If yourforefathers the idegenous you talking about and present day too had born all their kids right here expats would not have outnumbered the locals
Some of us boycotted fahies fast track belongership pay as you go non sense. It’s not fair that all of a sudden you might get your status after 10 years while some have been patiently waiting and doing the right thing for 20+ years
@Tru
1.I’ve seen a few instances where white expats spearheaded beach cleanups.
2. I’ve never seen an article where white expats attacked women here with machettes.
3. After hurricane Irma, I saw white expats on on the streets offering soup to families with children. It was not an urgent need for my family at the time, so I declined and thanked them.
May the Lord Jah bless and keep you from poisonous thoughts.
Elections have absolutely nothing to do with immigration and the Belonger process, so why should the election be postponed. I registered to vote in February, and I cannot be the voting card yet because the PRINTING MACHINE BROKE DOWN. Really, now that is a more valid reason to postpone the election. I wonder who much hundred thousand dollars a printing machine cost.
Labour need to ask for good understanding from the banks and not just social security and nhi for renewal of work permits.
Wo4k permits should have a limitation like cayman Islands.
We need to look at professions like teachers, nurses, doctors that the bvi is in need of to allow 10 year residency versus giving everyone residency.
Everyone and them granny is a lawyer, going police and immigration force.
Government need to honor the scholarships for the youths. Train your people like other countries do. Invest in your people such as education. They have no trust in your governing abilities.
Education and health of a country reflects its wealth.
Labour need to ask for good understanding from the banks and not just social security and nhi for renewal of work permits.
Work permits should have a limitation like cayman Islands.
We need to look at professions like teachers, nurses, doctors that the bvi is in need of to allow 10 year residency versus giving everyone residency.
Everyone and them granny is a lawyer, going police and immigration force.
Government need to honor the scholarships for the youths. Train your people like other countries do. Invest in your people such as education. They have no trust in your governing abilities.
Education and health of a country reflects its wealth.
Locals be smart stop selling your land. That same land will be sold for twice as much in 5-10 years once brought by someone else.
I have no issue personally with the 20yr threshold, but understand that it wasn’t actually the law and that obviously is an issue which needs to be rectified. However, rectification could mean amendment to the Act (but processing applications received prior to the amendment). It does not necessarily mean following existing law without the ability to change it going forward, unless that’s what Govt. wants.
@Lodger – They are the ones with the US passports!
What “resources” would these newfound belongers be using up that they weren’t already using as expats? These people are already here consuming FOOD, CLOTHING and PAYING RENT and BILLS, which they would continue to do as belongers. The only difference is that you would no longer be able to treat them like second class citizens. That’s your real concern. Might as well admit it.
You’ve already “lost your country” through … corruption, racism and greed.
As a BVIslander I believe it should be 20 minimum. We are already a minority. It’s disgusting what they are trying to do to the BVI. We need to stand up for our rights.
I applied twice…I need my application(s) honored..If this is happening..I’m in.
That should make some of you all happy because you all don’t want them to stay here anyway.
Indigenous? The only thing truly Indigenous to the BVI are the native animals living on the island.