Cabinet approves Belongership for dozens in recent meeting
The Cabinet has approved Belonger status for 75 new individuals in the British Virgin Islands.
According to the decision document from the executive body’s meeting on June 19, the Cabinet approved awarding Belonger status to these individuals based on recommendations from the Board of Immigration.
Twenty-one of the recipients were granted Belonger status through marriage. According to Section 6(6) of the Immigration and Passport Act (Revised), spouses of Belongers become eligible for Belonger status after living with their spouses in the territory for at least five years.
Meanwhile, fifty-four applicants were granted Belonger status after meeting the legal requirements outlined in Section 16(3) of the Immigration and Passport Act (Revised).
Earlier this year, Cabinet officially approved the new Belonger Status and Permanent Residence Policy aimed at addressing critical aspects of immigration. The policy stipulates that individuals must reside in the territory for 20 years before becoming eligible to apply for Belonger status. This policy mirrors a previous, controversial National Democratic Party (NDP) government policy introduced years ago, which was found to be unlawful during the Commission of Inquiry (COI) process.
The policy sets forth guidelines for eligibility for Residence and Belonger Status, criteria for Cabinet’s award of status, and the establishment of quotas, among other provisions. It also outlines the pathway for children to obtain Residence Status and addresses the status of children born in the BVI to non-Belonger parents.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley emphasised at the time that the policy takes a balanced approach toward economic growth, cultural integration, and social stability. He stressed that it acknowledges the contributions of immigrants to the community while also protecting the interests and heritage of Virgin Islanders.
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Please stop it….Stop dis sht of giving away deh country
Don’t they belong to someplace else? STOP SELLING OUT!
They have a privilege to be here and that’s enough.
It’s not becoming, and downright un-Christian for people to spout the vitriolic comments above at new Belongers. They have earned their status in accordance with the law. If you don’t like that, then get elected and change the law, or get those elected by the BVI people to change the law. You have a right to your opinion, which is not shared by most Belongers, but keep your hatred to yourself and go seek forgiveness from the Almighty.
Strm are you still waiting? I wonder why that is.
Xenophobic people of the island need to realize that people with blood ties to the island still can’t get status even though there own sister has Belongers cousins got belongers and are 4th generation. Stop acting like you all got a long bloodline to the island when we all know essentially immigrated to the island from another place. I’m sure I have a bloodline to the island more then a lot of people who have status at birth on the island yet I will always be seen as a outsider.
I think that much more needs to be put into maintaining the VI’s culture and traditions. We are very good at pouring tons of money into the party aspect of it but the traditions of everyday living are quickly eroding.
You do not owe anyone for your status because you have earned it. You do not owe anything to any government except thank you for the Belongership that you earned. These politicians use these things like you owe them and you owe them nothing. Always do what is right for this country.