COMMENTARY: Making Virgin Islander Status Meaningless

By Dickson Igwe, Contributor

At the root of the valid concern, Ancestral Virgin Islanders are losing their God given rights, heritage, and status as multigenerational natives, is the fact that the sacred privilege of Virgin Islands citizenship, is automatic, through tenure.

This writer has no issue with a lifelong residency permit. A document cancelled through criminal misconduct or a decision of cabinet and the Governor.

Now, ignoring demographic and social change driven by migration is a serious error of policy.

The UK today is prime example of what can go wrong with migration.

The migration flood into the UK began in the late 1970s.

However, even before that, migration from the Caribbean colonies was required in an expanding UK economy. These new migrants faced racism and prejudice.

Then, over the decades, Caribbean migrants integrated well into UK society both culturally and socially. Later migrants from Asia – especially Pakistan and Afghanistan- not so much.

One popular Virgin Islands commentator stated that there was ‘’ a loss of social cohesion as the authorities continue to invite immigrants who are vastly different from the Virgin Islander.’’ The commentator believed that accumulated years required for residency and ultimately citizenship by migrants was a foolish policy.

Migration policy in the Virgin is thoughtless. It is also ambiguous. There is in essence no real policy. The result, if migration controls are not managed effectively- the UK is a pointer – may well be increasing native anger in the Virgin Islands.

This writer has no problem with a lifelong resident permit for aliens. However, citizenship is a privilege that should be the reserve of ancestral Virgin Islanders and those born in the territory.

That conundrum of offering citizenship to all comers is what is happening in Western Europe. It is generating a great deal of anger among the native population.

Governments push open migration mainly for political reasons: usually votes. The economic argument is hollow. Offer migrants permits to reside and work.

However, citizenship is like offering freehold land rights to someone. The country is never going to get that right back if the migrant behaves badly.

In the Virgin Islands, there is even street talk of citizenship by investment: politicians selling citizenship for filthy lucre. It is as if these people never learn.

However, there are always consequences. In the case of the Virgin Islands, the consequences kicked down the road, will come home in the form of chickens roosting.

Once upon a time holding British Citizenship was a precious privilege. This writer is British like Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch.

He has always cherished this privilege including his St Kitts and Nevis and Virgin Islands Citizenship.

However, the flood of migrants granted citizenship in the UK has watered down the value of this privilege to natives and citizens born in Britain.

That too is happening in the Virgin Islands. Virgin Islanders hold jealously to their status as Native Virgin Islanders and rightly so.

However if every migrant is granted citizenship after a period of tenure, then Virgin Islands status becomes meaningless. No matter the attempts made to offer Ancestral Virgin Islanders special privileges.