Public should see new Belonger and Residency policy, says Rankin
Former governor John Rankin said the government must show the public findings that emerged from consultations on the recently completed review on residence and Belonger status.
In his fifth quarterly report released earlier this month, Rankin said some positive steps in key policy areas emerged from the government’s reform efforts.
He highlighted these areas as social assistance, Crown land policy and residence and Belonger status policy.
“I have been advised that the findings of these consultations will be published. It is vital that the public can see how their views have been listened to,” the former governor wrote.
Rankin said he commended Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley in his fourth quarterly review for his action plan to deal with outstanding applications for residence and Belonger status.
However, he noted that although the Immigration Board has been reconstituted, the Immigration Department is some way off meeting the Premier’s target of processing one hundred applications per week.
Rankin departed the territory last week following a controversial move to seek greater powers from the UK to help implement Commission of Inquiry (COI) recommendations, which he said the government needed to be faster in advancing.
Both the government and the former governor missed several deadlines in implementing reforms emerging from the COI, however, the Premier accused Rankin of peddling half-truths after he requested additional powers.
Based on the agreement between the BVI Government and the UK, Rankin said several COI recommendations should have been completed by now.
He said these included but were not limited to passing legislation with recommendations of the review into the practice of lawmakers contracting with the government, an education grants policy, an audit of contracts over $100,000, statutory boards policy, a Public Service Management Act, a review of criminal procedure rules, and Integrity in Public Life and Whistleblower laws.
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We want a law not a policy
7 years max and you have to leave then reapply.
THEY HAVE A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE AND THATS ENOUGH…NOBODY IS CHASING THEM
DO NOT GIVE OUT ANY BELONGERSHIPS BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY BELONGERS TO SOME OTHER PLACE
But you produce child in St Thomas and beg for US passport
Citizens who own Business owners are the ones to decide this. Not the ordinary or jobless persons.
Why waste time and show the NEW belongership policy to the public?
This whole deal is such a joke. It is just more torment for us workers of the BVI. We have to document EVERYTHING over and over. Even when you been here 20 years they need an ‘Original copy of your Birth Certificate’ (during that 20 years there was Irma that blow all my stuff away).
Never Mind that the Government was given this nonsense for my work permit, AND for my Non-Belonger Land Holder License…No, we need it all again, and again, and again (suck teeth) and please get it notarized!
But you all want the same Caribbean brothers and sisters to go and march against the Governor.
I am so happy the average BVI ISLANDER DO NOT THINK LIKE THAT . STOP CREATING DIVISION IN THE COUNTRY.
100 applications a week. Good Lord. RIP to the Virgin Islands
The US isn’t even close to a 60% immigrant workforce. Many people born here want to leave and go live in the US. I believe it is time to give people who’ve been on the island for years. Helped build or maybe run a business on the island literally should receive belongers. Or even if you just have been working here 10 plus years maybe that should qualify you for Belongers. I definitely think blood should qualify you as well.
NO MORE BELONGERSHIPS BECAUSE WE ARE ALREADY OUTNUMBERED….ENUFF IS ENOUGH
We’ll say, when would it stop. People go back to you all country. Pack up the Georgie bundle and move on. Stop taking the stress.