The government of the British Virgin Islands has pledged to regularise expatriates who are eligible to benefit from residency status in the territory.
Premier Andrew Fahie has noted that there are thousands of persons who have lived and worked in the British Virgin Islands for more than 15 years and who have met every criteria for residency but whose applications have not been processed. In part to satisfy an election campaign promise made by the now-ruling Virgin Islands Party, the government will prioritise the issue of regularising the position of these persons in recognition of the benefit they bring to the economy of the British Virgin Islands.
Premier Fahie stated that the issue was both of an urgent economic and a moral issue. The position of expatriates’ children who often were born in the territory was also of concern. Not having proper immigration status for large portions of the population has impeded the jurisdiction’s opportunity for growth and limited its ability to access the necessary human resource potential to redevelop the islands after the devastation that was caused to the islands’ infrastructure and economy during the 2017 hurricane season.
The government has proposed the regularisation of those expatriates that meet the necessary criteria via an amnesty. Premier Fahie noted that failure to do so has created an underclass and discouraged local investment, issues that have a negative impact on the broader society.
A special committee will be established in due course to fulfil the mandate.
