Citizens will now have an opportunity to have their say on the government’s regularisation initiative in the coming weeks
Premier Andrew Fahie’s government has suspended the second and third readings of a bill entitled the Immigration and Passport (Amendment) Act 2019 that was intended to amend the existing immigration laws of the territory to facilitate the grant of permanent residency and Belongership status to qualified expatriates and other long-term residents of the British Virgin Islands.
“I do not intend to run the country in a dictatorial manner.”
Andrew Fahie, British Virgin Islands’ Premier
Following an anti-regularisation protest that was held outside the House of Assembly in Tortola on Friday, Premier Fahie conceded that due to highly sensitive nature of the issue, more input from the general public was needed. Representatives of the campaigners expressed their pleasure with the outcome and confirmed that they are committed to working with the government to find a balance that is in the best interest of the territory.
