Three Virgin Islands Party Politicians Recused From Belongership Debate

Three Virgin Islands Party politicians – Premier and Seventh Electoral District Representative Natalio Wheatley, Deputy House Speaker and Education Minister Sharie deCastro – on Monday recused themselves from the Belongership Bill debate in the House of Assembly.

They did not take part in the debate to avoid a claim of conflict of interest because their spouses/significant others were on the list of the 688 persons who were fast tracked to belonger status between 2019 to 2020.

Addtionally, deCastro and Smith were not members of cabinet when the bill was presented.

With just over a week before April 24 – Election Day – the HOA was recalled by Governor John Rankin who questioned the process used by the VIP administration to fast track the group.

In a statement on April 14, the Governor said “after consultation with the Honourable Premier and further discussions yesterday in cabinet, I wish to inform you that I intend to exercise my power under Section 88 of the constitution to recall the House of Assembly. The need for this to happen has arisen from the findings of the audit report on the fastrack residency and belongership programme carried out during 2019 and early 2020 by the then government.”

The governor stressed that the group was granted residency and belonger-ship certificates simultaneously.

 The Immigration and Passport Act explains the road to belongership – a person must be resident in the territory for no less than ten years and must complete a period of 12 months immediately preceding the date of application for belonger status.

The Governor noted that the “audit finds, following advice from the Attorney General that 688 persons were granted belonger status at the time did not meet a particular aspect of the applicable legal requirements.”

Belongers have the right to vote in general elections in the territory.

Recalling the HOA will give people a chance to “read the audit report and its addendum for themselves when they are laid,” Governor Rankin noted.

A total of 16,131 persons have registered to vote in the territory, a 1,093 increase from  2019. Forty-two independent and party candidates are up for election this year.

In response, the Premier and VIP Chairman Wheatley publicly supported the recall of the house “so this matter can be immediately addressed.”

He added: “Cabinet’s approval of those persons was done on the basis of the advice of the attorney general…it appears to be an honest oversight. According to the law they should have been free of immigration status 12 months after getting their residency.”

Advance Polling Day is April 20.