Local News
Cabinet Approves Belonger Status and Permanent Residence Policy
10-Year Requirement For Residence Status And Additional 10 Years For Belonger Status
Cabinet of the Virgin Islands has approved the Belonger Status and Permanent Residence Policy in a move aimed at addressing immigration concerns.
This policy tackles aspects of immigration, including eligibility criteria, guidelines for awarding status, quotas, and pathways for children born in the BVI to non-belonger parents. Premier and Minister responsible for Immigration Honourable Dr. Natalio Wheatley underscored the policy’s focus on striking a balance between growth, integration, and stability. He emphasized that while recognising immigrants’ contributions, the policy also safeguards the interests and heritage of Virgin Islanders.
Under the new policy, applicants must have been ordinarily resident in the Territory for a minimum of 10 years to be eligible to apply for Permanent Residence. Additionally, applicants seeking Belonger Status by tenure must have been ordinarily resident for at least 20 years while holding a Certificate of Residence Status for a minimum of ten years.
The rationale behind the 10-year requirement for Residence Status and an additional 10 years for Belonger Status is deeply rooted in the territory’s values of cultural assimilation and economic contribution. This phased approach allows individuals ample time to integrate, contribute to, and understand the Virgin Islands community, ensuring that residents and Belongers are deeply invested in the territory’s culture, history, and customs.
“The new Immigration Policy proposes planning and decision-making processes that will inform the sustainable management of statuses granted,” Premier Wheatley stated. The approval followed careful analysis, considering factors such as labor market needs, population density, and investment fostering, to ensure balanced growth.
Importantly, tenure alone is not sufficient to determine eligibility for Permanent Residence or Belonger Status. The character and skills of an applicant, among other factors, must also be considered in the decision-making process.
Residents awarded Residence Status will need to renew their certificates every five years, ensuring ongoing compliance with local laws and regulations. This renewal process allows the Board of Immigration to monitor residents’ adherence to legal standards, assess their integration and contribution to the community, and evaluate their progress towards meeting the criteria for Belonger Status.
This strategic approach aligns with the government’s commitment to enhance administrative policies and procedures, as Acting Permanent Secretary Mr. Joseph Smith Abbott highlighted. Extensive public consultations, integral to the policy formulation, reflect the government’s dedication to governance, aligning with the Public Service Transformation Plan.
“This policy marks a significant step forward in our journey towards development and prosperity for all in the Virgin Islands,” Mr. Smith Abbott remarked.
The policy is now accessible on the Government of the Virgin Islands’ website, and further discussions will be held on the “Table Talk” program. This milestone underscores the government’s commitment to fostering progress through policies and programs.
Soaring electricity bills, rising fuel prices and increasing import costs are placing growing pressure on households and businesses across the British Virgin Islands, prompting Claude Skelton Cline to warn during his Honestly Speaking radio program on May 19 that the territory should prepare for more difficult economic conditions and consider whether emergency measures may be needed to ease the burden.
Speaking on ZBVI Radio, Skelton Cline said the territory was entering a period of prolonged financial strain and urged residents, businesses and government officials to plan accordingly.
“The most dangerous position to be in right now is to be unprepared,” Skelton Cline said. “This thing is only going to intensify.”
Skelton Cline said higher utility costs were affecting nearly every sector of the economy, from households struggling to pay monthly bills to businesses facing decisions about staffing and operating expenses.
“These monthly utility bills are so exorbitant,” he said. “There is a domino effect of whether you can keep the same amount of staff.”
He questioned whether the government should consider using reserve funds and other measures to help stabilize fuel prices and provide relief to consumers.
“At what point does any of that trigger that creates a national state of emergency in this country?” Skelton Cline asked.
Skelton Cline noted that the territory has reserve funds and argued that policymakers should examine whether some of those resources could be used to reduce the impact of rising costs.
“There’s no reason why we should not be locking in fuel prices,” he said.
In addition to government action, Skelton Cline encouraged residents to take practical steps to reduce household expenses, including limiting electricity use and unplugging appliances when not in use.
“There are some things that are beyond our control, but there are some things that are within our control,” he said. “We must control those things.”
Skelton Cline said the British Virgin Islands had navigated difficult economic periods before and urged residents not to lose confidence.
“We cannot surrender to our frustration,” he said. “We cannot surrender to our cynicism and our skepticism.”
His comments come as consumers and business owners continue to face higher costs for electricity, fuel and imported goods, increasing concerns about the broader impact on employment, household budgets and the territory’s economy.
The Virgin Islands Icon Awards has announced 64 nominees across 13 categories for its 2026 ceremony, recognizing individuals and organizations for contributions in fields including sports, entrepreneurship, media, music, agriculture and public service, founder and executive producer Kareem Nelson Hull said.
The Virgin Islands Icon Awards was established to recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the social, cultural and economic development of the Territory.
The Ministry of Health and Social Development is monitoring an outbreak of hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius that has resulted in several confirmed cases and three deaths, but Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley, Minister for Health and Social Development, and Dr. Ronald Georges, Chief Medical Officer, said Monday that the risk to the Virgin Islands remains low.
The ministry said the reported cases involve passengers and crew aboard the Dutch expedition vessel, which was operating outside the Caribbean region. Health officials said there is no evidence of any cases in the Virgin Islands or elsewhere in the Caribbean.
Honourable Wheatley said the ministry is working with regional and international partners, including the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), to monitor the situation and strengthen surveillance systems.
“At this time, the risk to the Caribbean, including the Virgin Islands, is considered low,” Dr. Georges said. “We are utilizing enhanced surveillance systems and maintaining routine port health inspections and preparedness protocols to ensure the continued protection of public health.”
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially serious disease that is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, urine or saliva. Human-to-human transmission is extremely uncommon.
The ministry said the rodent species typically associated with the virus are not commonly found in Caribbean environments, further reducing the likelihood of local transmission.
Residents are advised to avoid contact with rodents and areas where they may be present, safely clean and disinfect areas contaminated by rodent waste, maintain proper sanitation and waste disposal, and seek medical attention if they experience symptoms such as fever or respiratory distress.
Early symptoms of hantavirus can resemble the flu but may progress to more serious respiratory complications if not treated promptly.
“We will continue to work closely with regional and international partners to ensure that any potential risks are identified early and managed effectively,” Dr. Georges said. “Protecting the health and safety of our residents remains our top priority.”
The Ministry of Health and Social Development said it will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.
Rising Costs Will Intensify, Skelton Cline Warns as He Suggests Emergency Measures
Coronavirus disease 2019
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