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Gov’t to regularise status of EC occupants in VI - Premier tell OECS
Hon Fahie, who attended the special OECS meeting from March 14 to 16, 2019—that saw the formal accession of Guadeloupe to Associate Membership—further said that the Virgin Islands (VI) cherishes its relationship with the OECS over the years, and as such, “The deep bonds of friendship and familial ties which exist between our people provides the solid foundation for collaboration through the OECS system.”
Residency Status
According to Premier Fahie, “On taking office two weeks ago, one of the first decisions my government has taken is to set up a committee to urgently look into the status situation of thousands of people, most of them from the Eastern Caribbean, particularly St Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica, who have made the BVI home.”
He says many of these people whom he considered friends and neighbours have lived and worked in the BVI more than a decade, even starting families, “Yet they have no official status.”
“My government believes that it is an economic and moral imperative that we fix this situation and afford residency and more permanent status arrangements for the many families who have been kept in limbo and forced to live a life of uncertainty all these years,” he assured the regional heads gathered at the meeting.
He says the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government, “Will regularize for persons such as the St Lucian restaurant attendant, at one of the places I eat regularly in Road Town, who came to help her aunt in her store as a 16-year-old out of school, nearly 20 years ago,” having children all born in the BVI, yet she nor her offspring have official status.
Regional Integration
According to Premier Fahie, the OECS stands as a beacon in the regional integration movement, and leads the way in showing the rest of the region the value of co-operation.
“This Virgin Island Party government is fully committed to this integration process, understanding that our similar histories and our shared aspirations bind us together inseparably. It is significant that my first address to this body is here today, as we welcome Guadeloupe as an Associate member.
Further, he says the relationship with the OECS in many areas of co-operation such as education, health, disaster management and the administration of justice is highly valued.
“In moments of challenge, such as that experienced following the devastating hurricanes of September 2017, you came to our aid and have helped the BVI to restore our lives and economy.”
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13 Responses to “Gov’t to regularise status of EC occupants in VI - Premier tell OECS ”
Also Fahie must be careful about what he is out there promising.