‘I was not born here’- Chief Immigration Officer Ritter-Freeman
Mrs Ritter-Freeman, who was appointed to act in the post of Chief Immigration Officer last year, was at the time answering questions about the statistics of Virgin Islanders verses non-nationals on ZROD 103.7 FM.
‘Not born here’-Ritter-Freeman
When asked about the number of expats in the Virgin Islands as opposed to locals she said you always hear about the number 60-40 meaning 60% expats and 40% locals “someone like myself, I have Belonger status, I was not born in the Virgin Islands, therefore I will be lumped into the pool of an expat, as opposed to someone who born here….but I will like to think of myself as a BVIslander…”
Mrs Ritter-Freeman has acquired her Belonger status from her parents, however, the officer who is at the helm of advising the Premier on immigration polices did not disclose where she was born.
Meanwhile, the Acting Chief Immigration Officer sought to clarify that when persons visit the Territory they can get up to a six months stay in keeping with other Caribbean Community countries, however, this is not automatic.
You can get 6 months but….
She said “when you come to the ports of entry you are given one month but you can get up to six months through the Processing Unit at the Immigration Department, so it’s still akin to what’s happening in the region…”
Mrs Ritter-Freeman also explained the conditional permit. This is where persons who have been working in the Virgin Islands (VI) for over 5 years and have lost their jobs can remain in the VI and seek new employment or change jobs after paying a fee of $250.00 for a conditional permit, but is given 90 days to find a new job.
However, if the 90 days has expired and persons did not find new employment then they have to leave the Territory, according to Ritter-Freeman. “Once that 90 days expired again your entry permit becomes null and void so you need to leave the Territory, until you get another employment opportunity.”
The Immigration Department falls under the Premier’s Office and Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) is the Minister of Immigration.
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44 Responses to “‘I was not born here’- Chief Immigration Officer Ritter-Freeman”
If her roots - grandparents are from BVI, she is a BVIslander. I also noted she said that she got her rights from her parents.
I was born here, daughter was born in Puerto Rico (Medical reasons) and she is a BVI Islander not a belonger, because has my rights.
So Geraldine have me 'confused" about her statement.
That is not totally so. She needs to speak the truth here on this.
You will never see this in no other country. These political appointments by this NDP administration is total rubbish. We have qualified BVIslanders who are prepared in this field for this job.
The Premier needs to be fired for such a sleepy move!
This is really total CRAP!
She needs to be removed from that job....!! Hill still have to sort out everything for that dept and FSC and others. Don't know why NDP treating this young man like a dog...
Let us start with the Miss BVI show?