CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - FOREIGN nationals residing on Nevis who have school-aged children are once again being urged to get regularized, as their children will not be registered to attend school if their parents’ status is not updated.
This call was made yesterday (Apr. 25) by Premier Mark Brantley at a press conference, where he told reporters that the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) is seeking to ensure that all school-aged children are attending educational institutions across the island, and that parents would not be processed unless their documents are updated.
“You have to ensure that your papers are in order. If you are on a work permit, that your work permit is in order. If you’re on residency, that your residency is in order,” advised Brantley.
Over the last several years, the NIA had taken a stance of leniency when it comes to those foreign nationals, mostly from CARICOM and those from the Dominican Republic, residing on the island but had not regularized their status.
The policy to have children attend school is vastly different, since proper documentation is warranted to show status and guardian care, as Brantley firmly stated, “You will not be able to register your children to go to school.”
“I have always said that this is a government that values the contributions of non-nationals. We are a government that want non-nationals to be here, and want them to be treated fairly and with respect,” the Premier added.
But in order for that to be done, he noted that they must be able to function properly within the confines of the laws of the land.
“Too many continue to flout the law, not get their work permit, not get their residency. And then after two, three, four years of working illegally they start to complain,” lamented Brantley.
Reiterating the challenges that foreign nationals face and the leniency of the NIA, Brantley called on them to understand that the country is one with laws “and if your children need to get into school, we welcome them, but make sure that you as their parents are legally in the country”.
