Roadtown, Tortola - Four persons were registered as British citizens yesterday at a ceremony presided over by Registrar-General Mrs. Stephanie Benn at the Governor’s Office Conference Room.
Governor David Peary, in his brief remarks, congratulated the new citizens and told them by reaching and obtaining British Citizenship they have exercised the right they enjoy today as British Overseas Territories Citizens under the 2002 legislation.
Mr. Peary said, “Though a right, it is nonetheless an important decision you have taken to seek British Citizenship by registration, and it is proper that the fulfilment of that process should be marked in a formal way. The process, and the ceremony at the end of it, is a matter to which United Kingdom (UK) ministers attach great importance.”
“British law now requires that those who acquire British nationality in this way must not only demonstrate a commitment to the United Kingdom, but also a basic knowledge of its history, institutions and language. In respect of British Overseas Territories Citizens we take this as an indication of the special links, historic and current, between the British Virgin Islands and Britain,” Governor Peary added.
The Registrar General also expressed her congratulations to the new citizens and explained some of the rights and privileges they are entitled to as British citizens, such as the right of abode in the UK and not being subject to immigration control and can therefore travel to the UK for purposes of study, work and leisure without prior permission.
The newly registered citizens were naturalised as British Overseas Territories (BOT) citizens. Following their registration, they are now eligible to apply for a United Kingdom passport, which allows them to enjoy the rights of residence and employment across the European Union, and entry into the United States of America under the Visa-Waiver Programme.
As a result of the British Overseas Territories Act of 2002, British citizenship was extended to all BOT citizens. Persons naturalised as BOT citizens following the enactment of the Act on May 21, 2002, do not automatically become British citizens but are eligible to register as British citizens.
The extension of British citizenship to BOT citizens was part of the UK Government’s 1999 White Paper entitled Partnership for Progress and Prosperity, which outlined UK policy in respect of the overseas territories.
British Virgin Islands News