ROADTOWN Tortola,BVI, July 14th, 2011 -Thirty-eight persons received certificates of naturalisation as British Overseas Territory Citizens and five were registered as British Citizens at a joint Naturalisation and British Citizenship ceremony held today at Government House.
Putting to use her new protocol training, Registrar-General Mrs. Stephanie Benn spruced up the ceremony by adding a musical prelude and having the national anthem performed live.
His Excellency the Governor Mr. Boyd McCleary, CMG, CVO delivering brief remarks at the ceremony after he distributed the certificates and congratulated the recipients shared, “It gives me a great deal of personal satisfaction to be part of an event where you are all committing yourselves loyally to new ties, which will stay with you for the rest of your lives.”
“As upright citizens you will need little reminding of the absolute prerogative to maintain cohesion in our society and the role that each one of us can play and the contribution we can make. A society which does not share essential values and allegiances will suffer,” His Excellency said.
He added, “All of you will of course already have demonstrated a commitment to the British Virgin Islands over many years in diverse and varied fields of activity, reflecting the BVI’s own rich and developing economy.
But it would be wrong to let this occasion pass without me encouraging you to maintain that commitment and, not lose sight of the responsibilities we all share not merely to our families but to the wider interests of society.”
Mrs. Stephanie Benn chaired the ceremony and in her remarks said, “Today you would become citizens of the Virgin Islands and United Kingdom and would be entitled to enjoy the constitutional rights that come with citizenship.
The disappointments and obstacles that you might have faced are all behind you. Your fears of the future only exist in your mind and your ability to be creative.”She said, “I hope that you are truly committed to giving back, being faithful and making a significant difference in the lives of your neighbours and communities. Our democracy depends on an engaged citizenry—people like you.
It is purely not enough to pay taxes and vote. Now more than ever, we need your most precious commodity, your time. Join your neighbourhood association, a civic organisation, PTA and/or tutor a child. Just simply get involved and continue to make these Virgin Islands a place to call home and be proud of.”
Following the presentation of certificates, the new citizens took an Oath of allegiance to the Queen and Pledge of Loyalty to the Virgin Islands. The event was witnessed by Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s Office, Mr. David Archer, Chairman of the Board of Immigration, Pastor Michael Anthony, Senior Officers in the Civil Registry and Passport Office and family and well wishers of the recipients.
Naturalisation is a process under the British Nationality Act of 1981 and the Virgin Islands Constitution Order of 2007 by which persons can become citizens of the Virgin Islands while as a result of the British Overseas Territories (BOT) 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 United Kingdom Government’s 1999 White Paper entitled Partnership for Progress and Prosperity, which outlined UK policy in respect of the overseas territories.
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