ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, October 3rd, 2011 – His Excellency the Governor Mr. Boyd McCleary, CMG, CVO, presented six new citizens with Certificates of British Citizenship at a ceremony held yesterday at Government House.
The new citizens are Carla Tricia Brown, Mavis Louisa Forbes, Gwendolyn Patricia Henry, Margarita Feliciano Ramirez, Patricia Veronica Wharton and Delroy Brandon Alexander Williams.Governor McCleary in his brief remarks congratulated the new citizens on obtaining the new nationality and wished them the best in whichever directions their lives take them.
The Governor told the new citizens, “Our new Ministers in London are keen on ceremonies such as this where people are welcomed into the fold. They are also keen on the Overseas Territories being seen as a broader British family.”
“The British government is keen on strengthening the links between the United Kingdom (UK) and the Overseas Territories. They want to do what they can to help support good governance and best practices in financial management in the Overseas Territories. Additionally, they want to assist where they can in developing local capabilities within the Territories,” the Governor shared.
He added, “You have all made major contributions and have been here for a long time and must regard this as your natural home. I am pleased to welcome you into this family and I am glad to be here today to be a part of this process.”
Registrar-General Mrs. Stephanie Benn who presided over the ceremony 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 to reside in the (UK) and the freedom to travel to the UK for purposes of study, work and leisure without prior permission.
Mrs. Benn also told the citizens they are entitled to, “Freedom of movement, residence and the opportunity to work without a work permit in the European Union, European Economic Area Member States, and the right to vote in the UK providing the normal residence and immigration requirements are met.”
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.
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