In the first naturalisation ceremony under the new government, 80 people received naturalisation certificates on Tuesday at the Government House.
They can now register as British overseas territory citizens.
During the event, the recipients recited the oath of allegiance to the queen as well as a pledge of loyalty to the Virgin Islands, according to Government Information Services.
“Today is your day, marking a key milestone in your quest for British citizenship,” said Governor Gus Jaspert, who officiated. “Many of you will have harboured this ambition for years. I hope and imagine that all of you are feeling a sense of fulfilment and satisfaction in attaining this citizenship status, conferring as it does the right to carry a BVI passport and to register as a British citizen for a full British passport.”
Commitment
Mr. Jaspert also stressed the importance of maintaining a strong commitment to the territory.
“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 community,” he said.
Premier Andrew Fahie also addressed the recipients, stressing the importance of unity to the development of the VI and the wider Caribbean.
“I want to reiterate that unity is strength, and I am a firm believer that the Caribbean has not reached its full potential as yet because we do not understand that our strength is in each other,” he said. “I am predicting that the Caribbean will be one of the greatest little nations in the coming future when we learn that we have more things in common than what we have in terms of our differences.”
The event was chaired by Registrar General Stephanie Benn, who urged the recipients to take good care of their certificates since replacements are not easy to obtain.
The laws
Naturalisation is a process under the British Nationality Act of 1981 and the VI’s 2007 Constitution by which people can become VI citizens. Naturalised citizens also become British overseas territory citizens, and as such they may obtain a VI passport and are eligible for a United States visa waiver.
They can also register and vote in elections in the VI and apply to register as a British citizen of the UK.
NEWLY NATURALISED CITIZENS
Lilian Agnes Alphonso
Lucianne Roseanne Jackson-Alexander
Gracia Glencia Strough-Ashton
Donna Dolores Catherine August
Elvin Herbert August
Susan Anuradha Augustine
Junior Javier Rodriguez Baez
Julian Barry
Renda Isola Bolus
Desrie Montgomery Butler
Dawn Maureen Livingston-Brewley
Belford Gillet Charles
Kaleigh Janine Fleuella Chinnery
John Cohen
Johniese Cohen
Cricelda Mejia Creque
Sonia June Marie Dennis
Johanna Emilia Baret De Diaz
Maria Anita Drigo
Mary Rose-Marie Dublin
Jordaris Maireli Richards Ferreras
Keisha Alicia Lewis-Flax
Ted Francis
Tracy Francis- Smith
Dexter D. G. Frederick
La Verne C. Roberts-Frederick
Denise Glasgow Frett
Godfrey Mathias Gabriel
Yahaira Richards Garcia
Sarah Valya George
Kevin Danion Gill
Manichand Girwar
Marcia Patricia Charles-Green
Michelle Sheri Henriques
Lydia Henry
Celine Nellie Hodge
Suzette Daphine Morgan-Hodge
Dawn Theona Alexander-Joseph
Sebastien Joseph
Ryan James Joseph
Savitri Lake
Casadena Natasha Wilkes-Lettsome
Patricia Boneta Lettsome
Reuben White Liburd
Karen Mary London
Santiago Enmanuel Thomas Luis
Bernard Anthony Marie
Lenus Stephen Martin Matthews
Shernette Antoinette Dougan-Matthias
Noida Lee Meade
Gail Joseph-Mercer
Ezequiel Hubert Wells Molina
Claudia Garrone Nibbs
Augustina Thelma Paul
Lucian Sharon Mae Jules-Paul
Glendon Augustus Peters
Josefa Aleyda Ceballos De Potter
Yenny Maria Flores Powell
Elizabeth Ramgobin
Sewh Ramgobin
Lindbergh Leon Royer
Gregoria Pena Martinez-Samuel
Heida Fiana Marlita Joyles-Selwood
Albertina Septus
Carlton Adolphus Simon
Cherry-Ann L.C. George-Smith
Kenesha Latoya Thomas-Smith
Michael Andre Smith
Kathia Patricia Gonzalez Steer
Sharon Verona Reid-Stevens
Sonia Cynthia Duporte-Stevens
Hannif Leroy Sutherland
Roman Telemaque
Shamoy Trevon Thompson
Mithcah Rissah Diana Vaughns
Kingsley O’Brian Wallace
Mildred Winter
Compton Arthur Wintz
Denise George Wintz
Dwight Martino Williams