For years here in the Virgin Islands, there has been a conversation by so many people in regards to children being born in this territory to expatriate parents and about the length of time that so many expatriates have been here without getting belonger status. So while this conversation continues I will list a number of rights and privileges to add to this conversation. Let me start with rights.
Everyone has a right to make an honest living.
Everyone has a right to qualify themselves for the job that they would like to do.
Everyone has the right to the best medical care.
Everyone has the right to want to improve their living condition, and if this requires relocating to another country or territory they have the right to seek the opportunity to do so.
Everyone has the right to respect the laws of the country or territory in which they live.
Every expatriate in this territory has the right to be treated with respect and dignity once they are legally admitted to visit or to work.
Every expatriate has the right to respect the culture of the place in which they choose to live.
Every employer has the right and moral obligation to employ belongers.
Every employer has the right to hire the best-qualified person.
Every citizen has the right to vote.
Everyone has the right to free speech.
Everyone has the right to their opinion.
Everyone have the right to legal representation.
Everyone has the right to a decent place to live.
Expats’ children
Our politicians have a right to make clear the law as it pertains to children born to expatriates.
No expatriate has the right to permanent residence or belonger status based solely on the length of time they have been here on a work permit or otherwise, and politicians have the right to make this perfectly clear.
Every employee has the right to practise the proper work ethic and give their employer their best.
Every employee has the right to prove that they are worth more than they are being paid.
Every employer has the right to expect employees to produce.
Every Virgin Islander has the right to be respected in their territory.
Every Virgin Islander has the right to act in a manner in which they are able to earn respect.
People who have no idea what they are speaking about have the right to keep their mouth closed and the right to listen and learn.
The minister responsible for immigration, through the chief immigration officer, has the right to inform applicants when their applications are denied and have them leave the territory rather than having people live in hope year after year for years.
Those are some rights.
‘Global village’
Finally, there are those of us who can remember when the Virgin Islands was isolated from the rest of the world. Yet we were able to take care of ourselves and families and were still able and willing to welcome strangers with open arms.
Today we have seen the world evolve, and it is now referred to as a “global village” of which we are a part. And while we have citizens from more than 101 different countries and territories living here, this does not mean that we have to give up our rights as Virgin Islanders to them because the politicians want to be elected at election time and ruin our territory.
We are responsible for our corner of the village, same as each individual or family is responsible for their home. Would you allow friends, families or strangers into your home and then permit them to run your household? Of course not. So why are we allowing our territory to be run by outsiders with the help of our political leaders?
Privileges
Many people in this territory have difficulty understanding the difference between rights and privileges. Many people believe that because they were born here they have the right to certain things such as a licence. Any type of licence is a privilege. For example, a driver’s licence or a trade licence is a privilege that can be refused or revoked. There are certain conditions under which licences are approved and rules to which the applicant must adhere. There are only two licences that I know of that cannot be revoked once issued and executed: marriage and burial licences.
When one is admitted to a country or territory — whether to visit, work or live — that is a privilege and such privileges can be revoked at any time with or without a reason. Persons given the opportunity to apply for residence, belonger status or naturalisation must accept and understand that these are privileges and if granted that they must and should cherish them, and that these privileges can be revoked.
The length of time one lives in a country or territory does not guarantee any particular privilege.
Privileges are few and rare, and that is why when we are granted them we must cherish and respect them, for when they are taken away from us some get depressed or frustrated and wish they could disappear from society.
There are many expatriates who understand the problem surrounding the issue of children who are born here, and the smart ones go back home or to the United States to have their children.
Expat ‘takeover’
The others, with the help of the politicians and others who do not care about the territory, are the ones who help to create the situation that we are now facing. What shall come is an eventual financial crisis that will be a burden on this and future governments — not to mention generations to come — unless the government enforces all applicable laws or makes new laws to combat this planned takeover by expatriates and their supporters. But how can this happen when so many, if not all, of our lawmakers are encouraging the takeover?