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by pltm
(PLTM) - At a meeting hosted by Opposition members on May 30, all four of the Opposition members made it clear to the gathering that they were not consulted on the proposed amendments to the Passport and Immigration Act, and that they are not in support of certain aspects of the Clear Path to Regularization initiative.
However, it was Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Marlon Penn, who accused the Premier of inciting confusion in the Territory between BVIslanders and expatriates, and Second District Representative, Hon. Melvin Mitch Turnbull, who suggested that another protest against the amendment should be staged.
The members of the Opposition met with persons concerned about the regularization at a public meeting that was held in the Eighth District, and each took turn noting their issues with the matter.
The May 7 announced regularization initiative is aiming to give Belonger and Residence status to qualified residents who have been living in the Territory for 15 years or more, and have contributed to the development of the BVI. However, the Leader of the Opposition opined that the initiative has mainly caused a rift in the relationship between the citizens and expatriates.
“All our Premier has done is infuse confusion,” Hon. Penn declared.
He further told the gathering, “He [Premier] has created a dialogue that is unbecoming and unproductive in the Territory. This dialogue of BVIslanders against nonBVIslanders its unproductive.”
Additionally, Hon. Penn told the public that he doubts the Premier had intended to have public consultation on the initiative.
“The Premier had no intention of having meetings; it's evident. You would have had those meetings before you had the first, second and third readings, so now he is trying to fix a problem that’s gotten already bad. Now the horse is already out the barn. You have to let them slow, let them stop on their own.”
The Leader of the Opposition also criticized the fact that the Bill is on the Order Paper for the June 3 sitting of the House of Assembly.
He told the residents, “He [Premier Fahie] said he took a pause on the process, yet we get the Order paper on Friday and here it is on the agenda moving forward. The Premier’s own words was he would have this discussion with the public. He would corelate the information coming out of these discussions. He would come back to the people of this Territory, both Belongers and all the persons who are beneficiaries of this adjustment, and then have a discussion on the way forward. How can you do that if it is on the Order Paper on Monday. You tell me, I don’t know, this seems very suspect.”
In the audience were a group of citizens who staged a protest at the House of Assembly on May 17 when the Bill had its first reading.
During his opening remarks, Hon. Turnbull alluded to that protest and suggested that persons gather at the House of Assembly again on June 3 to state their objections.
“I am going to invite each and every one of you in the public; those of you online to come to the House of Assembly,” the Second District Representative urged.
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