Sixty persons were formally registered as British citizens during a ceremony held at Government House on Tuesday, 23 June 2026.
The ceremony brought together the newly registered citizens, who received congratulatory remarks from the Governor of the Virgin Islands, His Excellency Mr. Daniel Pruce, and Registrar General, Mrs. Tashi O’Flaherty-Maduro.
Governor Pruce congratulated the new citizens on completing the registration process and acknowledged their commitment to the United Kingdom and the Virgin Islands.
“I congratulate you on having persevered with the process, and for having demonstrated your allegiance to the United Kingdom as well as to The Virgin Islands,” the Governor said. “The British Citizen’s passport, to which you will now be entitled, enables you to enjoy rights of residence and employment in the United Kingdom. This opens up new opportunities for study and professional development which I hope you will grasp.”
He further reminded the new citizens that citizenship carries both rights and responsibilities, encouraging them to extend support to newcomers within the Territory.
“I ask you in particular to be always supportive of others who are newcomers to this Territory, just as you are now newcomers as British citizens,” he said. “As the Good Book reminds us: ‘You shall love the stranger, for you were once strangers in the land.’”
Registrar General Mrs. Tashi O’Flaherty-Maduro also addressed the gathering, emphasizing that citizenship reflects both privilege and civic responsibility.
“Citizenship carries rights and privileges, but it also reflects commitment—commitment to shared values, civic responsibility, respect for others, and active participation in community life,” she said. “It connects us not only to a legal status, but to a wider story and a shared future.”
She added that the ceremony marked the beginning of a new chapter for the recipients, recognizing their individual journeys and contributions.
“To those being registered today, this ceremony marks the beginning of a new chapter,” she said. “It recognizes your individual journeys, each one unique and shaped by perseverance, hope, dedication, and aspirations for the future. Whether your path began here or led you here through life’s many experiences, today affirms your place within the British family and the enduring values of respect, democracy, service, and mutual responsibility.”
The 60 newly registered British citizens are:
Jean Delice Avril, Ashley Alexis Browne, Andrew Claxton Campbell, Gail Patricia Carrington, John Eric Ian Carrington, Cassandra Charles, Yijun Chen, Jaleel Nathan Jevon Croal, Keslar Dawson, Jacqueline Petula Donovan, Hylford Emanuel Duhaney, Walter Andrew Ells Jr, Jershell Janica Esprit, Rennicks Claudius Etienne, Valda John Baptiste Etienne, Jose Alejandro Alcala Faulkner, Adenike Marie Flax, Darnell Antonio Gerard Flax, Jo-Anne Catherine Neale-France, Marie Therese Annie George, Eloy Emanuel Gibbs, Orland Rosco Glasgow, Molisia Elenor Haywood, Fernanda Magaly Mason Henley, Sharon Claudine Henry, Chandrawattie Persaud Hinds, Annalisa Bride Hippolyte, Christopher Diego Holder, Samantha Dahlia Jeffers, Kiara Lareisha Johnney, Thile Douchel Joseph, Shayvanie Kumarie Karran, Francess Veronica La Touche, Nicolas Crenele Laurac, Niesha Lettisha Maduro, Cedric Matthew Junior Mars, Joel Randalph Mars, Duklin George McDonald, Mildred Santana Pacheco, Tieanna Ashanti Parillon, Ra-Shaun Jalen Penn, Jaadon Isaiah Quashie, Glory Ramjawan, Khemragie Ramotar, Sylvia Lenora Richards, Charles Elsworth Jr Rochester, Gail Aloma Scotland, Anelia Ancelia Sharpe, Evanette Caron Shipley, Erica Adella Ollivierre Simmons, Cislyn Carmen Stevens, Pearla Sylvester-Thomas, Rahim Abdullah Thomas, Vielka Del Carmen Soto Thomas, Nurys Iris Vanterpool Welch, Irene Minerva McPherson Williams, Shane Kevin Williams, Shanique Angelica Williams, Cecelia Jasmine Winchester, and Huifang Wu.