The Department of Immigration has officially welcomed 102 new Belongers of the Virgin Islands following a Belonger Status Award Ceremony held on Thursday, July 16, at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College.
The ceremony recognised 102 individuals who were granted Belonger status under the Immigration and Passport Act, with 80 recipients approved under Section 16(3) and a further 22 under Section 16(6). During the event, the new Belongers recited the Territorial Pledge before receiving their certificates from Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley.
Addressing the recipients, Premier Wheatley described the occasion as more than a legal milestone, encouraging the new Belongers to embrace their roles as nation builders in the Virgin Islands. He said Belonger status should be viewed not simply as access to rights and privileges, but as a commitment to the Territory and its future.
The Premier also emphasised that becoming a Belonger does not diminish one’s roots elsewhere, but rather expands them.
“You do not have to give up where you came from,” he told the audience. “You now have another flag to honour and another home to love. The Virgin Islands is a better place because you are in it.”
Chairperson of the Board of Immigration, Kamika Aisha Forbes, congratulated the recipients on reaching the important milestone and encouraged them to develop an even deeper connection with the Territory through active participation in national life.
Ms. Forbes urged the new Belongers to cultivate a genuine passion for the Virgin Islands, its people, culture and traditions, encouraging them to see the Territory as more than a place of residence.
She challenged them to invest their time, talents and resources into the continued growth of the Virgin Islands and to proudly uphold its pledge, sing its Territorial Song and fly its flag wherever they may go.
Following the ceremony, Head of the Department of Immigration and Deputy Chief Immigration Officer Nadia Demming-Hodge acknowledged the extensive work carried out by the Department and the Board of Immigration throughout the application process.
Mrs. Demming-Hodge noted that the granting of Belonger status requires thorough review and careful coordination to ensure every application is assessed in accordance with the Territory’s laws and national interests. She thanked members of the Board of Immigration and the public officers involved for their professionalism and diligence, while extending congratulations to all of the new Belongers.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Financial Services, Economic Development and Digital Transformation, Natalie Fahie-Smith, delivered the closing remarks, encouraging recipients to take full advantage of the opportunities their new status provides.
She highlighted voter registration, public service, entrepreneurship, volunteerism and broader community involvement as meaningful ways in which the new Belongers can contribute to shaping the future of the Virgin Islands.
The Department of Immigration also congratulated the recipients and their families, reaffirming its commitment to administering the Territory’s immigration system with professionalism, fairness and care while safeguarding the national interest and recognising the valuable contributions of those who have made the Virgin Islands their home.