Political Commentator Cline Called on the Government
Political commentator Claude Skelton Cline has proposed separating Belonger status from Virgin Islander identity to modernize immigration and labour frameworks. He reassured existing Belongers that their rights would remain protected under any future policy. Skelton Cline also urged the government to complete the national census before implementing further status changes.
Political commentator Claude Skelton Cline has called on the Virgin Islands government to reform its immigration framework by formally separating Belongership status from the identity of being a Virgin Islander. Speaking on his radio show Honestly Speaking, Skelton Cline argued that the territory urgently requires a modern approach to managing population growth, immigration, and the rights extended to individuals who settle in the islands.
Under his proposed approach, long-term residents would be granted a clear pathway to live and work in the territory without remaining bound by annual immigration controls and work permit requirements. However, he emphasized that this residency mechanism must remain distinct from being classified as a Virgin Islander, asserting that Belongership should no longer be treated as synonymous with local identity.
Reassuring current residents, the commentator made it clear that any new policy should strictly apply to future applicants. He stated that individuals who already hold Belonger status, whether acquired through ancestry, marriage, or length of residence, would retain all existing rights, privileges, and legal protections without disruption.
In addition to structural immigration reform, Skelton Cline renewed his call for a temporary pause on granting new immigration statuses until the territory completes its comprehensive national census. He argued that the absence of complete demographic data severely hinders the government from making well-informed decisions regarding sustainable development, public resources, and long-term population management.
The commentary comes amid ongoing discussions regarding constitutional reform and the legal definitions of identity in the territory. Earlier this year, lawmakers agreed to propose constitutional recognition for Ancestral Virgin Islanders, creating a distinct category for individuals who can trace their lineage to someone born in the territory on or before 1860.
Primary source: BVI News