this week seventy-four individuals received their Certificates of Naturalisation here in the BVI.
Naturalisation is a process under the British Nationality Act of 1981 and the Virgin Islands Constitution Order of 2007 by which persons can become citizens of the Virgin Islands. Naturalised citizens become British Overseas Territory Citizens and as such, they may obtain a Virgin Islands passport and are eligible for a United States visa waiver; they can register and vote in elections in the Virgin Islands; and apply to register as a British Citizen of the United Kingdom.
The ceremonies were held in the Civil Registry and Passport Office’s lobby in cohorts of 12 persons. As the territory continues to adapt to the new normal, the occasion was observed in the form of a series of socially distanced ceremonies held on May 26 and 27.
The ceremonies were chaired by Registrar General, Mrs. Stephanie Benn who congratulated the recipients on their new citizenship and said that due the COVID-19 pandemic, things have had to be done differently given the challenges presented through social distancing guidelines.
The new citizens, who can now be registered as British Overseas Territory’s citizens, recited the Pledge of Loyalty to the Virgin Islands, as well as the Oath of Allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen, during the ceremony.
Mrs. Benn said that the reciting of the Oaths is a legal component of the naturalisation process and has to be included with each ceremony and urged the recipients to take proper care of their certificates.
Names of the newly naturalised citizens are:
- Keith Fenton
- Sebert White
- Janice Duncan
- Verna Telemaque-Nibbs
- Andrea Nickie
- Denia Vanterpool Vasquez
- Jorge Faulkner-Ramirez
- Denisha Ledgister-Penn
- Julia King-Chase
- Chantel Asson-Estridge
- Paulino Joseph
- William Driver
- Ishaba Bedford
- Deba Layne-Bharat
- Marcus Drigo
- Stephane Smith Green
- Maisa Said
- Dornamay Christian-Nelson
- Nelson Ramirez Bell
- Norma Gordon
- Amadona Creese
- Fay-Ann Cornwell
- Magnus Cornwell
- Hannah Glasgow
- Kevin Prince
- Akilah Corbin
- Joy Maloney
- Henry Peters
- Eudene Reid
- Rafael Del Rosario
- Vanessa Theophile
- Marva Forbes
- Rockell Richards-Pemberton
- Rupert Heyliger
- Paula Ambrose
- Natalie Ennis-Baptiste
- Brian Liverpool
- Lenroy Henry
- Floyd Isaac
- T’sa Hodge
- Rose Francis
- Robert Stone
- Basil Farquharson
- La Fleece Prince
- Patrick Mitchell
- Christine Nissen
- Anastacia Thomas-Donovan
- Ruth Phillip
- Janelle Jagdeo
- Vernon Williams
- Deslyn Williams
- Lyndon Stevens
- Cislyn Stevens
- Kanika Smith
- Patria Penn
- Rosa Paul de Nisbett
- Vandah Young-Glasgow
- Esran Glasgow
- Valcy Fergusson-Demming
- Myrna Burrell
- Jamoi Watson
- Jeni-Lee Joseph-Watson
- Ruth Robin
- Miranda Bain
- Randolph Bain
- Anita McMillian
- Flavia Edwards Dougan
- Gwendolyn Blake Hodge
- Mabel Neddall
- Andrea Starkey
- Mavis Rathanum
- Moonsammy Rathanum
- Joseph Caines
- Leslie Henry