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BRITSH O.T.s BILL PRESENTED
My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time. I am delighted that one of my first tasks as Minister for the Overseas Territories is to introduce to this House the British Overseas Territories Bill. The Bill seeks to fulfil a commitment to grant British citizenship, and with it the right of abode in the United Kingdom, to British Dependent Territories citizens in qualifying overseas territories. Many of your Lordships will be familiar with Britain's overseas territories. There are 14 of them. They are Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, St Helena and Dependencies, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, the sovereign base areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia on Cyprus and the Turks and Caicos Islands. They include some of the most prosperous and some of the most remote islands in the world. They range from the highly developed business, financial and tourist centres of some of the Caribbean territories and Bermuda to the pristine wilderness of Antarctica. They have many differences. But they have one thing in common: their link with Britain. WHITE PAPER: PARTNERSHIP FOR PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY In March 1999 the British Government published a White Paper entitled Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories. The White Paper was the culmination of a wide-ranging review of our relationship with the overseas territories. It laid the foundations for a new relationship, built on the fundamental principles of self-determination, the acceptance of responsibilities on both sides and the greatest possible control for the people of the overseas territories over their own lives. It set out an agenda explaining what each side expected of the partnership in terms of support for good governance, sustainable social and economic development and protection of the environment. Over the past two years, in close consultation with the territories, we have moved that agenda forward. The nature of our relationship has evolved in line with the principles in the White Paper, and we have made progress across a broad range of issues, including constitutional reform, human rights, the environment and financial regulation. An annual meeting of the Overseas Territories Consultative Council provides a forum in which Chief Ministers can to get to know their British ministerial counterparts and discuss with them, and with each other, common problems. The next meeting will be in September. Our relationship with the territories has changed, and continues to change. BRITISH CITIZENSHIP FOR CITIZENS OF DEPENDENT TERRITORIES A cornerstone of the new approach set out in the White Paper was the proposal to grant British citizenship to British Dependent Territories citizens in qualifying territories, to give proper recognition of their British connection and to lift the limitations which BDTC status carries with it. The Bill is a fulfilment of that commitment. The proposed citizenship provisions in the Bill apply to all territories except the sovereign base areas of Cyprus which are excluded by virtue of their special status as military bases. We estimate that around 200,000 people could become British citizens on commencement of the Act. The number is an estimate because it is as yet impossible to tell exactly how many people will benefit. Nationality is a complicated area and beyond those who already hold British Dependent Territories passports will be others who will come forward after commencement on the basis of the naturalisation or registration criteria in the British Nationality Act 1981. But I should make clear that there is no compulsion about acquiring British citizenship. We believe that most people will want it, but British Overseas Territories citizens, as the Bill proposes they be known in future, will have the option to renounce British citizenship, and to retain their current status, should they so wish. CHANGE OF TERMINOLOGY: ‘OVERSEAS TERRITORIES’ The Bill at the same time formally changes the name of the territories to Overseas Territories, and British Dependent Territories citizens who live there to British Overseas Territories citizens. It is no longer appropriate to use terms such as dependent territory or colony, terms which are outdated and which fail to reflect the nature of our relationship and partnership with the overseas territories. The Bill alters those terms in the British Nationality Act 1981 and will add a new definition of British Overseas Territory in the Interpretation Act 1978 so that that term can be conveniently used in all future legislation. Residents of the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar already have or are entitled to British citizenship, and we do not expect all BDTCs in other territories to want to apply for new passports describing them as British citizens. I have already said that those who prefer to continue with their British Overseas Territories passports will be free to do so. We expect the ‘take-up rates’ to vary from territory to territory and according to circumstance. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF THE BILL Let me explain more fully the effect of the Bill and the timeframe we envisage. Most people living in the overseas territories are currently British Dependent Territories citizens. As soon as the Bill has passed through Parliament and received Royal Assent, Clauses 1 and 2 which deal with the changes of name to British Overseas Territories and British Overseas Territories citizen, will take effect. At that point all references to the territories will be formally changed. I say ‘formally’ because the description ‘overseas territories’ is already in common usage. Clauses 1 and 2 deal only with changes of name and involve no substantive change of law. Clause 3 explains how British Overseas Territories citizens will automatically become British citizens, with the right of abode in the UK, on commencement of the citizenship provisions of the Bill. In other words, they will not have to apply for citizenship, although they will have to apply for a British passport to show documentary evidence of their new status and to facilitate travel. The date of commencement will be decided by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by statutory instrument, once we are satisfied that the practicalities for implementation of the citizenship provisions are in place. We need, for instance, to ensure that arrangements for passport issue are agreed and that the staff who will deal with passport and nationality questions are properly trained. Clause 4 explains how British citizenship can be acquired by people living in the overseas territories after commencement of the legislation. There are of course many people living in the overseas territories who are not BDTCs. The provisions of the new legislation do not apply to them. To qualify for British citizenship they would first have to qualify for British Overseas Territories citizenship by connection with the territory in which they reside under existing nationality law as set out in the British Nationality Act 1981. If their application is successful they will thereafter be free to apply for British citizenship. There is no automatic entitlement to British citizenship for such people. The granting of British citizenship is at the discretion of the Home Secretary. That is the effect of Clause 4 of the Bill. Clause 5 further amends the 1981 Act so as to provide for acquisition of British citizenship for future generations having the requisite connection with any of the qualifying overseas territories. British citizenship will mean that British Dependent Territories citizens will have the right of abode in the United Kingdom and the right of free movement and residence, and with it the opportunity to work in European Union member states. In short, my Lords, they will have the same rights as you or I. They will be able to visit friends and relations or travel for business or employment without being subject to immigration controls. I know that this has long been a bone of contention. BDTCs have never seen it as fair that they should be subject to immigration control and have to pass through the non-EU channel on arrival at UK ports and airports. QUESTIONS & ANSWERS REGARDING BRITISH
CITIZENSHIP NATIONAL HURRICANE ADVISORY BOARD MEETS The official hurricane shelters (from north to south) are: RFA GOLD ROVER VISITS
HEAVY RAIN LEADS TO MUDFLOWS & DOME COLLAPSE
Meantime the MVO isssued the following release: ERUPTION OF THE SOUFRIÈRE HILLS VOLCANO, MONTSERRAT: 29 JULY 2001 On 29 July, Montserrat experienced an eruption of the Soufrière Hills volcano. This consisted of a partial collapse of the lava dome that has been actively growing in the summit region of the volcano during recent years. The collapse generated pyroclastic flows which travelled down the eastern flank of the volcano and entered the sea. At the same time a column of ash was carried to the northwest away from the island on the prevailing wind, reaching the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, where light ash falls were experienced. The sequence of events that occurred is as follows: Montserrat experienced stormy weather with heavy rainfall throughout the day of 29th July. From about 15.00 Hrs onwards there were a series of mudflows down the Belham River, which peaked in size between 16.00 and 17.00 Hrs. These consisted of floods of muddy water. At about the same time, ash began to fall with the rain in the northwest of the island. Shortly after 17.00 Hrs observers at Jackboy Hill reported pyroclastic flows passing down the Tar River Valley on the eastern flank of the volcano. Observers at Vue Pointe on the western side of the island reported a continuous dense plume of ash travelling westwards on the prevailing wind. Pyroclastic flow activity in the Tar River Valley increased gradually over the next few hours, and by about 18.30 Hrs flows had reached the sea. There was a peak in pyroclastic flow activity and related seismic activity at 19.49 Hrs, which was followed shortly after 20.00 Hrs by substantial falls of ash over the residential areas of Salem and Olveston in the north-west of the island. This was accompanied for a short period by sporadic falls of small "stones". Pyroclastic flows continued for several more hours down the eastern flanks of the volcano, with a second peak in activity occurring shortly after 22.00 Hrs, when a large flow entered the sea and extended out from the shore for half a kilometre or more. Shortly after this, there was a second report of small "stones" falling in the Salem area. From this time onwards activity generally declined, and by about midnight seismic activity and pyroclastic flow activity had returned to a low level. Intense thunder and lightning were associated with the eruption, due to static electricity generated by the clouds of ash. An observation flight at mid-day on 30th July indicated that activity had been confined almost entirely to the eastern flank of the lava dome, where a large scar-like feature had been cut as a result of the sustained collapse of the night before. Intense steaming was seen where the flows had entered the sea, and numerous charred and burnt tree trunks were seen floating in the sea. The Soufrière Hills volcano is situated in an exclusion zone in the south of the island, away from the population which lives in the north. A maritime exclusion zone exists around the southern part of the island and extends two miles beyond the coastline.
ECS BRITISH TOUR HUGE SUCCESS
NEW FOOTBALL FACILITY ANNOUNCED
On island for the occasion were Mr Austin (Jack) Warner the FIFA Vice President, Mr Harold Taylor, General Secretary CFU, Mr Keith Lookloy, FIFA Development Officer, Mr. Vijay Siew, Project Consultant, Mr Gregory DeGannes, Manager of Antigua Commercial Bank - the bankers for the project, and Miss Pat Modest, personal assistant to Mr Warner. Earlier in the day, the delegation paid a courtesy call on H.E. the Governor, Mr Tony Longrigg at Lancaster House.
The project , whose first phase is estimated to cost in excess of US$800,000 is being funded from FIFA's Goal Project, the Montserrat Football Association (MFA) and the Government of Montserrat. Work on the first phase is expected to be completed by the end of this year. This includes purchase of the land, construction of playing field, access roads, water and the erection of a secure perimeter fence. At an unveiling ceremony held at Tropical Mansions Suites Hotel, Mr Vincent Cassell, the president of the MFA, said that "Today sees the start of a dream come true". In reply, Mr Warner said that the new facility will be state of the art and a positive plus for Montserrat's future development. The contractors for the new facility are Wall Construction in association with K.T. Engineering Consultants.
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On
Tuesday 10th July, Baroness Amos of the FCO presented the second reading
of the British Overseas Territories Bill to the House of Lords
On
26, July 2001 The Montserrat Football Association unveiled their plans
for a new football development facility in Blakes, and later had a ground
breaking ceremony on site.