Seventy-four individuals received their Certificates of Naturalisation through a series of socially distanced ceremonies on May 26 and 27.

The ceremonies were held in the Civil Registry and Passport Office’s lobby in cohorts of 12 persons and saw the new citizens, who can now be registered as British Overseas Territory’s Citizens (BOTC), reciting the Pledge of Loyalty to the Virgin Islands, as well as the Oath of Allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen.

The ceremonies were chaired by Registrar General, Mrs. Stephanie Benn who congratulated the recipients on their new citizenship and said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, things have had to be done differently given the challenges presented through social distancing guidelines.

She 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. 

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.

Notes:

Photo 1: Registrar General, Mrs. Stephanie Benn and Newly Naturalised Citizen

Photo 2: Naturalised Citizens reciting the Oaths

Photo Credit: GIS/Frankly Skerritt

Names of the newly naturalised citizens are:

1. Keith Fenton
2. Sebert White
3. Janice Duncan
4. Verna Telemaque-Nibbs
5. Andrea Nickie
6. Denia Vanterpool Vasquez
7. Jorge Faulkner-Ramirez
8. Denisha Ledgister-Penn
9. Julia King-Chase
10. Chantel Asson-Estridge
11. Paulino Joseph
12. William Driver
13. Ishaba Bedford
14. Deba Layne-Bharat
15. Marcus Drigo
16. Stephane Smith Green
17. Maisa Said
18. Dornamay Christian-Nelson
19. Nelson Ramirez Bell
20. Norma Gordon
21. Amadona Creese
22. Fay-Ann Cornwell

23. Magnus Cornwell
24. Hannah Glasgow
25. Kevin Prince
26. Akilah Corbin
27. Joy Maloney
28. Henry Peters
29. Eudene Reid
30. Rafael Del Rosario
31. Vanessa Theophile
32. Marva Forbes
33. Rockell Richards-Pemberton
34. Rupert Heyliger
35. Paula Ambrose
36. Natalie Ennis-Baptiste
37. Brian Liverpool
38. Lenroy Henry
39. Floyd Isaac
40. T’sa Hodge
41. Rose Francis
42. Robert Stone
43. Basil Farquharson
44. La Fleece Prince
45. Patrick Mitchell
46. Christine Nissen
47. Anastacia Thomas-Donovan
48. Ruth Phillip

49. Janelle Jagdeo
50. Vernon Williams
51. Deslyn Williams
52. Lyndon Stevens
53. Cislyn Stevens
54. Kanika Smith
55. Patria Penn
56. Rosa Paul de Nisbett
57. Vandah Young-Glasgow
58. Esran Glasgow
59. Valcy Fergusson-Demming
60. Myrna Burrell
61. Jamoi Watson
62. Jeni-Lee Joseph-Watson
63. Ruth Robin
64. Miranda Bain
65. Randolph Bain
66. Anita McMillian
67. Flavia Edwards Dougan
68. Gwendolyn Blake Hodge
69. Mabel Neddall
70. Andrea Starkey
71. Mavis Rathanum
72. Moonsammy Rathanum
73. Joseph Caines
74. Leslie Henry