Members of the House of Assembly have rejected a recommendation from the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) regarding Belonger status, opting instead to support an expansion of eligibility by descent.
The CRC, in its Recommendation 34, advised that no changes be made to the constitutional definition of Belonger status. However, it suggested that immigration policy could be adjusted to prioritise “commendable” cases as part of a broader policy review.
During deliberations, lawmakers did not accept that position.
Instead, the House agreed that the Constitution should be amended to expand Belonger status by descent, extending eligibility to include an additional generation for Virgin Islanders born abroad.
Under the proposed change, Belonger status could be traced through a great-grandparent connection—effectively allowing for what members described as “fourth generation by descent.”
Members argued that the current constitutional definition does not adequately reflect the Territory’s migration history or the enduring ties of Virgin Islanders living overseas.
They supported what they described as a controlled expansion, noting that any extension would still require proper documentation and would be governed by existing immigration and nationality processes.
The House’s position effectively reverses the CRC’s recommendation, proposing instead a constitutional amendment aimed at strengthening intergenerational continuity while maintaining regulatory safeguards.
The issue of Belonger status remains a key element of ongoing constitutional reform discussions, with broader implications for identity, citizenship, and the relationship between the Virgin Islands and its diaspora.