CIG shares refugee processes with BVI officials

BVI delegation visits Cayman

(CNS): A delegation from the British Virgin Islands (BVI) was in Cayman last month to find out how this jurisdiction deals with refugees and asylum seekers and the local laws and procedures in place. The BVI’s deputy secretary, Geraldine Ritter-Freeman, led the visiting team, which included the country’s chief immigration officer and crown counsel, Sarah Potter.

The visit took place in January but officials from government information services issued a release just this week.

The delegation met with Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, as well as the chief officer in the home affairs ministry, Eric Bush; his deputy, Wesley Howell; the acting chief immigration officer, Bruce Smith; the former chair of the immigration appeals tribunal, Sophia Harris; and staff members from the immigration department and the prison service.

The United Kingdom is a signatory of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and that extends to British Overseas Territories such as the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Cayman has already passed legislation, policies and procedures for considering asylum requests, including legislative provisions for appeals.  According to government officials here, the UNHCR has recognized the provisions as being in keeping with the spirit of the 1951 Convention.

The BVI team will reportedly use the fact finding mission to Cayman to refine their own asylum protocols.