British Virgin Islands: The issue of missing BVI passports was disclosed by Registrar General of the Civil Registry and Passport Office, Stephanie Benn, during a Standing Finance Committee (SFC) meeting, the BVInews.com reported.
Benn told officials that missing Virgin Islands passports ever-so-often would show up all over the world, a scenario which has been happening even before she was appointed to her position. She pointed out that they identified that it was a particular stock missing and that recently missing passports had resurfaced. She said a new investigation process is underway again.
Territorial At-large Representative, Archibald Christian, said he knew that the United Kingdom has hinted at taking over the processing of passports, and inquired whether the missing passport was the reason why the UK were taking the process back or for economic reasons, the BVInews.com said.
The registrar general responded by saying the UK was hinting at taking back the process for both security and economic reasons. It was however noted that if the process goes through, the territory would only need to send the information electronically overseas and the passports would be printed and sent back.
In the meantime, Benn said she does not know if the fee would be more expensive once passports are being processed in the UK, but she did confirm that there would be a fee – and it may be higher than it is now.
The BVInews.com report said that Third District Representative, Julian Fraser, suggested that the moving of the process to the UK is a presumed move to eradicate the two-passport system.
“He never understood why a citizen should have two passports, and it is his opinion that the British government was moving towards discontinuing the practices. He stated that they took the passports back to the UK, and it is easier to tell us in the year 2015 that we would no longer be issuing two passports to any citizen,” Fraser was quoted as saying according to the SFC reporting.
You must be logged in to post a comment.