Forty-three people completed their path to British citizenship at a ceremony held at Government House on Tuesday, 13 October, where they received formal recognition from Governor Daniel Pruce and Registrar General Tashi O'Flaherty-Maduro.
Governor Pruce outlined the practical benefits that now awaited the group. He noted that their new British passport would grant them the right to live and work in the United Kingdom, alongside access to educational and career opportunities there. At the same time, he underscored the duties that accompanied their new status, calling on them to support others arriving in the territory as they themselves had once been newcomers.
"I congratulate you on having persevered with the process, and for having demonstrated your allegiance to the United Kingdom as well as to The Virgin Islands," the Governor said.
Registrar General O'Flaherty-Maduro framed citizenship as something deeper than paperwork. She told the newly sworn citizens that acquiring legal status did not mean setting aside the experiences, traditions or personal histories that had shaped their lives. Instead, she described the day as a threshold into a fresh phase of their lives.
"Each of you has arrived at this moment by a different path. Some journeys may have been straightforward, while others may have required considerable patience, determination, and perseverance," she said.
The 43 individuals who took the oath represent diverse backgrounds and come from across the British Virgin Islands.
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