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- Rasta Law: Government to Consult Public
-
- A series of public consultations is being planned by the government
in an effort to move along the process of deciding whether the rasta law
should be taken off the statute books of the British Virgin Islands. This
was indicated by Chief Minister and Minister responsible for Immigration,
Hon. Ralph T. O'Neal, during his press
- conference on Monday.
-
- The Immigration and Passport (Prohibited Class of Persons) Order, 1980,
prevents the free entry into the territory of persons deemed to be rastafarians
and hippies. The Act was introduced at a time when there was a crime wave
in the British Virgin Islands reportedly being committed by rastas and
was an effort to stem the tide. However, in recent times, there have been
some people calling for its repeal, on the grounds that times have changed.
-
- The motion was brought to the House by Leader of the Opposition Dr.
the Hon. Orlando Smith of the National Democratic Party (NDP). With two
votes from the government side, the motion, asking the Minister for Immigration
to reconsider the Act with a view to having it revoked, was passed 7 to
4 in the Legislative
- Council during its October 1st sitting.
-
- This is a non-binding resolution from the House and puts the onus on
government to either act upon the motion or not. According to Chief Minister
O'Neal, during the same sitting, the 4th of the 1st session of the 14th
LegCo, there was a lot of talk about the need to consult the public on
this issue.
-
- "Well, I would believe that the public should be consulted on
this," he told reporters Monday. He noted that there are many ways
to consult the public, through call-in programmes, community meetings,
panel discussions, through talks with the leaders in the community etc.
"All the different ways will be tried out."
- He said it is important 'to take your time on these matters...I don't
think Dr. Smith expects me to announce at the next meeting of LegCo that
the law is revoked!'
-
- Asked whether he was surprised that two Members of government voted
with the opposition to carry the motion, the Chief Minister said: "Life
is made up of surprises..and in the Legislative Council, you've always
got to expect the un-expected!"
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