St Helena : St Helena Immigration Control Bill to be presented on 11/07
Submitted by Saint Helena Herald (Juanita Brock) 24.06.2008 (Article Archived on 08.07.2008)
The Governor in Council decided today that an Immigration Control Bill should be presented to the next formal meeting of the Legislative Council, on 11 July.
Press Release
Immigration Control Bill
The Governor in Council decided today that an Immigration Control Bill should be presented to the next formal meeting of the Legislative Council, on 11 July. However, it is intended to discuss only the general principles of the Bill at that meeting, and defer discussion of the details until a later meeting. This is to allow additional time for Councillors and officials to consider some of the more complex issues raised during public consultation on the draft Bill, and will also allow a further opportunity for members of the public to comment after hearing the debate on the general principles.
The Bill, which will be published on Thursday, incorporates a number of amendments as a result of comments made during public consultation. The most significant changes are:
· Dependants of a person who has St. Helenian status will not require permission to enter St. Helena, work, or own land;
· The requirement that a St. Helenian overseas must be still domiciled in St. Helena in order to pass on status to his or her children is removed;
· Possible confusion between Work Permits and Immigrant Employment Certificates is removed;
· The list of exemptions from the requirement to obtain a landholding licence is reduced;
· The maximum duration of an exempt lease (for landholding licence) is increased to 99 years;
· New provision whereby the Governor in Council can grant St. Helenian status in exceptional circumstances.
Public Relations/Information Office
Office of the Chief Secretary
24 June 2008
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