UK Allocates £6.5 Million to Saint Helena for Chagos Island Migrants Amid Sovereignty Transition
The UK will allocate £6.5 million to Saint Helena to absorb migrants from the Chagos Islands as it cedes sovereignty to Mauritius. Minister Stephen Doughty emphasizes the pragmatic nature of this decision, while concerns arise about Saint Helena’s capacity to accommodate new arrivals.
The United Kingdom is set to allocate £6.5 million to Saint Helena in order to manage the influx of migrants arriving from the Chagos Islands. This decision follows the announcement that the UK will transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, which belong to the British Indian Ocean Territory, to Mauritius. Stephen Doughty, the Foreign Office Minister in charge of the UK’s overseas territories, described the payment as a pragmatic interim measure before the sovereignty transition. He emphasized that this arrangement is distinctly different from the previously proposed and now-abandoned Rwanda migrant scheme, stressing that the current situation necessitates practical solutions. Concerns have been raised by Shadow Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell regarding the potential impact of an influx of migrants on the small and tightly-knit community of Saint Helena, which has a population of fewer than 5,000 residents. He questioned the estimated number of migrants that would be sent and whether a limit would be implemented. Mr. Doughty assured the House of Commons that the arrangement with Saint Helena had been carefully considered, citing that the British Indian Ocean Territory is an unsuitable location for permanent migrants due to its lack of facilities and population. While he did not agree to impose a cap on the number of migrants, he reiterated the commitment to prevent dangerous journeys that would otherwise take place. Additionally, inquiries into a prior cyber intrusion affecting the British Commission’s communications during negotiations concerning the Chagos Islands were mentioned, with Mr. Doughty clarifying that these alleged breaches were linked to older incidents rather than the current negotiation phase.
The issue at hand revolves around the historical and political dynamics surrounding the Chagos Islands and their inhabitants. The UK has faced growing pressure to resolve the status of the Chagos Islanders, who were forcibly removed from their homelands in the 1960s and 1970s to facilitate the establishment of a military base on Diego Garcia. As part of ongoing discussions, the UK government has decided to relinquish sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius. In light of this transition, the UK government is seeking to address potential migration issues by providing financial assistance to the island of Saint Helena. This decision is rooted in the necessity to manage the welfare of migrants from the Chagos Islands while considering the limited resources and infrastructure of Saint Helena.
In summary, the British government is planning to pay £6.5 million to Saint Helena to assist with the settlement of migrants from the Chagos Islands, as part of the impending shift of sovereignty to Mauritius. While the government underscores that this action is a pragmatic response to an inherited situation and is distinct from previous migration plans, concerns about the potential impact on Saint Helena’s small population have been raised. Authorities emphasize the need to prevent unsafe migratory routes while managing local resources amid this transitional phase.
Original Source: www.gbnews.com
