OP-ED by British High Commissioner Paul Brummell : « The repeal of section 76B of the Mauritian Criminal Code is another step forward »

The historic Treaty the UK signed with Mauritius in May recognises the importance of the Chagos Archipelago to Chagossians. Alongside it, we acknowledged the wrongs of the past and our deep regret for the way Chagossians were removed from the islands. Last week’s repeal of section 76B of the Mauritian Criminal Code is another step forward. Removal of the offence of ‘misrepresenting the sovereignty of Mauritius’ provides welcome clarity – even though no one was ever prosecuted for the offence. The UK has been consistently clear about our commitment to build a relationship with the Chagossian community built on respect and trust. In that spirit, I would like to counter some misconceptions I understand are circulating within the Chagossian community about the impact of the Treaty on British citizenship rights and around relocation to the UK. I want to underline that the UK-Mauritius Agreement has no impact on Chagossians’ current rights to acquire British Citizenship under the route set up in 2022. Nor will there be any changes to the British nationality status that any Chagossian currently holds. Outlandish claims, including that not affiliating with any specific Chagossian groups could result in Chagossians losing their British passport, are totally inaccurate. All British citizens of Chagossian descent remain able to move to and visit the UK. There is no time limit on doing so. However, anyone planning to relocate should do so with full understanding. In particular, that Chagossians living in the UK have the same rights as any other British citizens. That means they have the freedom to live and work in the UK, but also that they have the same responsibilities as other British citizens. There is no specific housing offer for British Chagossians. Anyone planning to move should have plans for where to stay before they travel. Not doing so may leave them at risk of homelessness. Demand for social housing is high and waiting lists are very long. Even if someone qualifies for support, it could be years before a suitable home is available. No-one should move with the expectation of receiving benefits. Instead, they should have sufficient funds in their bank account to support themselves and their family – and be aware of the significantly higher cost of living in the UK. For example, the average monthly rent for one bedroom accommodation is between ₨ 29,250 and Rs 95,625.00. A weekly food shop for two adults could cost ₨ 8,437.50. If accompanying family members are not British, they must be eligible to move to the UK. This means they need to have a suitable visa for long-term residency. Without this, they may be refused entry or risk overstaying and being deported at a later point. By sharing this information frankly, I want to avoid a situation where British Chagossians are misled about their rights and the situation that may await them in the UK.