Ascension Island

Part of the debate – in Westminster Hall at 10:22 am on 15 February 2006.

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Photo of Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Shadow Minister (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs) 10:22, 15 February 2006

My hon. Friend takes me down another route that I did not intend to travel, although I had it in mind when I raised the question. Many other countries, not least Zimbabwe, suffer from exactly the same problem.

Finally, we need to know what the islanders' future is to be. Will they be granted citizenship? If so, will they be granted property rights? What representation will they have to their own island council, if that is allowed to continue? What rights of representation will the island council have to the Government, and what rights will the islanders, whatever their status, have to lobby the Government?

Will the islanders have voting rights in the future, as voting rights are a vital part of citizenship? Will they have voting rights in the EU? My hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham said that the EU likes to interfere in the running of such islands. If it is to do that, it should certainly follow the precedent set in the case of Gibraltar and give the islanders voting rights in European elections.

I am afraid that I have asked the Minister a host of questions, but the debate has been very interesting. Ascension Island is a hidden corner of the world and a spotlight has been shone on it this morning. We owe the hon. Member for Twickenham a debt for that. Let us hope that the Minister will shine not only a spotlight but a searchlight on the problem, so that we all emerge fully informed about what is going to happen.

Annotations

sibanda shyleen
Posted on 20 Feb 2006 12:59 pm (Report this annotation)

MR GEOFFREY-CLIFTON-BROWN

Thank you very much for at least reminding your fellow Hon abaut zimbabweans. l personally have been in this country from 2001 till now l have no means of income the way lm surviving here is torture for all this time. when will the gorvement give us the right to live our lives normally. please can this issue be sortted out once and for all. thank you so much for mentionning something on our behalf as we do not have any powers to voice up our lssues, be blessed.

WIGAN

sibanda shyleen
Posted on 20 Feb 2006 1:01 pm (Report this annotation)

TAHNK YOU.