Submission from Dr Allen Vincatassin,
Leader, British Indian Ocean Territory People's Party
I led the Diego Garcian Community and other
Chagos Islanders to the UK to start a new life, when we were granted
the right of abode in the UK under the British Overseas Territories
Act 2002.
I came with 19 of my compatriots despite the
FCO saying that we needed to fend for ourselves, as the rule was
clear, no state benefit on arrival. I had to defy the rules because
the Government failed to make exceptional circumstances rules
in our case. People from Monserrat and the Irish can claim benefit
from day one of their arrival in the UK.
We remained at the airport for three days and
nights and the Government made no move to accommodate us. There
was no provision. We remained stranded at the airport.
On the third day, West Sussex County Council
decided to temporarily accommodate us in a hotel under the National
Assistance Act 1948. I started to learn the system and help my
community members find jobs, open bank accounts, register with
a GP etc. Then I supported and encouraged a group of 50 in March
2003 and I continue to learn, helping them find their way and
settle here.
I planned it because the government was refusing
to allow us to return to Chagos. I thought it was the only good
way to change the lives of these people out of acute poverty in
Mauritius.
We had to wait six months to get jobseekers
allowance for us to stand on our feet. We were living on £30
a week given to us by Social Services.
Now we are waiting for a judgement from the
Court of Appeal as we want exemption from the Residency Test and
we are saying that there has been discrimination plus failure
of provision by the Government as they knew that we had been evicted
in the past to make way for the military base.
15 October 2007
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