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The UK government is facing increasing pressure to provide support for Chagos Islanders requiring temporary housing, following a recent influx of individuals seeking to claim their British citizenship rights.
Hillingdon Council reports that 152 Chagossians have arrived at Heathrow Airport, within the borough, this week alone, bringing the total number to over 600 since last July.
The Conservative-led council projects expenditure of £2 million this year to fulfill its legal obligation to assist homeless British-Chagossians, straining already limited housing resources and potentially causing significant financial disruption.
Many Chagossians are reportedly relocating from Mauritius, citing safety concerns stemming from the UK government’s agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
The UK government maintains that Chagossians are expected to independently arrange housing prior to travel and asserts that the recent surge in arrivals is “completely unrelated” to the Chagos Islands agreement with Mauritius.
In the 1960s, the Chagos Islands, then a British Overseas Territory, were transformed into a military base, leading to the forced displacement of the entire population, primarily to Mauritius and the Seychelles.
In 2002, a limited number of Chagossians were granted full British citizenship. Consequently, several thousand now reside in the UK, including a significant expatriate community of 3,000 in Crawley, West Sussex.
The government initiated a broadened British nationality route in November 2022, extending eligibility to all individuals of Chagossian descent, irrespective of their location, enabling them to obtain British citizenship without incurring fees.
Adults have a five-year window, commencing on November 23, 2022, to claim British nationality. Children born within this application period have until the age of 23 to apply.
This initiative preceded the UK government’s decision this year to finalize an agreement transferring ownership of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Under the terms of the agreement, the UK will pay £101 million annually for 99 years to retain control of the UK-US military base situated on Diego Garcia, the archipelago’s largest island.
The agreement has been met with disapproval by many Chagossians, who view it as a betrayal and advocate for the UK to maintain sovereignty over the islands, allowing for their eventual return to their homeland.
Some Chagossians express concerns about potential prosecution by Mauritian authorities for supporting UK sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago.
Damien Dursonial, 35, arrived at Heathrow with his wife and two children, aged four and six, on Wednesday.
Mr. Dursonial, formerly a police constable in Mauritius, where he was born, saved for two years and sold his motorcycle to finance the family’s flights to the UK.
“I came to the UK because it was the only place where we could feel safe, respected and recognised as a British citizen,” Mr. Dursonial stated.
“As a Chagossian in Mauritius, we faced real threats by simply identifying as British or supporting UK sovereignty over the Chagos islands.”
Hillingdon Council in West London has placed Mr. Dursonial and his family in temporary accommodation.
He commented, “The government should have done this because all this work is falling on a local council.
“It had to spend about £1.2m. Whereas ministers are giving away the Chagos Archipelago and taxpayer funds to Mauritius.”
Hillingdon Council warns of potential effective bankruptcy and has submitted a request to the government for exceptional financial support.
The council is aiming to reduce spending by £38 million this year, representing its most ambitious savings target to date.
“It’s breaking the council,” Steve Tuckwell, the cabinet member for planning, housing and growth at the Conservative-run council, told the BBC.
“It’s taking away hard-earned taxpayers’ money from core services.”
Tuckwell, a former Tory MP, stated that the council has appealed to ministers for funding to assist Chagossians but has not received a response.
“I’m calling on the government to do the right thing,” Tuckwell said. “Stop this burden on Hillingdon taxpayers. The bank account is running dry.”
The Chagos Islands have been under British control since 1814, officially becoming an overseas territory after the UK government acquired the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965.
Between 1967 and 1973, the islanders were forcibly evicted to facilitate the construction of a joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia.
The global population of Chagossians is estimated to be approximately 10,000, with a significant proportion residing in Mauritius, the Seychelles, and the UK.
Vanessa Mandarin Calu, representing Biot Citizen, indicates that many British-Chagossians are temporarily settling in the UK while awaiting the opportunity to return to their homeland.
“Our homeland is a British Overseas Territory – the government should create a clear pathway for British-Chagossians instead of handing our territory to another country without consulting us,” Ms. Mandarin Calu asserted.
Hillingdon Council established a temporary processing center within the borough this week to manage the increased number of Chagossian arrivals.
Local authorities are legally obligated to provide assistance to eligible homeless individuals, including temporary accommodation for families with dependents.
As British citizens, individuals of Chagossian descent are entitled to the same support as any other homeless person holding a UK passport.
The council reports that it is already facing challenges in supporting asylum seekers placed within the borough by the Home Office.
A government spokesperson stated, “Chagossians travelling to the United Kingdom are expected to arrange their own accommodation prior to arrival.
“Hillingdon Council has received funding to provide support in cases where immediate local pressures arise and cannot be resolved through standard contingency measures, with support for all local authorities kept under ongoing review.
“This is completely unrelated to the Diego Garcia Military Base agreement signed with Mauritius.
“In November 2022, the last government launched a route to British citizenship for the descendants of those born on the Chagos Archipelago. The Diego Garcia agreement has no impact on this.”
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