Chagos Islands Arrivals Spark Concerns Over Soaring UK Housing Costs
A surge of arrivals from the Chagos islets is enhancing the debate over rising casing costs in the UK. Recent reports suggest original councils are under pressure as further Chagossians claim their right to British citizenship and relocate.
The UK government insists that these events are separate from its contentious agreement with Mauritius regarding the Chagos islets.
Historically, the UK forcefully removed the Chagossian population in the 1960s to convert the islets into a military base, primarily on Diego Garcia.
Some Chagossians were granted full British citizenship in 2002. It was a lifeline for a community initially scattered across Mauritius and the Seychelles.
In November 2022, the government launched a new national route. Under this scheme, people of Chagossian descent can apply for British citizenship free of charge.
Chagossians have five times from November 23, 2022, to apply. Children born during this period can apply until they turn 23.
This scheme came ahead of a controversial UK-Mauritius deal, which allows the UK to retain control over the military base on Diego Garcia while paying Mauritius£ 101 million annually for 99 years.
Many in the Chagossian community view the arrangement as treason, stewing it diminishes the prospects of returning home.
Damien Dursonial, 35, moved to the UK with his wife and two young children. He previously worked as a police constable in Mauritius. To make the journey, he saved for two years and even sold his motorcycle.
“I chose the UK because it offers safety and recognizes me as a British citizen,” he said.
Mr. Dursonial cited particular pitfalls in Mauritius for supporting UK sovereignty over the Chagos islets. His family has been placed in temporary accommodation by Hillingdon Council, West London.
The swell of advents has hit original councils hard. Hillingdon Council alone spent around£ 1.2 million on casing and support for new ventures.
Mr. Dursonial criticised the government for placing the burden on local authorities. “Responsibility should not fall solely on councils while UK taxpayers continue paying Mauritius,” he stated.
Temporary casing and associated costs are only part of the challenge. Rising property prices across the UK complicate the agreement of Chagossians, with numerous floundering to secure endless homes.
As further Chagossians exercise their citizenship rights, the discussion around casing pressures and government responsibility is set to continue.
The situation highlights a broader pressure between literal scores, ultramodern migration, and original structure in the UK.
