Diego Garcian Community For Voluntary Service

Welcome

Our name and objectives has changed as from today the 10th of September.

Our new name is

The Diego Garcian Society

We will be showing our new web address soon.

Please go to www.diegogarciansociety.org  

 We were established for the welfare of our community and to work for our locality, with a view to encourage integration and cohesion.

Between 1965-1973 we lost the right to live on our homeland, because of the building of a US military base. We were British islanders with no place to call home.

Fortunately, we were given the right of abode in the UK and on the EEA, under the British Overseas Territories Bill 2002.

Our community leader Dr. Allen Vincatassin pioneered a resettlement on the 16th of september 2002, when he arrived in the UK at Gatwick Airport with 19 of his fellow compatriots-they were running away from   poverty in Mauritius.   

They stayed stranded at Gatwick Airport for three days, and finally they were supported by West Sussex County Council. The Government refused to provide special help and support,though it was their decision to cause the exile to Mauritius and the Seychelles.

Further groups arrived, and they were helped in their resettlement adaptation, by the self helped group. The groups were accommodated by the local authorities(West Sussex County Council& Crawley Borough Council), and this put a big pressure on their budget.

The number of people has considerably increased these past four years, and have reached about one thousand islanders in Crawley, West sussex.Those that are settled are now working, and contributing to the local and national economy.

There are continuous pressing needs for our community to settle and to adapt to life in the UK.There is no special provision for them in the law, that will grant them help and support, to start a new life in the UK on their arrival.

There is a big challenge, and we believe that with the help and support of the local Authorities, Charities, local Organisations, we will be able to make it.

We want to serve our community and the UK society.