Chagos Islanders launch bid to sue UK government and block ‘horrible’ handover deal
A pair of British women who were born on the Chagos Islands are preparing to sue the UK government in a bid to stop the territory being handed over to Mauritius.
Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, who were both born on Diego Garcia, believe the current deal will prevent them ever returning home.
Their lawyers have sent a pre-action letter to the Foreign Office, arguing the Chagossians have unlawfully been left without a voice in the negotiation process.
The government’s deal, announced by Foreign Secretary David Lammy last October, would mean sovereignty over the Indian Ocean archipelago would be transferred from the UK to Mauritius.
However, control over the strategically important air base on the island of Diego Garcia would remain with the UK and US as it is leased back at the British taxpayer’s expense.
While the Conservatives and Reform have been stridently opposed to the deal, it looks likely to go ahead as US President Donald Trump has signalled his approval.
Native Chagossians like Bernadette and Bertrice were told to leave their home by 1973 to make room for the air base.
Access back to the islands is heavily restricted and permits are required ahead of travel.
Bertrice said her fellow islanders have been ‘treated badly for 60 years’.
She continued: ‘All our suffering and cries to be heard have been falling on deaf ears… I want to stay British and I also want the right to return to the Chagos Islands.’
Bernadette added: ‘This deal will forbid me from returning to Diego Gracia where I was born, and serves only to extend the suffering of the indigenous Chagossians.
‘I am a British citizen and I cannot understand why we are being treated in this horrible way.’
The lawyers’ letter said the two women do not trust Mauritius to treat the islanders fairly, and they believe they would face ‘severe obstacles’ as British citizens who do not hold Mauritian nationality.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: ‘We do not comment on potential legal challenges.
‘The negotiations were between the UK and Mauritius with our priority being to secure the full operation of the base on Diego Garcia.
‘However, we have worked to ensure this agreement reflects the importance of the islands to Chagossians.’
The government department was asked to respond to the legal letter by March 25.
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