Chagossians accuse Sir Keir Starmer of treating them like ­'second-class citizens' after UK struck deal to hand over Chagos Islands to Mauritius

Chagossians living in the UK have accused Sir Keir Starmer of treating them like ‘second-class citizens’. Frankie Bontemps with members of the Chaggosian community in Crawley Keir Starmer made the announcement in a joint statement with his Mauritian counterpart today Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos archipelago and site of a major United States military base in the middle of the Indian Ocean leased from Britain The British Indian Ocean Territory or Chagos Islands is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom situated in the Indian Ocean, halfway between Africa and Indonesia Following the eviction of the native population in the 1960s, the only inhabitants are US and British military personnel ‘Our people were dumped in Mauritius where we are treated like second-class citizens. They had no plan for us then and they will have no plan for the Chagos Islands other than to make money.’ He added: ‘The Chagossians would prefer to be under British rule than back to that.’ Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth issued a joint statement with Keir Starmer Undated picture released by the U.S. Navy shows an aerial view of Diego Garcia Aerial image showing roads buildings and forest on Diego Garcia Islands in the Indian ocean Official first day 'Ships of the Islands' British Indian Ocean Territory stamps from 1969 Jemmy Simon, 36, who was born in Mauritius after her family were expelled from the Chagos Islands said: ‘It is disgusting behaviour from the British Government and the Mauritian government. Now I don’t know what I am.’ Sir Keir and his Mauritian counterpart, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, claimed the treaty will ‘address wrongs of the past and demonstrate the commitment of both parties to support the welfare of Chagossians.’ The agreement is still yet to be finalised, but both countries said they are committed to completing it as quickly as possible.