A/RES/61/128A-B GA

United Nations A/RES/61/128 A-B General Assembly Distr.: General 15 January 2007 Sixty-first session Agenda item 39 06-50211 Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly on 14 December 2006 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/61/415)] 61/128. Questions of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands A GENERAL The General Assembly, Having considered the questions of the Non-Self-Governing Territories of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands, hereinafter referred to as “the Territories”, Having examined the relevant chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,1 Recalling all resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to those Territories, including, in particular, the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the individual Territories covered by the present resolution, Recognizing that all available options for self-determination of the Territories are valid as long as they are in accordance with the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned and in conformity with the clearly defined principles contained in General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960 and other resolutions of the Assembly, Recalling its resolution 1541 (XV), containing the principles that should guide Member States in determining whether or not an obligation exists to transmit the information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations, _______________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/61/23), chap. IX. A/RES/61/128 A-B 2 Expressing concern that more than forty-five years after the adoption of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,2 there still remain a number of Non-Self-Governing Territories, Conscious of the importance of continuing effective implementation of the Declaration, taking into account the target set by the United Nations to eradicate colonialism by 2010 and the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,3 Recognizing that the specific characteristics and the sentiments of the peoples of the Territories require flexible, practical and innovative approaches to the options of self-determination, without any prejudice to territorial size, geographical location, size of population or natural resources, Taking note of the stated positions of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the stated position of the Government of the United States of America on the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration, Taking note also of the stated positions of the representatives of the Non-Self- Governing Territories before the Special Committee and in its regional seminars, Noting the constitutional developments in some Non-Self-Governing Territories affecting the internal structure of governance about which the Special Committee has received information, Aware of the importance both to the Territories and to the Special Committee of the participation of elected and appointed representatives of the Territories in the work of the Special Committee, Convinced that the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories should continue to guide the development of their future political status and that referendums, free and fair elections and other forms of popular consultation play an important role in ascertaining the wishes and aspirations of the people, Convinced also that any negotiations to determine the status of a Territory must take place with the active involvement and participation of the people of that Territory, under the supervision of the United Nations, on a case-by-case basis, and that the views of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in respect of their right to self-determination should be ascertained, Aware of the importance of the international financial services for the economies of some of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, Noting the continued cooperation of the Non-Self-Governing Territories at the local and regional levels, including participation in the work of regional organizations, Mindful that United Nations visiting and special missions provide an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, that some Territories have not received a United Nations visiting mission for a long time and that no visiting missions have been sent to some of the Territories, and considering the possibility of sending further visiting missions to the Territories at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Powers, _______________ 2 Resolution 1514 (XV). 3 A/56/61, annex. A/RES/61/128 A-B 3 Mindful also that, in order for the Special Committee to enhance its understanding of the political status of the peoples of the Territories and to fulfil its mandate effectively, it is important for it to be apprised by the administering Powers and to receive information from other appropriate sources, including the representatives of the Territories, concerning the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories, Recognizing the need for the Special Committee to ensure that the appropriate bodies of the United Nations embark actively on a public awareness campaign aimed at assisting the peoples of the Territories in gaining an understanding of the options of self-determination, Mindful, in this connection, that the holding of regional seminars in the Caribbean and Pacific regions and at Headquarters and other venues, with the active participation of representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, provides a helpful means for the Special Committee to fulfil its mandate, and that the regional nature of the seminars, which alternate between the Caribbean and the Pacific, is a crucial element in the context of a United Nations programme for ascertaining the political status of the Territories, Mindful also that the 2006 Pacific regional seminar, originally scheduled to be held in Timor-Leste from 23 to 25 May 2006, is to be rescheduled to a later date in 2006, Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the Territories to natural disasters and environmental degradation, and, in this connection, bearing in mind the applicability to the Territories of the programmes of action of all United Nations world conferences4 and special sessions of the General Assembly in the economic and social sphere, Noting with appreciation the contribution to the development of some Territories by the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, as well as regional institutions such as the Caribbean Development Bank, the Caribbean Community, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Pacific Islands Forum and the agencies of the Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific, Aware that the Human Rights Committee, as part of its mandate under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,5 reviews the status of the self- _______________ 4 See Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3–14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum); Report of the World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction, Yokohama, Japan, 23–27 May 1994 (A/CONF.172/9), chap. I; Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April–6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I; Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5–13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex; Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3–14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II; Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August–4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex; Report of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, Durban, 31 August–8 September 2001 (A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1), chap. I. 5 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. A/RES/61/128 A-B 4 determination process of small island Territories under examination by the Special Committee, Recalling the ongoing efforts of the Special Committee in carrying out a critical review of its work with the aim of making appropriate and constructive recommendations and decisions to attain its objectives in accordance with its mandate, Recognizing that the annual background working papers prepared by the Secretariat on developments in each of the small Territories, 6 as well as the substantive documentation and information furnished by independent experts, scholars, non-governmental organizations and other independent sources, have provided important inputs in updating the present resolution, 1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the peoples of the Territories to self- determination, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples; 2. Also reaffirms that, in the process of decolonization, there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination, which is also a fundamental human right, as recognized under the relevant human rights conventions; 3. Further reaffirms that it is ultimately for the peoples of the Territories themselves to determine freely their future political status in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and in that connection reiterates its long-standing call for the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial Governments and appropriate bodies of the United Nations system, to develop political education programmes for the Territories in order to foster an awareness among the people of their right to self-determination in conformity with the legitimate political status options, based on the principles clearly defined in General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV); 4. Requests the administering Powers to transmit regularly to the Secretary-General information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter; 5. Stresses the importance of the Special Committee being apprised of the views and wishes of the peoples of the Territories and enhancing its understanding of their conditions, including the nature and scope of the existing political and constitutional arrangements between the Non-Self-Governing Territories and their respective administering Powers; 6. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter to promote the economic and social development and to preserve the cultural identity of the Territories, and recommends that priority continue to be given, in consultation with the territorial Governments concerned, to the strengthening and diversification of their respective economies; 7. Requests the Special Committee to continue to follow closely the developments in legislation in the area of international financial services and their impact on the economy in some of the Territories; _______________ 6 See A/AC.109/2006/3-8, 11 and 12, 13 and 13/Corr.1, 15 and 16. A/RES/61/128 A-B 5 8. Requests the Territories and the administering Powers to take all necessary measures to protect and conserve the environment of the Territories against any degradation, and once again requests the specialized agencies concerned to continue to monitor environmental conditions in the Territories; 9. Welcomes the participation of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in regional activities, including the work of regional organizations; 10. Stresses the importance of implementing the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,3 in particular by expediting the application of the work programme for the decolonization of each Non-Self-Governing Territory, on a case-by-case basis, and by completing the periodic analyses of the progress and extent of the implementation of the Declaration in each Territory; 11. Calls upon the administering Powers to participate in and cooperate fully with the work of the Special Committee in order to implement the provisions of Article 73 e of the Charter and the Declaration, and in order to advise the Special Committee on the implementation of provisions under Article 73 b of the Charter on efforts to promote self-government in the Territories; 12. Urges Member States to contribute to the efforts of the United Nations to usher in a world free of colonialism within the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and calls upon them to continue to give their full support to the Special Committee in its endeavours towards that noble goal; 13. Notes that a number of Non-Self-Governing Territories have expressed concern at the procedure followed by some administering Powers, contrary to the wishes of the Territories themselves, of amending or enacting legislation for application to the Territories, either through Orders in Council, in order to apply to the Territories the international treaty obligations of the administering Power, or through unilateral application of laws and regulations; 14. Takes note of the constitutional reviews in the Territories administered by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and led by the territorial Governments, designed to address the internal constitutional structure within the present territorial arrangement; 15. Also takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the midterm review of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,7 and reiterates its long-standing request that the Secretary-General report to the General Assembly at its next session on the implementation of decolonization resolutions adopted since the declaration of the First and Second International Decades; 16. Reiterates its request that the Human Rights Committee collaborate with the Special Committee, within the framework of its mandate on the right to self- determination as contained in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights5 with the aim of exchanging information, given that the Committee reviews political and constitutional developments in many of the Non-Self-Governing Territories that are under review by the Special Committee; 17. Requests the Special Committee to collaborate with the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, within the framework of their respective mandates, with the aim of _______________ 7 A/60/71 and Add.1. A/RES/61/128 A-B 6 exchanging information on developments in those Non-Self-Governing Territories which are reviewed by these bodies; 18. Also requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session and on the implementation of the present resolution. 79th plenary meeting 14 December 2006 B INDIVIDUAL TERRITORIES The General Assembly, Referring to resolution A above, I American Samoa Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on American Samoa8 and other relevant information, Taking note also of the position of the administering Power and the statements made by representatives of American Samoa in the regional seminars expressing satisfaction with the Territory’s present relationship with the United States of America, Noting that the Territory’s non-voting delegate to the Congress of the United States of America has formally requested that the administering Power declare its official position on the status of American Samoa before the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Noting with satisfaction the establishment of the Future Political Status Study Commission, which began its work in June 2006, to study alternative forms of future political status open to American Samoa and to assess the advantages and disadvantages of each, Recalling the negative economic impacts of Cyclone Heta in 2004 and Cyclone Olaf in 2005 on the agricultural sector, noting the importance to the economy of remittances and tourism, and bearing in mind the request of the territorial Government to the administering Power to continue to extend favourable tax benefits with regard to its exports, 1. Notes that the Department of the Interior of the United States of America provides that the Secretary of the Interior has administrative jurisdiction over American Samoa;9 2. Also notes that American Samoa continues to be the only United States Territory to receive financial assistance from the administering Power for the _______________ 8 A/AC.109/2006/7. 9 Pursuant to Secretary’s Order 2657, Department of the Interior, United States of America. A/RES/61/128 A-B 7 operations of the territorial Government, and calls upon the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in the diversification of its economy; 3. Welcomes the invitation extended to the Special Committee by the Governor of American Samoa and reiterated, most recently at the Caribbean regional seminar held in Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from 17 to 19 May 2005, to send a visiting mission to the Territory, calls upon the administering Power to facilitate such a mission, and requests the Chairman of the Special Committee to take all the necessary steps to that end; 4. Takes note of the statement of the representative of the Governor of the Territory at the Caribbean regional seminar in 2005 requesting the Special Committee to provide information on the process of self-governance, which could be provided within the context of a visiting mission, or by other acceptable means; 5. Requests the administering Power to assist the Territory in facilitating the work of the newly established Future Political Status Study Commission, consistent with Article 73 b of the Charter of the United Nations, and calls upon the relevant United Nations organizations to provide assistance to the Territory, if requested, in the context of its public education programme; II Anguilla Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on Anguilla10 and other relevant information, Taking note also of the constitutional review process resumed by the territorial Government in 2006, Recalling the holding of the 2003 Caribbean regional seminar in Anguilla, the first time that the seminar had been held in a Non-Self-Governing Territory, and the desire of the territorial Government and the people of Anguilla for a visiting mission by the Special Committee, Noting the appointment by the administering Power of a new Governor who maintains reserved powers in the Territory, Aware that the Government has placed a halt on all new and major foreign investment tourism-related projects in order to carefully manage the development of the island’s economy to achieve long-term sustainability, 1. Welcomes the establishment of a new Constitutional and Electoral Reform Commission in 2006, with the aim of making recommendations to the administering Power on proposed changes to the Constitution in place in the Territory; 2. Notes that changes in the visa requirements for Anguillan passport holders entering nearby French Saint Martin could make it more difficult for them to enter the French overseas department, the closest neighbour to the Territory; 3. Welcomes the participation of the Territory as an associate member in the Caribbean Community, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean; _______________ 10 A/AC.109/2006/4. A/RES/61/128 A-B 8 III Bermuda Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on Bermuda11 and other relevant information, Conscious of the different viewpoints of the political parties on the future status of the Territory, Noting the statement of the Premier of Bermuda in his Founder’s Day address that there could never be a true democracy as long as the country remains a colony or an overseas dependent Territory, and that only with independence can national unity be forged and pride in being Bermudian fully developed, Bearing in mind the conclusions in the report of the United Nations special mission to Bermuda, which visited the Territory in March and May 2005,12 1. Welcomes the dispatch of the United Nations special mission to Bermuda at the request of the territorial Government and with the concurrence of the administering Power, which provided information to the people of the Territory on the role of the United Nations in the process of self-determination, on the legitimate political status options as clearly defined in General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960 and on the experiences of other small States that have achieved a full measure of self-government; 2. Also welcomes the 2005 report of the Bermuda Independence Commission, which provides a thorough and meticulous examination of the facts surrounding independence, and takes note of the plans for public meetings and the presentation of a Green Paper to the House of Assembly followed by a White Paper outlining the policy proposals for an independent Bermuda; 3. Decides to follow closely the public consultations on the future political status of Bermuda under way in the Territory, and requests the relevant United Nations organizations to provide assistance to the Territory, if requested, in the context of its public education programme; IV British Virgin Islands Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on the British Virgin Islands13 and other relevant information, Recalling the 1993 report of the Constitutional Commissioners, appointed by the administering Power to review the existing Constitution, and its recommendation to assess the costs, obligations and liabilities of independence, and the 1996 debate on the report in the Legislative Council, Welcoming the establishment of the Constitutional Commission in 2004 and the completion of its report in 2005 providing recommendations on constitutional modernization, and noting that the Legislative Council of the Territory debated the report in 2005, _______________ 11 A/AC.109/2006/6. 12 A/AC.109/2005/19. 13 A/AC.109/2006/12. A/RES/61/128 A-B 9 Noting the appointment by the administering Power of a new Governor who maintains reserved powers in the Territory, Also noting that the Territory continues to emerge as one of the world’s leading offshore financial centres, 1. Takes note of the statement made by the representative of the Legislative Council of the Territory at the Caribbean regional seminar held in Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from 17 to 19 May 2005, who presented an analysis of the internal constitutional review process; 2. Welcomes the 2005 report of the Constitutional Commission, which contains a series of recommendations on constitutional advancement, including the scaling back of the powers of the appointed Governor, and also welcomes the discussions which commenced in 2006 between the elected Government and the administering Power on constitutional advancement and devolution of power; 3. Further welcomes the ongoing work of the Inter-Virgin Islands Council between the elected Governments of the British Virgin Islands and the United States Virgin Islands as a mechanism for functional cooperation between the two neighbouring Territories; V Cayman Islands Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on the Cayman Islands14 and other relevant information, Noting the 2002 report of the Constitutional Modernization Review Commission, which contained a draft constitution for the consideration of the people of the Territory, the 2003 draft constitution offered by the administering Power and the subsequent discussions between the Territory and the administering Power in 2003, Also noting the 2003 visit to the Territory by the Chairman of the Special Committee at the invitation of the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce, 1. Takes note of the decision by the new territorial Government to reopen discussions with the administering Power in 2006 on constitutional modernization with the aim of ascertaining the views of the people by way of referendum; 2. Also takes note of the statement made by the representative of the Non- Governmental Organizations Constitutional Working Group of the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce at the Caribbean regional seminar held in Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from 17 to 19 May 2005, which called for a comprehensive educational programme, to be defined by the Special Committee, on the issue of self-determination, as well as a visiting mission to the Territory; _______________ 14 A/AC.109/2006/16. A/RES/61/128 A-B 10 VI Guam Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on Guam15 and other relevant information, Recalling that, in a referendum held in 1987, the registered and eligible voters of Guam endorsed a draft Guam Commonwealth Act that would establish a new framework for relations between the Territory and the administering Power, providing for a greater measure of internal self-government for Guam and recognition of the right of the Chamorro people of Guam to self-determination for the Territory, Recalling also the requests by the elected representatives and non- governmental organizations of the Territory that Guam not be removed from the list of the Non-Self-Governing Territories with which the Special Committee is concerned, pending the self-determination of the Chamorro people and taking into account their legitimate rights and interests, Aware that negotiations between the administering Power and the territorial Government on the draft Guam Commonwealth Act are no longer continuing and that Guam has established the process for a self-determination vote by the eligible Chamorro voters, Cognizant that the administering Power continues to implement its programme of transferring surplus federal land to the Government of Guam, Noting that the people of the Territory have called for reform in the programme of the administering Power with respect to the thorough, unconditional and expeditious transfer of land property to the people of Guam, Aware of concerns expressed by many residents regarding the potential social and other impacts of the impending transfer of additional military personnel of the administering Power to the Territory, Conscious that immigration into Guam has resulted in the indigenous Chamorros becoming a minority in their homeland, Recalling the dispatch in 1979 of a United Nations visiting mission to the Territory, and noting the recommendation of the 1996 Pacific regional seminar for sending a visiting mission to Guam, Also recalling the invitation made in 2000 by the Governor and legislature of the Territory to hold the Pacific regional seminar in the Territory and the opposition to the invitation expressed by the administering Power, 1. Calls once again upon the administering Power to take into consideration the expressed will of the Chamorro people as supported by Guam voters in the plebiscite of 1987 and as provided for in Guam law, encourages the administering Power and the territorial Government of Guam to enter into negotiations on the matter, and requests the administering Power to inform the Secretary-General of progress to that end; 2. Requests the administering Power to continue to assist the elected territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals; _______________ 15 A/AC.109/2006/8. A/RES/61/128 A-B 11 3. Also requests the administering Power, in cooperation with the territorial Government, to continue to transfer land to the original landowners of the Territory, to continue to recognize and respect the political rights and the cultural and ethnic identity of the Chamorro people of Guam and to take all necessary measures to respond to the concerns of the territorial Government with regard to the question of immigration; 4. Further requests the administering Power to cooperate in establishing programmes specifically intended to promote the sustainable development of economic activities and enterprises, noting the special role of the Chamorro people in the development of Guam; 5. Takes note of the request by the elected Governor to the administering Power to lift restrictions to allow for foreign airlines to transport passengers between Guam and the United States of America to provide for a more competitive market and increased visitor arrivals; VII Montserrat Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on Montserrat16 and other relevant information, Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information on the political and economic situation in Montserrat provided by the Chief Minister of the Territory to the Caribbean regional seminar, held at The Valley, Anguilla, from 20 to 22 May 2003, Noting with concern the continued consequences of the volcanic eruption, which led to the evacuation of three quarters of the Territory’s population to safe areas of the island and to areas outside the Territory, which continues to have enduring consequences for the economy of the island, Welcoming the continued assistance provided to the Territory by States members of the Caribbean Community, in particular Antigua and Barbuda, which has offered safe refuge and access to educational and health facilities, as well as employment for thousands who have left the Territory, Noting the continuing efforts of the administering Power and the territorial Government to deal with the consequences of the volcanic eruption, 1. Calls upon the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as regional and other organizations, to continue to provide assistance to the Territory in alleviating the consequences of the volcanic eruption; 2. Recalls the 2002 report of the Constitutional Review Commission, which contains a series of recommendations on constitutional advancement, including the devolution of power from the appointed Governor to the elected Government, and the call in favour of a free-association arrangement; 3. Welcomes the convening of a committee of the House of Assembly in 2005 to review the report, and the subsequent discussions between the elected _______________ 16 A/AC.109/2006/13 and Corr.1. A/RES/61/128 A-B 12 Government and the administering Power on constitutional advancement and devolution of power; VIII Pitcairn Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on Pitcairn17 and other relevant information, Taking into account the unique nature of Pitcairn in terms of population and area, Noting the position of the representative of the elected Government, as expressed at the 2004 Pacific regional seminar, that the people of the Territory did not fully understand all the possibilities or the significance of the various self-determination options that might be available to them, and that the review of the Constitution was deferred to after 2006, 1. Requests the administering Power to continue its assistance for the improvement of the economic, social, educational and other conditions of the population of the Territory and to continue its discussions with the representatives of Pitcairn on how best to support their economic security; 2. Takes note of the position of the representative of the elected Government of the Territory favouring discussions on self-determination in advance of a constitutional review, and notes that a United Nations visiting mission to the Territory would heighten the awareness of the people of their political future; IX Saint Helena Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on Saint Helena18 and other relevant information, Taking into account the unique character of Saint Helena, its population and its natural resources, Taking note of the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government and the consultative poll with regard to a new Constitution held in Saint Helena on 25 May 2005, Aware of the efforts of the administering Power and the territorial authorities to improve the socio-economic conditions of the population of Saint Helena, in particular in the sphere of food production, continuing high unemployment and limited transport and communications, Noting the importance of improving the infrastructure and accessibility of Saint Helena, Noting also the importance of the right to nationality for Saint Helenians and their request that it, in principle, be included in the new Constitution, Noting with concern the problem of unemployment on the island and the joint action of the administering Power and the territorial Government to deal with it, _______________ 17 A/AC.109/2006/5. 18 A/AC.109/2006/3. A/RES/61/128 A-B 13 1. Welcomes the continuing constitutional review process and the recent consultative poll led by the Government of Saint Helena in cooperation with the administering Power; 2. Also welcomes the decision by the administering Power to provide funding for the construction of an international airport on Saint Helena to become operational in 2010, including all required infrastructure; 3. Requests the administering Power and relevant international organizations to continue to support the efforts of the territorial Government to address the socio- economic development challenges, including the high unemployment and the limited transport and communications problems, as well as to support the additional infrastructure required for the airport project; 4. Calls upon the administering Power to take into account the concerns of Saint Helenians with regard to the right to nationality; X Turks and Caicos Islands Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on the Turks and Caicos Islands19 and other relevant information, Recalling the 2002 report of the Constitutional Modernization Review Body, which examined the existing Constitution and made recommendations on the internal structure of government and devolution of power from the appointed Governor to the elected Government, Welcoming the dispatch of the United Nations special mission to the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2006, at the request of the territorial Government and with the concurrence of the administering Power, which provided information to the people of the Territory on the role of the United Nations in the process of self- determination, on the legitimate political status options as clearly defined in General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) and on the experiences of other small States that have achieved a full measure of self-government, Taking note of the conclusions of the report of the United Nations special mission to the Turks and Caicos Islands,20 1. Recalls the statement made by the Chief Minister of the Territory at the Caribbean regional seminar held in Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from 17 to 19 May 2005, that his Government was in favour of a reasonable period of full internal self-government before moving to independence; 2. Takes note of the announcement made by the Chief Minister in 2006 of the conclusion of discussions between the territorial Government and the administering Power resulting in an agreement for an advance constitution, which would be circulated to the Government and the opposition for comment and to the general public for information, with the consultative process concluding with a debate in the Legislative Council; _______________ 19 A/AC.109/2006/15. 20 A/AC.109/2006/19. A/RES/61/128 A-B 14 3. Also takes note of the significant and steady period of economic expansion, in particular over the last decade, fuelled by the emergence of high-end tourism, and the need for attention to be paid to the enhancement of social cohesion in the Territory; XI United States Virgin Islands Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on the United States Virgin Islands21 and other relevant information, Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information provided by the representative of the Governor of the Territory at the Caribbean regional seminar held in Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from 17 to 19 May 2005, Noting the continuing interest of the territorial Government in seeking associate membership in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and observer status in the Caribbean Community and the pending request by the Territory to the administering Power for the delegation of authority to proceed, as well as the 2003 resolution of the territorial legislature in support of that request, Noting also the expressed interest of the territorial Government in being included in regional programmes of the United Nations Development Programme and in the records and archives management programme of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Recalling that the Territory has not received a United Nations visiting mission since 1977, and bearing in mind the formal request of the Territory for such a mission in 1993 to assist the Territory in its political education process and to observe the Territory’s only referendum on political status options in its history, Noting the ongoing cooperation between the territorial Government and Denmark on the repatriation of artefacts and archives, Also noting that the convening of a fifth Constitutional Convention to review the existing Revised Organic Act, which organizes the internal governance arrangement, has been postponed to 2007, 1. Requests the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals; 2. Once again requests the administering Power to facilitate the participation of the Territory, as appropriate, in various organizations, in particular the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Caribbean Community and the Association of Caribbean States; 3. Calls for the inclusion of the Territory in regional programmes of the United Nations Development Programme, consistent with the participation of other Non-Self-Governing Territories; 4. Welcomes the establishment of the Inter-Virgin Islands Council between the elected Governments of the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin _______________ 21 A/AC.109/2006/11. A/RES/61/128 A-B 15 Islands as a mechanism of functional cooperation between the two neighbouring Territories; 5. Notes the position of the territorial Government supporting the ownership and control of the natural resources of the Territory, including marine resources, and its calls for the return of those marine resources to its jurisdiction; 6. Welcomes the cooperation agreements existing between the Territory and Denmark, the former colonial Power of the Territory, on the exchange of artefacts and the repatriation of archival material. 79th plenary meeting 14 December 2006

UN Project. “A/RES/61/128A-B.” UN Project, https://un-project.org/votes/resolution/A-RES-61-128A-B/. Accessed .

Copy citation