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 Resolutions

A/RES/58/108A-BView PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 19 Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, published in 2003.

What else is in this group?

15 documents · 2003–2015

Newer documents in this group exist (latest: 2015).

Year	Symbol	Title	Word length	Text similarity
2015	A/RES/70/102 A-B	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	—	–
2014	A/RES/69/105 A-B	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	—	–
2013	A/RES/68/95 A-B	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 resolutions	—	–
2013	A/RES/67/132 A-B	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 resolutions	—	–
2012	A/RES/66/89A-B	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 resolutions	—	–

This group bundles related documents that are not individually ordered.

What subjects does this mandate have?

15 subjects

American Samoa Question Anguilla Question Bermuda Question British Virgin Islands Question Cayman Islands Question Decolonization Guam Question Montserrat Question Non-Self-Governing Territories Pitcairn Question Political Status Saint Helena Question Self-Determination of Peoples Turks and Caicos Islands Question United States Virgin Islands Question

What’s in this document?

51 operative paragraphs

A

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;

Reaffirms also that, in the process of decolonization, there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination, which is also a fundamental human right;

Reaffirms further 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 calls upon the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial Governments, to facilitate programmes of political education in 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);

Requests the administering Powers to transmit to the Secretary-General information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter and other updated information and reports, including reports on the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories regarding their future political status as expressed in fair and free referendums and other forms of popular consultation, as well as the results of any informed and democratic processes consistent with practice under the Charter that indicate the clear and freely expressed wish of the people to change the existing status of the Territories;

Stresses the importance for it to be apprised of the views and wishes of the peoples of the Territories and to enhance its understanding of their conditions;

Reaffirms that United Nations visiting missions to the Territories at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Powers are an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, and requests the administering Powers and the elected representatives of the peoples of the Territories to facilitate the work 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 in this regard;

Reaffirms also 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;

Requests the Territories and the administering Powers to take all necessary measures to protect and conserve the environment of the Territories against any environmental degradation, and once again requests the specialized agencies concerned to continue to monitor environmental conditions in those Territories;

Calls upon the administering Powers, in cooperation with the respective territorial Governments, to continue to take all necessary measures to counter problems related to drug trafficking, money-laundering and other offences;

Notes the cooperative efforts of some Non-Self-Governing Territories to address the problem of illegal drugs, with a focus on demand reduction, education, treatment and legal issues;

Notes with concern that the plan of action for the first International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism¹⁰ was not fully implemented by 2000, and stresses the importance of implementing the plan of action for the Second International Decade, 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;

¹⁰See A/46/634/Rev.1 and Corr.1, annex.

Invites the administering Powers to participate fully in the work of the Special Committee and to enter into constructive dialogue with the Special Committee before the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly in order to implement the provisions of Article 73 e of the Charter and the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples for the period 2001-2010;

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;

Urges also the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to initiate or to continue to take all necessary measures to accelerate progress in the economic and social life of the Territories, and calls for closer cooperation between the Special Committee and the Economic and Social Council in furtherance of the provision of assistance to the Territories;

Notes that some Non-Self-Governing Territories have expressed concern at the procedure followed by one administering Power, contrary to the wishes of the Territories themselves, namely, of amending or enacting legislation for the Territories through Orders in Council, in order to apply to the Territories the international treaty obligations of the administering Power;

Takes note of statements made by the elected representatives of the Territories concerned and other appropriate authorities emphasizing their willingness to cooperate in all international efforts aimed at preventing abuse of the international financial system and to promote regulatory environments with highly selective licensing procedures, robust supervisory practices and well-established anti-money-laundering regimes;

Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on the implementation of decolonization resolutions since the declaration of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism;

Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question of the small Territories and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session with recommendations on appropriate ways to assist the peoples of the Territories in exercising their right to self-determination.

B

I.American Samoa

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;

Calls upon the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in the economic and social development of the Territory, including measures to rebuild financial management capabilities and strengthen other governmental functions of the Government of the Territory, and welcomes the assistance from the administering Power to the Territory in its recovery efforts following the recent floods;

Welcomes the invitation extended to the Special Committee by the Governor of American Samoa to send a visiting mission to the Territory, and calls upon the administering Power to facilitate such a mission;

II.Anguilla

Noting the continuation of the conduct of the constitutional and electoral reform review process in the Territory,

Welcoming the holding of the 2003 Caribbean regional seminar in Anguilla, the first time that the seminar has been held in a Non-Self-Governing Territory,

Noting the desire of the territorial Government and the people of Anguilla for a visiting mission by the Special Committee,

Aware of the efforts of the Government of Anguilla to continue to develop the Territory as a viable offshore centre and well-regulated financial centre for investors, by enacting modern company and trust laws, as well as partnership and insurance legislation, and computerizing the company registry system,

Noting the need for continued cooperation between the administering Power and the territorial Government in tackling the problems of drug trafficking and money-laundering,

Welcomes the emphasis placed in the initial stages of the constitutional and electoral reform review process on participation, information and education and the support provided by the United Nations Development Programme and the United Kingdom Government fund for good government;

Welcomes also the cooperation of the territorial Government of Anguilla and the United Kingdom in holding the 2003 Caribbean regional seminar in Anguilla, and notes that the staging of the seminar in a Non-Self-Governing Territory for the first time as well as a town hall meeting between the people of Anguilla and the Special Committee during the seminar contributed to its success;

Calls upon the administering Power and all States, organizations and United Nations agencies to continue to assist the Territory in social and economic development;

III.Bermuda

Noting the results of the independence referendum held on 16 August 1995, and conscious of the different viewpoints of the political parties of the Territory on the future status of the Territory,

Calls upon the administering Power to continue to work with the Territory for its socio-economic development;

Welcomes the agreement reached in June 2002 between the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Territory formally transferring the former military base lands to the territorial Government, and the provision of financial resources to address some of the environmental problems;

Welcomes also the convening in the Territory in March 2003 of an international conference on conservation in overseas territories and other small island States, which included governmental and non-governmental organizations to address issues of common concern;

IV.British Virgin Islands

Taking note of the steps currently being taken to review the Constitution with the aim of modernizing it,

Noting that the Territory continues to emerge as one of the world’s leading offshore financial centres, and that the financial services sector is becoming the cornerstone of the Government’s recurrent budget,

Noting also the need for continued cooperation between the administering Power and the territorial Government in countering drug trafficking and money-laundering,

Noting further that the Territory commemorated its annual British Virgin Islands-United States Virgin Islands Friendship Day on 31 May 2003 in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas,

Requests the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and all financial institutions to continue to provide the Territory with assistance for socio-economic development and the development of human resources, bearing in mind the vulnerability of the Territory to external factors;

V.Cayman Islands

Noting the formation for the first time of a political party in the Territory and the subsequent emergence of a party system in the Territory,

Taking note of the constitutional review process being undertaken by the territorial Government in consultation with the administering Power,

Noting the actions taken by the territorial Government to promote increased participation by the local population in the decision-making process in the economic and social sectors in the Cayman Islands,

Aware that the Territory has one of the highest per capita incomes in the region, a stable political climate and has emerged as one of the world’s leading offshore financial centres with virtually no unemployment,

Noting with concern the vulnerability of the Territory to drug trafficking, money-laundering and related activities, and noting the measures taken by the authorities to deal with those problems,

Noting the approval by the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly of the Territory’s Vision 2008 Development Plan, which aims to promote development that is consistent with the aims and values of Caymanian society,

Welcomes the completion of the report of the Constitutional Review Commission, which conducted an extensive review of the current Constitution, and the recommended changes, following public discussions with community groups and individuals, pursuant to the recommendations of the administering Power as stated in its White Paper entitled “Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories”;¹¹

¹¹A/AC.109/1999/1 and Corr.1, annex.

Requests the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to continue to provide the territorial Government with all required expertise to enable it to achieve its socio-economic aims;

Requests the administering Power, in consultation with the territorial Government, to continue to facilitate the expansion of the current programme of securing employment for the local population, in particular at the decision-making level;

VI.Guam

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,

Conscious that immigration into Guam has resulted in the indigenous Chamorros becoming a minority in their homeland,

Aware of the potential for diversifying and developing the economy of Guam through commercial fishing and agriculture and other viable activities,

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,¹²

¹²See A/AC.109/2058, para. 33 (20).

Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information on the political and economic situation in Guam provided by the representatives of the Territory at the 5th meeting of the Fourth Committee on 3 October 2002,¹³

¹³See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Fourth Committee, 5th meeting (A/C.4/57/SR.5), and corrigendum.

Concerned that the 2001 census figures in the Territory show that 23 per cent of the population lives in poverty,

Calls 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;

Requests the administering Power to continue to assist the elected territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals;

Also requests the administering Power, in cooperation with the territorial Government, to continue to transfer land to the original landowners of the Territory;

Further requests the administering Power 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;

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;

Also requests the administering Power to continue to support appropriate measures by the territorial Government aimed at promoting growth in commercial fishing and agricultural and other viable activities;

Calls upon the administering Power to facilitate a visiting mission to Guam as requested by the territorial Government;

VII.Montserrat

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 2003,¹⁴

¹⁴See A/58/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex, para. 24. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 23.

Noting with concern the dire 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, in particular Antigua and Barbuda and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and which continues to have enduring consequences upon 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 to deal with the consequences of the volcanic eruption,

Noting with concern that a number of the inhabitants of the Territory continue to live in shelters because of volcanic activity,

Noting that the Chief Minister of Montserrat assumed the chairmanship of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States in May 2003,

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;

Takes note of the completion of the report of the Constitutional Review Commission prepared after extensive consultations with Montserratians both in the Territory and abroad and the consensus that, while Montserratians reserve the right to future self-determination, independence is not a priority given the present socio-economic status of the Territory;

VIII.Pitcairn

Taking into account the unique nature of Pitcairn in terms of population and area,

Welcoming the participation of a representative of the Mayor of Pitcairn in the Caribbean regional seminar at The Valley, Anguilla, from 20 to 22 May 2003, and taking note of the concerns expressed by him with regard to the ongoing court case in the Territory,¹⁵

¹⁵See A/58/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex, para. 27. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 23.

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 its economic security;

IX.Saint Helena

Taking into account the unique character of Saint Helena, its population and its natural resources,

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 as regards food production, continuing high unemployment and limited transport and communications,

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,

Welcomes the acceptance by the administering Power of the majority of the proposals for constitutional change made by the territorial Government;

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;

X.Turks and Caicos Islands

Noting that the People’s Democratic Movement was elected to a third consecutive term in the Legislative Council elections held in March 2003,

Also noting the efforts by the Government of the Territory to strengthen financial management in the public sector, including efforts to increase revenue,

Noting with concern the vulnerability of the Territory to drug trafficking and related activities, as well as its problems caused by illegal immigration, and noting the need for continued cooperation between the administering Power and the territorial Government in countering drug trafficking and money-laundering,

Noting that the Chief Minister was elected as the chairman of the newly established Overseas Countries and Territories Association of Europe,

Welcomes the establishment of the Constitutional Review Commission, which embarked on a public education programme on the Constitution, ascertained the views of the population and made recommendations to the administering Power on changes which may be envisaged, pursuant to the recommendations as stated in its White Paper entitled “Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories”;10

Calls upon the administering Power and the relevant regional and international organizations to continue to provide assistance for the improvement of the economic, social, educational and other conditions of the population of the Territory;

Calls upon the administering Power and the territorial Government to continue to cooperate to counter problems related to money-laundering, smuggling of funds and other related crimes, as well as drug trafficking;

XI.United States Virgin Islands

Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information provided by the representative of the Governor of the Territory to the Caribbean regional seminar, held at The Valley, Anguilla, from 20 to 22 May 2003,¹⁶

¹⁶See A/58/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex, para. 30. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 23.

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 current request by the Territory to the administering Power for the delegation of authority to proceed,

Noting also the expressed interest of the territorial Government to be included in regional programmes of the United Nations Development Programme,

Noting further the necessity of further diversifying the economy of the Territory,

Noting the efforts of the Government of the Territory to promote the Territory as an offshore financial services centre,

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 that the Territory commemorated its annual British Virgin Islands-United States Virgin Islands Friendship Day on 31 May 2003 in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas,

Requests the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals;

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;

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;

Notes the economic difficulties being experienced by the territorial Government and the fiscal austerity measures being implemented, and others proposed, to relieve the Territory’s cash flow shortage, and calls upon the administering Power to continue to provide every assistance required by the Territory to further alleviate the difficult economic situation, including, inter alia, the provision of debt relief and loans;

Notes with interest the entering into force in 2001 of the joint memorandum of cooperation on the exchange of artefacts between the Territory and Denmark, the Territory’s former administering Power, as a companion agreement to the 1999 memorandum for the repatriation of archival material from the Danish colonial period, consistent with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on 8 September 2001,¹⁷ and once again requests the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, under its records and archives management programme, to assist the Territory in carrying out its archival and artefacts initiative;

¹⁷See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I.

Notes the position of the territorial Government, including its articulation in resolution 1609 of 9 April 2001 of the 24th Legislature of the United States Virgin Islands, opposing the assumption by the administering Power of submerged land in territorial waters, having regard to relevant resolutions of the General Assembly on the ownership and control of natural resources, including marine resources, by the people of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and its calls for the return of those marine resources to the people of the Territory;

Notes with concern that the 2000 census figures for the Territory indicate that 32.5 per cent of the population is living in poverty.