Question of the British Virgin Islands.

31. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FOURTH COMMITTEE*
54. Question of the British Virgin Islands

The General Assembly, Having considered the question of the British Virgin Islands, Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and all other resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to the Territory, Having examined the relevant chapters 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] including in particular the report of the United Nations Visiting Mission dispatched to the Territory in May 1976 at the invitation of the administering Power, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,[2] Having heard the statement of the administering Power[3]

1. Approves the 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 relating to the British Virgin Islands;[4]

2. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of the British Virgin Islands to self-determination and independence in accordance with the Declaration;

3. Notes with satisfaction the conclusions and recommendations of the United Nations Visiting Mission dispatched to the Territory in May 1976[5] and expresses its appreciation to the members of the Visiting Mission for the constructive work accomplished and to the administering Power and the Government of the British Virgin Islands for the close co-operation and assistance extended to the Mission;

4. Requests the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as the administering Power, to continue to take all necessary measures, in consultation with the Government of the British Virgin Islands, to expedite the process of decolonization in the Territory in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the Declaration;

5. Endorses the view of the Visiting Mission that measures to promote the economic development of the British Virgin Islands are an important element in the process of self-determination and expresses the hope that the administering Power will continue to intensify and expand its programme of budgetary and development aid;

6. Requests the administering Power, in the light of the conclusions and recommendations of the Visiting Mission, to continue to enlist the assistance of the specialized agencies and other organizations within the United Nations system in the development and strengthening of the economy of the Territory, and requests those agencies and organizations to respond appropriately to the development needs of the British Virgin Islands;

7. Further requests the administering Power, in consultation with the Government of the British Virgin Islands, to pay particular attention to the training of qualified local personnel;

8. Requests the Special Committee to continue the full examination of this question at its next session in the light of the findings of the Visiting Mission, including the possible dispatch of a further mission to the British Virgin Islands at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Power, and to rep thereon to the General Assembly at its thirty-second session.

85th plenary meeting
1 December 1976

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[1] Ibid., Thirty-first Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/31/Rev.1), chaps. III and XXVIII. [2] Ibid., chap. XXVIII, annex. [3]3 Ibid., Thirty-first Session, Fourth Committee, 11th meeting, paras. 1-11; and ibid., Fourth Committee, Sessional Fascicle, corrigendum. [4] Ibid., Thirty-first Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/31/ Rev.1), chap. XXVIII. [5] Ibid., chap. XXVIII, annex, paras. 154-170.