Question of Turks and Caicos Islands.

35. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FOURTH COMMITTEE
25. Question of the Turks and Caicos Islands

The General Assembly, Having considered the question of the Turks and Caicos Islands, 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] as well as the report of the United Nations Visiting Mission dispatched to the Territory by the Special Committee in April 1980[2] at the invitation of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as the administering Power, Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Recalling also its resolution 34/34 of 21 November 1979 on the question of five Territories, including the Turks and Caicos Islands, Having heard the statements of the representative of the administering Power,[3] Mindful of the responsibility of the United Nations to help the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands to realize their aspirations in accordance with the objectives set forth in the Declaration, Recalling that the administering, Power has the responsibility to ensure that the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands are kept fully informed of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence, in accordance with the Declaration, Aware of the special problems facing the Territory by virtue of its isolation, small size, limited resources and lack of infrastructure,

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 Turks and Caicos Islands[4] and takes note of the report of the United Nations Visiting Mission to the Turks and Caicos Islands, 1980;

2. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands to self-determination and independence in conformity with the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples;

3. Reiterates the view that such factors as size, geographical location, size of population and limited natural resources should in no way delay the speedy implementation of the process of self-determination in accordance with the Declaration, which fully applies to the Territory;

4. Recognizes that the presence of military bases and other installations could constitute an impediment to the implementation of the Declaration, and reaffirms its conviction that the presence of foreign military bases and installations should not prevent the peoples of colonial and dependent Territories from exercising their right to self-determination and independence in accordance with the Declaration and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations;

5. Commends, for appropriate action, the conclusions and recommendations of the Visiting Mission[5] to the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as the administering Power, and to the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands;

6. Expresses its appreciation of the constructive work accomplished by the Visiting Mission and of the close co-operation and assistance extended to the Mission by the administering Power, the territorial Government, the Legislative Council and the people of the Territory;

7. Calls upon the administering Power to take the necessary measures to promote the economic development of the Turks and Caicos Islands in accordance with the Declaration as an important element in the process of self-determination and independence, and urges the administering Power to continue to intensify and expand its programme of aid in order to accelerate the development of the economic and social infrastructure of the Territory;

8. 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, as well as other regional and international bodies, in the strengthening, development and diversification of the economy of the Territory;

9. Welcomes the invitation of the Government of the United Kingdom to the Special Committee to dispatch a further visiting mission to observe the general elections held in the Territory on 4 November 1980;

10. Requests the Special Committee to continue the examination of this question at its next session in the light of the findings of the visiting missions, including the possible dispatch of a further visiting mission to the Turks and Caicos Islands, at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Power, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its thirty-sixth session.

57th plenary meeting
11 November 1980

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[1] Ibid., chaps. III-V and XXVIII. [2] A/AC.109/636 and Add.1, Add.2 and Add.2/Corr.1 and Add.3. [3]4 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-fifth Session, Fourth Committee, 11th meeting, paras. 40-44, and 27th meeting, para. 52. [4] Ibid., Thirty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/35/Rev. 1), chap. XXVIII. [5] A/AC. 109/636/Add.2 and Corr. 1, paras. 416-440.