Question of the Cayman Islands

  The General Assembly, Having considered the question of the Cayman Islands, Having examined the relevant chapters of the report of the SpecialCommittee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of theDeclaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing theDeclaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,and all other resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to theCayman Islands, Noting the statement of the representative of the administering Powerrelating to the Territory, in which he said that his Government would fullyrespect the wishes of the people of the Cayman Islands in determining thefuture constitutional status of the Territory, Conscious of the need to ensure the full and speedy implementation of theDeclaration in respect of the Territory, Noting that, in the period under review, the economy of the Territory hascontinued to sustain sound rates of growth, especially in the tourist,international finance and real estate industries, Mindful that United Nations visiting missions provide an effective meansof ascertaining the situation in the small Territories and expressing itssatisfaction at the willingness of the administering Power to receive visitingmissions in the Territories under its administration, Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location andeconomic conditions of the Territory and bearing in mind the necessity ofdiversifying and strengthening further the economy as a matter of priority inorder to promote economic stability,

1. Approves the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on theSituation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Grantingof Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the CaymanIslands;

2. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of the Cayman Islandsto self-determination and independence in conformity with the Declaration onthe Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained inGeneral Assembly resolution 1514 (XV);

3. Reiterates the view that such factors as territorial size,geographical location, size of population and limited natural resources shouldin no way delay the speedy implementation of the process of self-determinationin accordance with the Declaration contained in General Assembly resolution1514 (XV), which fully applies to the Cayman Islands;

4. Notes with appreciation the active participation of theadministering Power in the work of the Special Committee in regard to theCayman Islands, thereby enabling it to conduct a more informed and meaningfulexamination of the situation in the Territory, with a view to accelerating theprocess of decolonization for the purpose of the full implementation of theDeclaration;

5. Reiterates that it is the responsibility of the administering Powerto create such conditions in the Territory as will enable the people of theCayman Islands to exercise freely and without interference their inalienableright to self-determination in accordance with General Assembly resolution1514 (XV), as well as all other relevant resolutions of the Assembly;

6. Reaffirms that it is ultimately for the people of the Cayman Islandsthemselves to determine their future political status in accordance with therelevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the Declarationand reaffirms the importance of fostering an awareness among the people of theTerritory of the possibilities open to them in the exercise of their right toself-determination;

7. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Power for theeconomic and social development of the Territory and urges it, in co-operationwith the territorial Government, to render continuing support to thedevelopment, to the fullest extent possible, of programmes of economicdiversification which will benefit the people of the Territory;

8. Urges the administering Power, in co-operation with the territorialGovernment, to safeguard the inalienable right of the people of the Territoryto the enjoyment of their natural resources by taking effective measures toensure their right to own and dispose of those resources and to establish andmaintain control of their future development;

9. Urges the specialized agencies and other organizations of the UnitedNations system, as well as regional institutions such as the CaribbeanDevelopment Bank, to take measures to accelerate progress in the social andeconomic life of the Cayman Islands;

10. Welcomes the continuing assistance provided to the Territory by theUnited Nations Development Programme, amounting to $US 448,000 for the period1982-1986;

11. Considers that the possibility of sending a further visiting missionto the Cayman Islands at an appropriate time should be kept under review;

12. Requests the Special Committee to continue the examination of thisquestion at its next session, including the possible dispatch of a visitingmission to the Cayman Islands at an appropriate time and in consultation withthe administering Power, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at itsthirty-eighth session.