Question of the British Virgin Islands : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Having considered the question of the British Virgin 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,

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 British Virgin Islands, including in particular General Assembly resolution 41/19 of 31 October 1986,

Conscious of the need to ensure the full and speedy implementation of the Declaration in respect of the Territory,

Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location and economic conditions of the Territory and bearing in mind the necessity of diversifying and strengthening further its economy as a matter of priority in order to promote economic stability,

Reaffirming that it is the responsibility of the administering Power to promote the economic and social development of the Territory,

Noting that, while tourism increased during the year under review, the contribution of other sectors to the Territory's gross domestic product declined, and noting the expressed commitment of the Government of the British Virgin Islands to achieve sound fiscal management and economic diversification, as well as to establish a national development strategy,

Welcoming the contributions to the development of the Territory by the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, particularly the United Nations Development Programme, as well as by regional organizations, including the Caribbean Development Bank,

Emphasizing the importance of the continued participation of the Territory in the Caribbean Group for Co-operation in Economic Development and in all other regional and international organizations concerned, and noting that the Territory was host to the Eleventh Meeting of Heads of Government of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States,

Noting the critical need for the training of nationals in technical, vocational, managerial and professional fields, and taking note, in a related context, of the expressed intention of the Governor to accord priority to the creation of an institution for post-secondary education,

Recalling the dispatch in 1976 of a United Nations visiting mission to the Territory,

Mindful that United Nations visiting missions provide an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the small Territories and considering that the possibility of sending a further visiting mission to the British Virgin Islands at an appropriate time should be kept under review,

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;

2.         Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of the British Virgin 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 territorial size, geographical location, size of population and limited natural resources should in no way delay the speedy exercise by the people of the Territory of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence in conformity with the Declaration, which fully applies to the British Virgin Islands;

4.         Reiterates that it is the responsibility of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as the administering Power, to create such conditions in the Territory as will enable the people of the British Virgin Islands to exercise freely and without interference their inalienable right to self-determination and independence in accordance with resolution 1514 (XV) and all other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly;

5.         Reaffirms that it is ultimately for the people of the British Virgin Islands themselves to determine freely their future political status in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the Declaration and, in that connection, reaffirms the importance of fostering an awareness among the people of the Territory of the possibilities open to them in the exercise of their right to self-determination;

6.         Calls upon the administering Power, in co-operation with the Government of the British Virgin Islands, to intensify its efforts to broaden the base of the economy of the Territory;

7.         Urges the administering Power, in co-operation with the territorial Government, to safeguard the inalienable right of the people of the British Virgin Islands to the enjoyment of their natural resources by taking effective measures to ensure their right to own and dispose of those natural resources and to establish and maintain control of their future development;

8.         Urges the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as the regional organizations concerned, to intensify measures to accelerate progress in the social and economic development of the Territory;

9.         Reiterates its call upon the administering Power to continue to facilitate the participation of the British Virgin Islands in various international and regional organizations and in other organizations of the United Nations system;

10.       Calls upon the administering Power, in co-operation with the territorial Government, to take all necessary measures to expand systematically the participation of the local population in the decision-making process in all sectors, as well as to appoint local persons to managerial and technical positions;

11.       Requests the Special Committee to continue the examination of this question at its next session, including the possible dispatch of a visiting mission to the British Virgin Islands at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Power, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its forty-third session.