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/59/134A-BNo PDF available

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 20Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, published in 2005.

What else is in this group?

15 documents · 2003–2015

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

2015A/RES/70/102 A-BQuestions 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 IslandsCompare with earlier document
2014A/RES/69/105 A-BQuestions 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 IslandsCompare with earlier document
2013A/RES/68/95 A-BQuestions 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 resolutionsCompare with earlier document
2013A/RES/67/132 A-BQuestions 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 resolutionsCompare with earlier document
2012A/RES/66/89A-BQuestions 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 resolutionsCompare with earlier document

This group bundles related documents that are not individually ordered.

Grouped automatically by matching titles within the same organ.

What does this mandate say?

38 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, as recognized under the relevant human rights conventions;

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 reiterates its long-standing call for the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial Governments, to promote 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 continue to transmit to the Secretary-General information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter;

Stresses the importance 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 being apprised of the views and wishes of the peoples of the Territories and enhancing its understanding of their conditions, including the nature and scope of the existing political and constitutional arrangements between the Non-Self-Governing Territories and their respective administering Powers;

Reaffirms 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 Special Committee to continue to follow closely the developments in legislation in the area of international financial services and its impact on the economy in some of the Territories;

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

Welcomes the participation of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in regional activities, including the work of regional organizations;

Stresses the importance of implementing the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,2 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;

Invites the administering Powers to participate fully in the work of the Special Committee in order to implement the provisions of Article 73 e of the Charter and the Declaration;

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;

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 the constitutional reviews in the Territories administered by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and led by the territorial Governments;

Reiterates its requests to the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on the implementation of decolonization resolutions since the proclamation of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism for the purpose of a midterm review in 2005;

Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth 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 on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the Governor of American Samoa at the Pacific regional seminar held in Madang, Papua New Guinea, from 18 to 20 May 2004, to send a visiting mission to the Territory, calls upon the administering Power to facilitate such a mission and requests the Chairman of the Special Committee to take all the necessary steps to that end;

II.Anguilla

Taking note of the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government,

Recalling 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,

Welcomes the constitutional review process led by the Government of Anguilla in cooperation with the administering Power;

Recalls the cooperation of the territorial Government of Anguilla and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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;

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,

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;

Decides to closely follow the territorial consultations on the future status of Bermuda and to facilitate assistance to the Territory in a public educational programme, if requested, as well as to hold consultations and to make all necessary arrangements to have a visiting mission to the Territory;

IV.British Virgin Islands

Taking note of the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government,

Noting that the Territory continues to emerge as one of the world’s leading offshore financial centres,

Welcomes the constitutional review process led by the Government of the British Virgin Islands in cooperation with the administering Power;

V.Cayman Islands

Taking note of the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government,

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 continuing constitutional review process led by the Government of the Cayman Islands in cooperation with the administering Power;

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,

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;

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,

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 for 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,

Taking note of the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government,

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;

Welcomes the continuing constitutional review process led by the Government of Montserrat in cooperation with the administering Power;

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 Pacific regional seminar, held in Madang, Papua New Guinea, from 18 to 20 May 2004, and taking note of the positive developments in the Territory,

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 their economic security;

IX.Saint Helena

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

Taking note of the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government,

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 in the sphere of 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 continuing constitutional review process led by the Government of Saint Helena in cooperation with the administering Power;

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 the results of the general elections held in April 2003,

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

Taking note of the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government,

Welcomes the continuing constitutional review process led by the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands in cooperation with the administering Power;

XI.United States Virgin Islands

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 pending request by the Territory to the administering Power for the delegation of authority to proceed, as well as the 2003 resolution of the territorial legislature in support of that request,

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

Noting further 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 the ongoing cooperation between the territorial Government and Denmark on the exchange of artefacts and archives,

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 also 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 within its jurisdiction.

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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

Who created this mandate?

What else is in this group?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What does this mandate say?

A

B

I.American Samoa

II.Anguilla

III.Bermuda

IV.British Virgin Islands

V.Cayman Islands

VI.Guam

VII.Montserrat

VIII.Pitcairn

IX.Saint Helena

X.Turks and Caicos Islands

XI.United States Virgin Islands

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