Question of the British Virgin Islands

Publisher	UN General Assembly
Author	UN General Assembly (37th sess. : 1982-1983)
Publication Date	23 November 1982
Citation / Document Symbol	A/RES/37/23
Reference	37
Cite as	UN General Assembly, Question of the British Virgin Islands, 23 November 1982, A/RES/37/23, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3b00f01c30.html [accessed 11 October 2022]

The General Assembly,

Having considered the question of the British Virgin 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 andPeoples,

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 theBritish Virgin Islands,

Taking into account the statement of the representative of theadministering Power relating to the Territory, in which he said that hisGovernment would fully respect the wishes of the people of the British VirginIslands in determining the future political status of the Territory,

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

Noting with appreciation the continued active participation of theadministering Power in the work of the Special Committee in regard to theBritish Virgin Islands, thereby enabling it to conduct a more informed andmeaningful examination of the situation in the Territory, with a view toaccelerating the process of decolonization for the purpose of the fullimplementation of the Declaration,

Reaffirming the responsibility of the administering Power for theeconomic and social development of the Territory,

Taking note of the fact that positive economic developments have occurredduring the period under review, including the achievement of a sustainedgrowth in the tourist, real estate and construction industries,

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

Noting that the United Nations Development Programme has made budgetaryprovisions for the Territory amounting to $US 240,000 for the period 1982-1986,

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,

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 BritishVirgin Islands;

2. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of the British VirginIslands to self-determination and independence in conformity with theDeclaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,contained in General 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 Declaration contained inGeneral Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), which fully applies to the BritishVirgin Islands;

4. Reiterates that it is the responsibility of the administering Powerto create such conditions in the Territory as will enable the people of theBritish Virgin Islands to exercise freely and without interference theirinalienable right to self-determination in accordance with General Assemblyresolution 1514 (XV), as well as all other relevant resolutions of theAssembly;

5. Reaffirms that it is ultimately for the people of the British VirginIslands themselves to determine their future political status in accordancewith the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and theDeclaration and reaffirms the importance of fostering an awareness among thepeople of the Territory of the possibilities open to them in the exercise oftheir right to self-determination;

6. Calls upon the administering Power, in consultation with the freelyelected authorities of the territorial Government, to take all necessary stepsto ensure the full and speedy attainment of the objectives of decolonizationset out in the Charter and the Declaration and all other relevant resolutionsof the United Nations;

7. Notes the continuing commitment of the territorial Government to thegoal of economic diversification, particularly in the areas of agriculture,fisheries and small industries, and calls upon the administering Power, inconsultation with the local authorities, to intensify its efforts in thisregard in order to offset the recent decline in agricultural production;

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 British Virgin Islands;

10. Considers that the possibility of sending a further visiting missionto the British Virgin Islands at an appropriate time should be kept underreview;

11. Requests the Special Committee to continue the examination of thisquestion at its next session, including the possible dispatch of a visitingmission to the British Virgin Islands at an appropriate time and inconsultation with the administering Power, and to report thereon to theGeneral Assembly at its thirty-eighth session.

Question of the British Virgin Islands

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