23 November 1983

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

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 Turks and Caicos Islands,

Taking into account the statement of the representative of the administering Power relating to the Territory, in which he said that his Government would fully respect the wishes of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands in determining the future constitutional status of the Territory, and bearing in mind the importance of fostering an awareness among the people of the Territory of the possibilities open to them,

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

Noting with appreciation the continued active participation of the administering Power in the work of the Special Committee in regard to the Turks and Caicos Islands, thereby enabling it to conduct a more informed and meaningful examination of the situation in the Territory, with a view to accelerating the process of decolonization for the purpose of the full implementation of the Declaration,

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 and to develop a wider economic base for the Territory,

Recalling all relevant resolutions of the United Nations relating to military bases and installations in colonial and Non-Self-Governing Territories,

Noting the arrangements made for university training abroad and for vocational training in the Territory,

Mindful that United Nations visiting missions provide an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the small Territories and expressing its satisfaction at the willingness of the administering Power to receive visiting missions in the Territories under its administration,

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;

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,contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV);

3. Reiterates the view that such factors as territorial size, geographical location, population and limited natural resources should in no way delay the speedy exercise by the people of the Territory of their inalienable right as set out in the Declaration contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), which fully applies to the Territory;

4. Reiterates that it is the obligation of the administering Power to create such conditions in the Territory as will enable the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands to exercise freely and without interference their inalienable right to self-determination and independence in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), as well as all other relevant resolutions of the Assembly;

5. Reaffirms that it is the responsibility of the administering Power under the Charter of the United Nations to develop its dependent Territories economically and socially and urges the administering Power, in consultation with the territorial Government, to take the necessary measures to promote the

economic and social development of the Turks and Caicos Islands and, in particular, to intensify and expand its programme of assistance in order to accelerate the development of the economic and social infrastructure of the Territory;

6. Emphasizes that greater attention should be paid to diversification of the economy, particularly in the promotion of agriculture and fisheries, for the benefit of the people of the Territory;

7. Recalls that it is the responsibility of the administering Power, in accordance with the freely expressed wishes of the people, to safeguard, guarantee and ensure the inalienable right of the people of the Territory

to the enjoyment of their natural resources by taking effective measures to guarantee their right to own and dispose of those 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 regional institutions such as the Caribbean Development Bank, to continue to pay special attention to the development needs of the Turks and Caicos Islands;

9. Reaffirms its strong conviction that the administering Power must ensure that military bases and installations do not hinder the people of the Territory from exercising their right to self-determination and independence in conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter and urges the administering Power to take all necessary measures to comply fully with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations relating to military bases and installations in colonial and Non-Self-Governing Territories;

10. Requests the administering Power, in consultation with the

territorial Government, to continue to provide the assistance necessary for the training of qualified local personnel in the skills essential to the development of various sectors of the society of the Territory;

11. Considers that the possibility of sending a further visiting mission to the Turks and Caicos Islands at an appropriate time should be kept under review;

12. Requests the Special Committee to continue the examination of this question at its next session, 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-eighth session.