23 November 1982

Question of the United States Virgin Islands

The General Assembly,

Having considered the question of the United States 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 United States Virgin Islands,

Noting with appreciation the continued active participation of the administering Power in the work of the Special Committee in regard to the United States Virgin Islands, thereby enabling it to conduct a more informed and meaningful examination of the situation in the Territory and expressing its satisfaction at the willingness of the administering Power to receive visiting missions in the Territories under its administration,

Having heard the statement of the administering Power,

Taking note of the fact that the proposed constitution submitted to a referendum on 3 November 1981 after an extensive debate was not accepted by the people of the Territory,

Bearing in mind that the territorial Government has taken positive steps by adopting legislation designed to solve the problem of aliens in the Territory,

Noting that the territorial Government has pursued its efforts to

diversify the economy and noting also the progress achieved in the fields of construction and manufacturing, including developments in oil refining and the production of alumina and rum,

Noting with satisfaction the efforts to revitalize health care programmes and to discourage juvenile delinquency, the measures to improve crime prevention and the action taken to expand and upgrade school facilities,

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 United States Virgin Islands;

2. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of the United States Virgin 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, size of population and limited natural resources should in no way delay the speedy implementation of the Declaration contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), which fully applies to the United States Virgin Islands;

4. Calls upon the administering Power, taking into account the freely expressed wishes of the people of the United States Virgin Islands, to take all necessary steps to expedite the process of decolonization in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the Declaration, as well as all other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly;

5. Reaffirms that it is the obligation of the administering Power, in consultation with the territorial Government, to inform the local people of the possibilities open to them, so as to enable them to exercise freely and without interference their inalienable right to self-determination and independence in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and, in this respect, calls upon the administering Power to facilitate the work of the recently established Status Commission and to ensure that the people are fully informed of the discussions concerning the future political status of the Territory;

6. Urges the administering Power to expedite the passage of legislation currently before the Congress of the United States of America concerning the problem of aliens in the Territory;

7. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Power under the Charter for the economic and social development of the Territory;

8. Urges the administering Power, in co-operation with the territorial Government, to strengthen the economy of the Territory by taking additional measures of diversification in all fields and developing an adequate infrastructure;

9. Urges the administering Power, in co-operation with the Government of the United States Virgin Islands, to safeguard the inalienable right of the people of the Territory to the enjoyment of their natural resources by taking effective measures which guarantee the right of the people to own and dispose of those resources and to establish and maintain control of their future

development;

10. Urges the administering Power, in co-operation with the territorial Government, to continue to improve social conditions and to pay particular attention to overcoming problems of unemployment, public housing, health care,

education and crime;

11. Considers that the possibility of sending a further visiting mission to the United States Virgin 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 United States Virgin 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.