23 November 1982

Question of Montserrat

The General Assembly,

Having considered the question of Montserrat,

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,

Having also examined the report of the United Nations visiting mission dispatched to the Territory in August 1982, at the invitation of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as the administering Power,

Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,

Recalling also its resolution 36/62 of 25 November 1981 on the

question of five Territories, including Montserrat,

Having heard the statement of the representative of the

administering Power,

Mindful of the responsibility of the United Nations to help the people of Montserrat to realize their aspirations in accordance with the objectives set forth in the Declaration,

Recalling that the administering Power has the responsibility to ensure that the people of Montserrat are kept fully informed of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence, in accordance with the Declaration,

Aware of the special problems facing the Territory by virtue of its isolation, small size, limited resources and lack of infrastructure,

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 Montserrat;

2. Approves also the report of the United Nations visiting mission to Montserrat in 1982;

3. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of Montserrat to self-determination and independence in conformity with the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples;

4. Reiterates the view that such factors as size, geographical location, size of population and limited natural resources should in no way delay the speedy implementation of the process of self-determination in accordance with the Declaration, which fully applies to the Territory;

5. Commends, for appropriate action, the conclusions and recommendations of the visiting mission to the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as the administering Power, and to the Government of Montserrat;

6. Expresses its appreciation to the members of the visiting mission for the constructive work accomplished and to the administering Power, the territorial Government, the Legislative Council and the people of the Territory for the close co-operation and assistance extended to the mission;

7. Calls upon the administering Power to take the necessary measures to promote the political, economic and social development of Montserrat;

8. Calls upon the administering Power, in co-operation with the Government of Montserrat, to launch programmes of political education so that the people of the Territory may be fully informed of the options available to them in the exercise of their right to self-determination and independence;

9. Urges the administering Power to continue to intensify and expand its programme of aid in order to accelerate the development of the economic and social infrastructure of the Territory;

10. Requests the administering Power, in the light of the conclusions and recommendations of the visiting mission, to continue to enlist the assistance of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as other regional and international bodies, in the strengthening, development and diversification of the economy of the Territory;

11. 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 Montserrat at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Power, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its thirty-eighth session.