A/RES/71/117
Question of the Turks and Caicos Islands
Convinced that the wishes and aspirations of the people of the Territory should
continue to guide the development of their future political status and that
referendums, free and fair elections and other forms of popular consultation play an
important role in ascertaining the wishes and aspirations of the people,
Concerned by the use and exploitation of the natural resources of the
Non-Self-Governing Territories by the administering Powers for their benefit, by
the use of the Territories as tax havens to the detriment of the world economy and
by the consequences of any economic activities of the administering Powers
that are contrary to the interests of the people of the Territories, as well as to
resolution 1514 (XV),
Convinced that any negotiations to determine the status of the Territory must
take place with the active involvement and participation of the people of the
Territory, under the auspices of the United Nations, on a case -by-case basis, and
that the views of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands in respect of their right
to self-determination should be ascertained,
Noting the continued cooperation of the Non-Self-Governing Territories at the
local and regional levels, including participation in the work of regional organizations,
Mindful that, in order for the Special Committee to enhance its understanding
of the political status of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands and to fulfil its
mandate effectively, it is important for it to be apprised by the administering Power
and to receive information from other appropriate sources, including the
representatives of the Territory, concerning the wishes and aspirations of the people
of the Territory,
Aware of the importance both to the Turks and Caicos Islands and to the
Special Committee of the participation of elected and appointed representatives of
the Turks and Caicos Islands in the work of the Committee,
Recognizing the need for the Special Committee to ensure that the appropriate
bodies of the United Nations actively pursue a public awar eness campaign aimed at
assisting the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands with their inalienable right to
self-determination and in gaining a better understanding of the options for self determination, on a case-by-case basis,
Mindful, in that connection, that the holding of regional seminars in the
Caribbean and Pacific regions and at Headquarters, with the active participation of
representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, provides a helpful means for
the Special Committee to fulfil its mandate and that the regional nature of the
seminars, which alternate between the Caribbean and the Pacific, is a crucial
element in the context of a United Nations programme for ascertaining the political
status of the Territories,
Welcoming the Pacific regional seminar held by the Special Committee in
Managua and hosted by the Government of Nicaragua from 31 May to 2 June 2016
as a significant and forward-looking event, which enabled the participants to assess
the progress made in the decolonization process and to review the existing working
methods of the Committee and renew its momentum in implementing its historic
task,
Recognizing the importance of the conclusions and recommendations adopted
by the seminar, which are annexed to the report of the Special Committee 5 and
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Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-first Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/71/23).