DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE SENDS A SPECIAL MISSION TO BERMUDA 28-31 MARCH 2005

 

NEW YORK, 28 March (UN Department of Political Affairs) -- A Special United Nations Mission led by Ambassador Julian R. Hunte of St. Lucia, Chairman of the Special Committee on Decolonization, will be visiting Bermuda from 28 to 31 March 2005.  The objective of the Mission is to gather information on the situation in Bermuda first-hand and to assess the type of assistance the United Nations system could provide in the self-determination process of Bermuda, as well as to participate in the activities organized by the Bermuda Independence Commission with the view to define the future status of the Territory.

Bermuda is a Non-Self-Governing Territory under the administration of the United Kingdom.  As administering Power, the United Kingdom is in charge of Bermuda’s foreign affairs and as such, has approved the invitation extended to the Special Committee by the Government of Bermuda at the behest of the Bermuda Independence Commission.

In addition to the Ambassador of St. Lucia, the delegation of the Special Committee includes the representatives of Bolivia, Congo, Dominica, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste, accompanied by a representative of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), an expert and two staff members of the Secretariat.

The Special Committee delegation will meet with the members of the Bermuda Independence Commission, representatives of the Government, political parties, administering Power and the public at large.  The Special Committee will inform Bermudians of the process of decolonization under the United Nations Charter and the mandate of the Special Committee.  The delegation will participate in interactive meetings organized by the Bermuda Independence Commission and will answer questions from the public.

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