DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE CONCLUDES VISIT TO TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

 

NEW YORK, 11 April (Department of Political Affairs) -- A delegation of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization, led by Ambassador Julian R. Hunte of Saint Lucia, ended its four-day visiting mission to the Turks and Caicos Islands on 7 April.  The delegation was invited to the Islands by the Turks and Caicos Government to assess the political, social and economic development of the Territory and to provide information on the United Nations decolonization mandate and the issue of self-determination.  The visit had the concurrence of the United Kingdom, the administering Power of the Territory.

In addition to the Ambassador of Saint Lucia, the delegation included representatives of Fiji and Tunisia, and was accompanied by a representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Jamaica, an independent expert, and a Senior Political Affairs Officer from the United Nations Secretariat.

During its visit, the delegation was received by the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Richard Tauwhare; the Chief Minister, Michael Misick, and his Cabinet; the Leader of the Opposition, Derek Taylor, and Opposition Members of the Legislative Council; the Speaker of the Legislative Council; the Public Service Commission; and members of the Constitutional Review Body.  The delegation also met with the Chambers of Commerce of Grand Turk and Providenciales, with the Providenciales Ministerial Fellowship and Civic Groups, and with college and high school students.  At town hall meetings in both Grand Turk and Providenciales, members of the delegation shared the experience of their countries’ transitions to independence and responded to questions from the general public regarding self-determination and the assistance that the United Nations system can provide to non-self-governing territories

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For information media • not an official record