CONFIDENTIAL
NOTES ON DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
ANGUILLA
BELIZE
BERMUDA
BRITISH ANTARCTIC TERRITORY
BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY
Present Constitution and Prospects for Independence
Ministerial constitution introduced after elections in March 1976. Island will continue formally to be part of the Associated State of St Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla until St Kitts-Nevis achieves independence, or unless previously separated.
Advanced Ministerial Constitution. Only obstacle to independence lies in the territorial claim of Guatemala. Further attempts are being made to resolve the claim by negotiations but no date can yet be postulated for independence.
There have been no formal constitutional changes since the 1973 amendments to the 1968 Constitution and no further advance short of independence is possible. A Green Paper on Independence was published in July 1977 for public discussion leading to a debate on the subject in the House of Assembly.
The British Antarctic Territory is administered by a High Commissioner who is also Governor of the Falkland Islands. There are no indigenous inhabitants and the population is confined entirely to scientists from the British Antarctic Survey and from other countries. No constitutional development possible.
The
The
The British Indian Ocean Territory was established by an Order-in- Council in 1965 from outer islands of Mauritius and Seychelles. Territory now comprises the islands of the Chagos Archipelago. main islands are Diego Garcia, Salomon and Peros Banhos, lying approximately 2,000 miles east of Mombasa. Until 1976 BIOT also included the islands of Aldabra, Desroches and Farquhar, which reverted to the Seychelles on that country's independence. The former inhabitants of BIOT contract workers and their families were transferred to Mauritius or Seychelles. No constitutional development possible.
Considerations affecting Aid Policy
Grant-aided.
Unlikely to
become economically viable.
Not grant-aided. Potentially viable economy.
Economically viable: receives no aid and no aid policy questions arise.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
/In a
CONFIDENTIAL
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