- 2
There has been contact from time to time with the Governments of some
of the other Dependent Territories.
Of these, the British Virgin
Islands, the Cayman Islands, St Helena and Tristan da Cunha have
expressed no wish for independence. As Ascension Island has no
permanent inhabitants it will remain a dependency. Montserrat regards
independence as an ultimate goal but has expressed no desire for any
early moves in this direction. The Bermuda Government are keeping
the question under review. No discussions have taken place in the
case of Gibraltar, Hong Kong and Pitcairn Island.
As regards the West Indies Associated States, the Antiguan Government
obtained a mandate for early independence in the April 1980 elections
and a Constitutional Conference opened in London on 4 December to
discuss the details with all interested parties. The St Kitts-Nevis
Government have indicated that independence remains their long-term
goal, though they have not set a date. The Anguilla Bill to separate
Anguilla from the Associated State of St Kitts-Nevis, whereby it
has today received would revert to full dependent status, ie now awafting Royal Assent.
The Anguilla Government have expressed no wish for an early move
towards independence, though possibilities of constitutional advance
are under consideration.