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Argentina. The islanders resist the Argentine claim to
sovereignty; want to remain British.
Gibraltar (Population 31,760)
No pressure for independence.
9. Ministerial system of government; Governor has usual
reserved powers. Independence blocked for political reasons
(Article 10 of the Treaty of Utrecht: if Gibraltar ceases to be
a United Kingdom dependency, Spain has first claim on territory).
1967 Referendum confirmed overwhelmingly Gibraltarians' wish
to retain United Kingdom connections.
Montserrat (Population 12,500)
10. Constitutionally advanced; very few powers remain to
Governor. A Ministerial system of Government. No indications of wish to proceed to independence in foreseeable future but
this could change.
St Helena and Dependencies(Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha)
(Population 6, 450)
11. Backward constitutionally. Governor has full powers; advised
by Legislative and Executive Councils. Administrators on Tristan da Cunha and Ascension, with equally full powers, are responsible
to the Governor of St Helena. Independence impracticable for St Helena; attempts being made to stimulate economy. Not feasible for Tristan da Cunha either although relatively prosperous.
Ascension has no indigenous population.
Turks and Caicos Islands (Population 6,500)
12. A Ministerial system of Government; Governor retains usual
reserved powers.
New Government elected in November 1980 supports
independence in due course but gives immediate priority to
economic development.
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