TNAG-0926-FCO40-1144-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 27

land Islands and Tependencies

I would refer my honourable Friend to the statement I made on 2 December.

Turks and Caicos Islands

;

Talks were held in November 1979 with the then Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands and moves towards independence by 1982 were agreed in principle. The Government reconsidered their position just prior to the elections of November 1980 in which they were defeated. The present Government have

said that they prefer to move more slowly towards independence and have not proposed any date.

Of

There has been contact from time to time with the Governments of some of the other Dependent Territories. 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 dite. The Anguilla Bill to separate Anguilla from the Associated State of St Kitts-Nevis, whereby it would revert to full dependent status, has today received Royal Assent. The Anguilla Government have expressed no wish for an early move towards independence, though possibilities of constitutional advance are under consideration.

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