TNAG-1218-FCO40-1523-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1983 — Page 54

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[Defensive, if raised

Belize

I note my right honourable Friend's comments about Belize.

Belize had internal self-government since 1964, but full

independence was delayed by Guatemala's long-standing claim.

The People's United Party had won all the general elections held since 1964. It had stood from the first on an independence platform. There was a large majority in Belize in favour of

independence. In November 1980, a UN General Assembly

resolution reaffirming Belize's right of self-determination,

independence and territorial integrity was approved, calling on

Her Majesty's Government to convene a Constitutional Conference

to bring Belize to early independence. Independence was granted

on 21 September 1981. It was agreed that the British garrison

would remain for an appropriate period.

Moves to settle the territorial dispute with Guatemala

continued in parallel with arrangements for independence with Belize. Since independence, it has been HMG's policy to

encourage the two parties to reach an agreement, although no

# agreement has yet been reached. 1

I should like to touch briefly on these remaining

territories.

Caribbean Dependent Territories

But

In the Caribbean, our general policy applies to each of the

five territories in the area: Anguilla, British Virgin Islands,

Cayman Islands, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos Islands. Independence is an option available to them all.

constitutionally and economically each presents a different

problem. Montserrat is constitutionally as far advanced as it

can be, short of an agreed time-table for independence; the

Cayman Islands have still a long way to go but seem content to

remain at their present stage of constitutional development.

Economically, we have, at one end of the scale the developed,

wealthy Caymans which no longer receive any British aid; at the