delegations. Becauseithadsucceeded inattracting foreign investment, his country hadimproved itseconomy andthestandard oflivingofitspopulation. OwingtothesmallsizeoftheTerritory, vUlnerability tohurricanes andits propensity foruseasatransit fordrugtraffickers, theBritish VirginIslanders weregrateful forsupport fromthecontinued association withtheUnited Kingdom. TheTerritory neededtechnical andeducational assistance whichitwasreceiving fromtheEuropean Community andfromUnitedNations bodies. 42.Notingthatalthough theExecutive Council oftheBritish VirginIslands had adopted aresolution in1989stating thatitwouldnotencourage aUnitedNations visiting mission totheTerritory, hestatedthattheterritorial Government appreciated theroletheSpecial Committee hadplayed andcontinued toplayin urging theadministering Powerstocreateconditions thatwouldensure economic and social development intheirrespective Territories. Montserrat 43.Mr.JohnOsborne, ChiefMinister andMinister forFinance ofMontserrat, statedthatmostofthepeopleofMontserrat, particularly theyoung, wouldlike political independence, butweredeterred bythelackofabasicinfrastructure. Withassistance indeveloping itsinfrastructure, including aproperairport anda safeharbour, Montserrat coulddevelop aviable economy andoptforindependence. /...A/AC.I09/1043 English Page9 TheTerritory hadfailed toconvince theUnited Kingdom however, thatsuch assistance would removetheneedforfurther hand-outs. 44.Hepointed outthatitwouldbeamistake todemand independence underthe existing economic andphysical conditions inMontserrat andinmostofthe remaining Territories. Whilehebelieved intherighttoself-determination, the people werehindered fromexercising thatrightbecause oftheeconomic situation andalackofpreparatory support forindependence. 45.TheChiefMinister notedthatchanges intheBritish Nationality Acthad resulted inthedenial ofBritish nationality totheremaining blackcolonies, in contrast tonationals ofGibraltar andtheFalkland Islands (Malvinas). He considered thenewConstitution disgraceful. Ithadbeenimposed onMontserrat in December 1989without consultation, andhadtransferred powers concerning offshore banking fromtheMinister forFinance totheGovernor. HisGovernment had recognized certain weaknesses initsadministration ofoffshore banking andhad requested technical assistance. Instead, ithadreceived anewConstitution. 46.Hecouldnotseeanyevidence inMontserrat thattheUnited Kingdom was interested inpreparing theremaining Territories forindependence. Apartfrom direct assistance afterHurricane Hugo,theUnited Kingdom hadnotplayed anyrole inhelping theterritorial Government toprepare thepeople forindependence, either educationally oreconomically. "Hestressed that,without asound infrastructure, itwouldbeimpossible toconvince people toaccept independence. HeurgedtheCommittee toconvince theUnited Kingdom toprovide thenecessary aid andassistance todevelop theTerritory insuchawaythatitwouldsurvive after independence. 47.Toavoidcreating thewrongimpression, heclarified that,foravariety of reasons, noteveryone inMontserrat wanted independence atthepresent time. For most,itwasbasedonafearthattheeconomy wouldfalter. Although mostpeople wouldwishtoretain aspecial relationship withtheUnited Kingdom, hewouldlike Montserrat tobeinaposition inthenottoodistant futuretoexpress itsright toself-determination andjointheinternational community ofnations. 48.During anexchange ofviews, theChiefMinister statedthatMontserrat wasnot adependent Territory butacolony, whichcouldnot"depend" ontheadministering Power. Alltheservices inMontserrat werepaidforbylocalrevenues. TheUnited Kingdom provided development aid,asdidCanada, theUnited States andtheEuropean Community. 49.Montserrat another Power. assistance for independence.didnotwanttobecome independent onlytobecome theclient of Hecalled upontheinternational community toprovide thenecessary
**Analysis**
The text discusses the economic and political situation of the British Virgin Islands and Montserrat, with a focus on their dependence on the United Kingdom and their aspirations for independence. The Chief Minister of Montserrat highlights the lack of infrastructure and economic development as barriers to independence, and requests assistance from the international community to prepare the territory for self-determination.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade, Education