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http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/topstory-No-decolonisation-for-Montserrat-11133.html
No decolonisation for Montserrat
Published on June 1, 2012
by Nerissa Golden
BRADES, Montserrat (GIU) -- Premier Reuben Meade on Wednesday asked that
Montserrat be removed from the list of non-self-governing countries
within the United Nations’ decolonisation discussions.
The leader of the government of Montserrat made the announcement during
his presentation at the UN Special Committee on the situation with
regard to the implementation of the declaration on the granting of
independence to colonial countries and peoples, also known as the
Special Committee of 24, Regional Pacific Seminar on Decolonization in
Quito, Ecuador, which runs from 30 May to 1 June 2012.
Under the umbrella of the Third International Decade for the Eradication
of Colonialism (2011-2020), the seminar will discuss current realities
in decolonisation and prospects for progress. The main conversation will
centre on the 16 non-self-governing territories under the Special
Committee’s purview in the Pacific, Caribbean, and other regions, as
well as United Nations system assistance. The seminar’s conclusions and
recommendations will be considered by the Special Committee at its
substantive session in June and subsequently transmitted to the General
Assembly.
Meade said the people of Montserrat have made their choice in choosing
to continue as an overseas territory of the United Kingdom and do not
see themselves as being a colony.
He laid out the island’s constitutional history, starting with the
letters patent in the 17th century. He chronicled Montserrat’s latest
journey, which brought into effect the 2010 Constitutional Order which
gave the local cabinet of ministers the right to make all executive
decisions, among other improvements.
“We are fully internally self-governing, we pass our own laws, we make
our own decisions, and we make our own monetary policies as part of the
OECS Monetary Union. Despite the fact that the police and the public
service are within the governor's remit, we pay their bills and as a
consequence exercise a major voice in their management. All executive
decisions are made by the local cabinet of ministers. We have on 1st May
2012, signed a MoU with the Department for International Development,
which focuses on Montserrat's sustainable development plan. This
indicates the commitments of DfID and those of Montserrat in making this
possible. As a show of immediate support we have obtained financing for
geothermal exploration which will enable us to be fully non reliant on
fossil fuels in favour of renewable energy by 2015.
“It is useful to note as well that whereas we have full citizenship
rights in the UK with all of its attendant benefits, on the other hand,
non-Montserratian British nationals do not have right of abode in
Montserrat.”
The premier added that “Montserrat is a full member of both the
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and CARICOM with
unfettered voting powers in those Organisations except in areas of
international foreign policy. We are also full members of a Monetary
Union with all of the attendant rights. We have individual tax
information exchange agreements with third countries and operating
memoranda of understanding with third countries. We are full members of
the OECS Supreme Court.
“The conclusion therefore is that the UK overseas territory of
Montserrat has by choice determined that they wish to continue being
part of the UK for the time being. We no longer see ourselves as being a
colonized people on the basis of the seven elements of the 947th UN
Plenary of 14 December 1960. We see ourselves as being part of the UK
family by choice. It is therefore my recommendation that this UN
decolonisation committee remove Montserrat from their list of
non-self-governing countries, within their decolonisation discussions. I
am also certain that the UK supports our stance.
Meade called for the committee to “focus its resources on sustainable
development issues in the Montserrat context. Let us use the democratic
process and let the people decide. The people must be given a choice
which they will freely make. They have made their choice and do not need
this committee to create the myth that we are held in a colonial state
against our wishes. We all have a right by constitutional provision and
will exercise that right when we as a people deem it appropriate to do
so.”
The non-self-governing territories are American Samoa, Anguilla,
Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands
(Malvinas), Gibraltar, Guam, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Saint
Helena, Tokelau, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States Virgin Islands
and Western Sahara.
The Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism was
established by the UN General Assembly in a resolution adopted in
December 2010.
The annual Secretariat working papers on each territory are available on
the United Nations decolonisation website www.un.org/en/decolonization.
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