A/RES/55/144 Welcoming the participation of an expert from the Legislative Council of St. Helena for the first time in the Pacific regional seminar, held at Majuro from 16 to 18 May 2000, 12 Aware of the establishment by the territorial Government of the Development Agency in 1995 to encourage private sector commercial development on the island, Also aware of the efforts of the administering Power and the territorial authorities to improve the socio-economic conditions of the population of St. Helena, in particular in the spheres of food production, continuing high unemployment and limited transport and communications, and calls for continuing negotiations to allow access to Ascension Island by civilian charter flights, Noting with concern the problem of unemployment on the island, and noting the joint action of the administering Power and the territorial Government to deal with it, 1. Notes that the administering Power has taken note of various statements made by members of the Legislative Council of St. Helena about the Constitution and is prepared to discuss them further with the people of St. Helena; 2. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 3. Requests the administering Power and relevant regional and international organizations to continue to support the efforts of the territorial Government to address the socio-economic development challenges, including high unemployment and the problems of limited transport and communications; X. Turks and Caicos Islands Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information on the political and economic situation in the Turks and Caicos Islands provided by the Cabinet Minister as well as a member of the legislature from the opposition of the Territory to the Caribbean regional seminar, held at St. John’s, from 21 to 23 May 1997, 13 Noting that the People’s Democratic Movement was elected to power in the Legislative Council elections held in March 1999, Also noting the efforts by the territorial Government to strengthen financial management in the public sector, including efforts to increase revenue, Noting with concern the vulnerability of the Territory to drug trafficking and related activities, as well as its problems caused by illegal immigration, Noting the need for continued cooperation between the administering Power and the territorial Government in countering drug trafficking and money-laundering, Welcoming the assessment by the Caribbean Development Bank in its 1999 report that the economic performance of the Territory remained strong, with an 12 A/55/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex, para. 39. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23. 13 See A/AC.109/2089, para. 29. 13