A/RES/55/144 3. Requests the administering Power to elaborate, in consultation with the territorial Government, programmes specifically intended to alleviate the economic, social and environmental consequences of the closure of the military bases and installations of the United States of America in the Territory; IV. British Virgin Islands Noting the completion of a constitutional review in the Territory and the coming into force of the amended Constitution, and noting also the results of the general elections held on 17 May 1999, Noting also the results of the constitutional review of 1993-1994, which made it clear that a prerequisite to independence must be a constitutionally expressed wish by the people as a result of a referendum, Taking note of the statement made in 1995 by the Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands that the Territory was ready for constitutional and political advancement towards full internal self-government and that the administering Power should assist through the gradual transfer of power to elected territorial representatives, Noting that the Territory is emerging as one of the world’s leading offshore financial centres, Noting also the need for continued cooperation between the administering Power and the territorial Government in countering drug trafficking and moneylaundering, Noting further that the Territory commemorated its annual British Virgin Islands-United States Virgin Islands Friendship Day on 27 May 2000 in official ceremonies in Tortola, 1. 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; 2. Requests the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and all financial institutions to continue to provide assistance to the Territory for socio-economic development and the development of human resources, bearing in mind the vulnerability of the Territory to external factors; 3. Welcomes the assessment by the Caribbean Development Bank in its 1999 report that the Territory enjoyed continued expansion of the financial services sector and tourism industries, and also welcomes the provision to the Territory of 21.1 million United States dollars in technical assistance loans by the Bank, including 19.9 million dollars to assist with the financing of the Beef Island Airport; V. Cayman Islands Noting the constitutional review of 1992-1993, according to which the population of the Cayman Islands expressed the sentiment that the existing relations with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland should be maintained and that the current status of the Territory should not be altered, 8

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