A/RES/64/104 A–B
Recalling the 1993 report of the Constitutional Commissioners, the 1996 debate
on the report in the Legislative Council of the Territory, the establishment of the
Constitutional Review Commission in 2004, the completion in 2005 of its report
providing recommendations on internal constitutional modernization and the debate
held in 2005 on the report in the Legislative Council, as well as the negotiations
between the administering Power and the territorial Government, which resulted in the
adoption of the new Constitution of the Territory in 2007,
Noting that the 2007 Constitution of the British Virgin Islands provides for a
Governor, who maintains reserved powers in the Territory, to be appointed by the
administering Power,
Noting also the view expressed in the aforementioned statement made by the
representative of the British Virgin Islands at the 2009 Caribbean regional seminar,
that, building on the conclusion of the recent internal constitutional modernization
exercise, the Territory’s focus was on economic development prior to a search for
independence,
Noting further the impact of the global financial crisis on the Territory’s financial
and tourism services sectors,
Cognizant of the potential usefulness of regional ties for the development of a
small island Territory,
Welcomes the new Constitution of the British Virgin Islands, which took
1.
effect in June 2007, and notes the continued need expressed by the territorial
Government for minor constitutional amendments in the years to come;
Requests the administering Power to assist the Territory by facilitating its
2.
work concerning public outreach efforts, consistent with Article 73 b of the Charter of
the United Nations and, in that regard, calls upon the relevant United Nations
organizations to provide assistance to the Territory, if requested;
Welcomes the efforts made by the Territory to focus its economic base more
3.
on local ownership and on professional service industries other than financial services;
V
Cayman Islands
Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on the Cayman
Islands 12 and other relevant information,
1F
Aware of the 2002 report of the Constitutional Modernization Review Commission,
which contained a draft constitution for the consideration of the people of the Territory,
the 2003 draft constitution offered by the administering Power and the subsequent
discussions between the Territory and the administering Power in 2003, and the
reopening of discussions between the administering Power and the territorial
Government on internal constitutional modernization, in 2006, which resulted in the
finalization of a new draft constitution in February 2009 and its subsequent acceptance
by referendum in May 2009,
Noting with interest the establishment of the Cayman Islands Constitutional
Review Secretariat, which began its work in March 2007 in support of the Territory’s
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12
A/AC.109/2009/8.
9