A/RES/48/51 Page 17 Aware that the insurance crisis in the United States Virgin Islands affects home-owners and has an adverse impact on the Territory’s real estate market, Noting that the question of the transfer of Water Island to the Territory is still under consideration, Noting also the steps taken by the territorial authorities to acquire the St. Thomas Harbour, including the West Indian Company, Noting further the continuing interest of the territorial Government in seeking associate membership in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and observer status in the Caribbean Community, and its inability, for financial reasons, to participate in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization, Recalling the dispatch in 1977 of a United Nations visiting mission to the Territory and the request by the territorial Government for the dispatch of a United Nations mission to the Territory to observe the referendum process, 1. Notes the consultative character of the referendum which was held on 11 October 1993; 2. Notes also the concerns raised in the Territory, prior to the referendum, on the questions of residency requirements and the availability of information on this political process; 3. Requests the administering Power to assist the territorial Government in its efforts to attract light manufacturing and other enterprises to the Territory in order to diversify its economy; 4. Invites the administering Power, as a matter of urgency, to facilitate the transfer of Water Island to the territorial Government; 5. Reiterates its request to the administering Power to facilitate as appropriate the participation of the Territory in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and the Caribbean Community, as well as in various international and regional organizations, including the Caribbean Group for Cooperation in Economic Development of the World Bank, in accordance with the policy of the administering Power and the terms of reference of such organizations; 6. Calls upon the administering Power to respond favourably to the request of the territorial Government for the dispatch of a United Nations visiting and observer mission to the Territory. 75th plenary meeting 10 December 1993