MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK prepared to back independence for Caribbean Territories.

Britain reported last week to the UN Fourth Committee on Decolonisation that it would continue its policy of informal co-operation with the C24. The focus was on Caribbean territories and the UK delegate declared that independence would be encouraged if desired by territories “that have that option.”

The Overseas Territories Council a gathering of Chief Ministers and possibly governors takes place shortly in London. This December session "will provide an opportunity to discuss further the constitutional and wider relationship between the UK and the Overseas Territories which is based on the fundamental principles of self-determination, mutual obligations, freedom for the Territories to run their own affairs to the greatest possible extent and a commitment by the UK to assist in times of crisis." But Britain said it saw no desire in territories to chose the path of independence "even though we have made clear we would give every encouragement if they chose to do so, where independence is an option."

The key, it said, "will be to try and reconcile their desire for ever greater autonomy and self-government with the UK's responsibility to ensure good governance, to protect the impartiality of the public service and the independence of the judiciary and ensure compliance with relevant international obligations."

The C24's Anguilla seminar was described by the UK as a landmark event. It was the first time that such a seminar was held in a listed territory and had shown how Overseas Territories had developed and this should impact on the work towards delisting. Some 14,000 passports had been issued with full British Citizenship to former colonies on a non-reciprocal basis and, focussing on Caribbean colonies said that ways to assist their access to EU trade were being studied.

It hoped this decade would be remembered for the successful removal of "at least some" territories from the UN list.

Source: Gibraltar Chronicle