Vexed Bermoothes

Last week, the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation (aka the Special Committee of 24) approved its annual resolution by which the UN General Assembly would reaffirm that there was no alternative to the principle of self-determination, which was a fundamental human right.

The Special Committee of 24 defines self-determination as free association with an independent State, integration into an independent State, or full-bore independence.  The UK argues that a 1970 UN resolution (Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in Accordance with the Charter of the United Nations also makes clear that “any other political status freely determined by a people constitute modes of implementing the right of self-determination by that people.”

In addition to again calling for Puerto Rican independence, the Special Committee of 24 are also working on the perennial “omnibus” draft resolution entitled “Questions of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands”.

Interestingly, the committee seems to recommended the recall of the Constitution of the Turks & Caicos in the face of TCI’s current political crisis, welcoming the UK’s efforts to restore good governance and sound financial management there.

This is their Cake.  And they are Eating It Too.