The British Virgin Islands (BVI) government has welcomed a draft United Nations resolution supporting ongoing constitutional negotiations with the United Kingdom as the territory pursues greater self-determination.
The draft resolution was unanimously adopted by the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation (C-24) during its recent substantive session at UN Headquarters in New York.
Among its provisions, the resolution stresses the need for the committee to continue closely monitoring developments in the British Virgin Islands, including the constitutional review process and negotiations with the United Kingdom, in consultation with both the British government and the territorial administration.
The draft also acknowledges the BVI government’s request for United Nations assistance in facilitating a public education programme on self-determination and underscores the importance of the participation of the territory’s elected and appointed representatives in the committee’s work.
In addition, the committee commended the British Virgin Islands government for completing the governance reform programme launched in 2022.
The draft resolution will now be considered by the UN Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonisation) before being forwarded to the UN General Assembly for final adoption.
Welcoming the committee’s decision, BVI Special Envoy Benito Wheatley said he looked forward to the remaining stages of the UN process.
‘The Special Committee has completed its work for the current UN cycle that included initial approval of the draft UN resolution on the BVI, which we welcome. We look forward to the remaining UN approvals being given in due course by the international community at the upcoming session of the UN General Assembly, which will once again reaffirm the Territory’s right to self-determination,’ Wheatley said.