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United Nations
Others think the U.S.Virgin Islands should not be included on the list, since
the United States has tried to move the islands toward self-determination.
A
referendum
was held in 1993 to give the residents a chance to decide
their political future, but since only 31.4 percent of eligible voters turned
out, the referendum was invalid. Some feel that since the United States
tried to organize a referendum, the lack of interest by the Virgin Islanders
should serve as an indication that they would like to remain a territory of
the United States.
Although dozens of Non-Self-Governing Territories had gained inde-
pendence with the help of the United Nations, by the 1980s, the process of
decolonization had slowed down.The Special Committee on Decolonization
decided they needed to rekindle interest in helping Non-Self-Governing
Territories achieve self-determination.
One of the challenges of a territory hoping to become self-governing is fighting
poverty and grappling with other economic and social issues.