Federation and Independence

• Author: Hamid A. Ghany
• Profession: Director of the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) at The University of the West Indies, St Augustine
• Pages: 1-32

1.

Federation and Independence

The pursuit of individual independence by former colonies in the

British West Indies must be understood in the context of the demise of the

Federation of the West Indies in 1962 and the sudden decision by the British

government to grant independence, on an individual basis, to Jamaica

and Trinidad and Tobago, in the first instance, in 1962. The subsequent

grant of independence to Barbados in 1966 came after an initial attempt

had been made by both the British government and the government of

Barbados to pursue a Federation of the so-called ‘Little Eight’ that was to

be made up of the remaining eight territories of the failed Federation of

the West Indies.

The full complement of territories that comprised the Federation of the

West Indies that had been established in 1957 and came into being in 1958

was: (i) Antigua and Barbuda, (ii) Barbados, (iii) Dominica, (iv) Grenada,

(v) Jamaica, (vi) Montserrat, (vii) St Kitts/Nevis/Anguilla, (viii) St Lucia, (ix)

St Vincent and the Grenadines, and (x) Trinidad and Tobago.

The eventual desire of the government of Barbados to take the island

to independence in 1966 is better understood by the revelation of the

confidential and secret discussions that took place between the British

and the Barbadian governments. Declassified British government

documents reveal the approach of the British government to the demise

of the federation and the subsequent issue of independence.

The Federal Independence Negotiations and the Referendum

Before the March 1961 Lancaster House negotiations between the

British government and the Federal government of the West Indies on

the subject of independence for the Federation of the West Indies, a

significant challenge was mounted by Alexander Bustamante and the

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to the idea of Jamaica becoming part of an

independent Federation of the West Indies.

The Jamaican premier, Norman Manley, resolved that this matter should

be settled by way of a referendum on the issue in Jamaica. According to

the Report of the Jamaica Independence Conference that was also held

Constitutional Development in the Commonwealth Caribbean

2

at Lancaster House in London during the period February 1–9, 1962, the

following was said about the referendum:

2. Jamaica had been a member of the Federation of the West Indies since

its inception in 1957. Having regard however to the growth of opposition

in Jamaica to its continued participation in the Federation, and its desire

to seek independence on its own, the Jamaican Government announced

on the 31st May, 1960, that the electorate would be given an opportunity to

determine the issue by way of referendum. The Government introduced

the necessary legislation and the referendum which was held on the 19th

September, 1961 resulted in a majority of 35,535 votes against Jamaica

remaining in the Federation.1

In the referendum that was held on September 19, 1961, the result was a

narrow victory in favour of Jamaica’s exit from the Federation.

The headline in the Gleaner newspaper in Jamaica on September 20,

1961 screamed ‘IT’S JAMAICA – ALONE’. According to the Report of the

Chief Electoral Officer 2 the total number of persons who voted was 479,220

for a turnout of 61.51 per cent of which 5,640 ballots were rejected thereby

leaving 473,580 accepted ballots. The actual question on the ballot paper

was ‘Should Jamaica remain in the Federation of the West Indies?’

The number of persons who voted YES was 217,319 and the number of

persons who voted NO was 256, 261.3

The actual breakdown by Parish and Constituency was as follows:

PARISH AND CONSTITUENCYANSWERTOTALSPERCENTAGE

KINGSTON EASTERNYES7,45575.51

NO2,418 24.49

KINGSTON EAST CENTRALYES5,36158.17

NO3,86541.83

KINGSTON WEST CENTRALYES4,51653.77

NO3,88346.23

KINGSTON WESTERNYES3,82043.02

NO5,05556.98

ST ANDREW EAST RURALYES9,11163.73

NO5,20136.27

ST ANDREW EAST URBAN & SUB-URBANYES11,41770.68

NO4,73729.32

ST ANDREW CENTRALYES8,58455.59

NO6,58744.41

Federation and Independence3

PARISH AND CONSTITUENCYANSWERTOTALSPERCENTAGE

ST ANDREW WEST RURALYES5,42744.36

NO6,80755.64

ST ANDREW WEST CENTRALYES11,01462.67

NO6,56037.33

ST ANDREW SOUTH WESTERNYES6,91539.93

NO10,40460.07

ST THOMAS WESTERNYES4,25563.90

NO7,53236.10

ST THOMAS EASTERNYES3,64131.46

NO7,93268.54

PORTLAND EASTERNYES4,47937.82

NO7,36562.18

PORTLAND WESTERNYES3,88343.18

NO5,11056.82

ST MARY EASTERNYES3,24733.50

NO6,44466.50

ST MARY CENTRALYES5,25447.43

NO5,82452.57

ST MARY WESTERNYES4,81148.13

NO4,46451.87

ST ANN NORTH WESTERNYES4,41762.88

NO2,60737.12

ST ANN NORTH EASTERNYES5,34160.45

NO3,49439.55

ST ANN SOUTH EASTERNYES5,79675.66

NO1,86524.34

ST ANN SOUTH WESTERNYES2,02031.48

NO4,39668.52

TRELAWNY NORTHERNYES4,11740.51

NO6,04659.49

TRELAWNY SOUTHERNYES2,98240.69

NO4,36059.31

ST JAMES NORTH WESTERNYES6,36046.92

NO7,19453.08

ST JAMES SOUTH EASTERNYES2,92932.11

NO6,19467.89

HANOVER WESTERNYES3,28232.81

NO6,72267.19