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 CONSTITUENCY ANSWER TOTALS PERCENTAGE

KINGSTON EASTERN YES 7,455 75.51

NO 2,418 24.49

KINGSTON EAST CENTRAL YES 5,361 58.17

NO 3,865 41.83

KINGSTON WEST CENTRAL YES 4,516 53.77

NO 3,883 46.23

KINGSTON WESTERN YES 3,820 43.02

NO 5,055 56.98

ST ANDREW EAST RURAL YES 9,111 63.73

NO 5,201 36.27

ST ANDREW EAST URBAN & SUB-URBAN YES 11,417 70.68

NO 4,737 29.32

ST ANDREW CENTRAL YES 8,584 55.59

NO 6,587 44.41

Federation and Independence 3

PARISH AND CONSTITUENCY ANSWER TOTALS PERCENTAGE

ST ANDREW WEST RURAL YES 5,427 44.36

NO 6,807 55.64

ST ANDREW WEST CENTRAL YES 11,014 62.67

NO 6,560 37.33

ST ANDREW SOUTH WESTERN YES 6,915 39.93

NO 10,404 60.07

ST THOMAS WESTERN YES 4,255 63.90

NO 7,532 36.10

ST THOMAS EASTERN YES 3,641 31.46

NO 7,932 68.54

PORTLAND EASTERN YES 4,479 37.82

NO 7,365 62.18

PORTLAND WESTERN YES 3,883 43.18

NO 5,110 56.82

ST MARY EASTERN YES 3,247 33.50

NO 6,444 66.50

ST MARY CENTRAL YES 5,254 47.43

NO 5,824 52.57

ST MARY WESTERN YES 4,811 48.13

NO 4,464 51.87

ST ANN NORTH WESTERN YES 4,417 62.88

NO 2,607 37.12

ST ANN NORTH EASTERN YES 5,341 60.45

NO 3,494 39.55

ST ANN SOUTH EASTERN YES 5,796 75.66

NO 1,865 24.34

ST ANN SOUTH WESTERN YES 2,020 31.48

NO 4,396 68.52

TRELAWNY NORTHERN YES 4,117 40.51

NO 6,046 59.49

TRELAWNY SOUTHERN YES 2,982 40.69

NO 4,360 59.31

ST JAMES NORTH WESTERN YES 6,360 46.92

NO 7,194 53.08

ST JAMES SOUTH EASTERN YES 2,929 32.11

NO 6,194 67.89

HANOVER WESTERN YES 3,282 32.81

NO 6,722 67.19