INTRODUCTION

The concept of federation in the British Caribbean began in the late nineteenth

century. Before the idea of federation, Britain had a thriving economy from sugar producing

colonies some of which were bought from Spain. However, the implementation of Crown

Colony government, resulted in the increase of government expenses. Therefore, to save money

the idea of federating the Windward and Leeward islands was born. These failed as the

Windward Islands Federation never came to be and the Leeward Islands Federation was

ineffective.

Attempt at federating the British Caribbean began in the twentieth century. The

intention of the union was to :

a) provide a single state comprising ten territories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados,

Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, the then St Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, Saint

Lucia, St Vincent and Trinidad and Tobago with the exception of British Guiana and

British Honduras who opted not to join);

b) create a single political unit;
c) integrate the different ethnic, racial or national groups into equal association.

However, before any of these were realised, the union collapsed due to federal and

membership issues. The federation did gain achievements in its existence the creation of a

federal civil service, establishment of the West Indies Shipping Service and the University

College of the West Indies. Duing its lifespan, Jamaica became the unions greatest contributor

which appeared to affect its economy and which among other administrative factors of the union

resulted in Jamaicas withdrawal, hence, the federations demise.

 THE FAILED EXPERIMENT

Proposals for the federation were put forward by Oliver Stanley, the Secretary of

State for the Colonies in 1945 to which most of the territories accepted. By 1953, all committees

set up at Montego Bay, Jamaica had drafted their reports which were put before a conference in

London, England. Two final conferences were held in London in 1955 and 1956 where during

the latter the British Parliament passed the British Caribbean Federation Act for the

establishment of the West Indies Federation in January 1958.

The federation which seemed well organized was actually a weak structure from

birth. Its popular support from the start was lukewarm and its doom imminent. Doubts and

suspicions of the federation began to grow among the people as Jamaica and Trinidad had small

input in major decisions (both being major revenue contributors). The islands were

uncompromising in their parochial interest especially Jamaica and Trinidad, who did not contest

in the federal elections of march 1958, as simultaneous participation in both unit and federal

politics was not allowed. This resulted in Norman Manley and Eric Williams refraining from

participating in federal government as they were more committed to local politics. The Federalist

Party which won federal elections was dominated by the smaller nations (Hamilton-Willie 47).

The actions of Manley and Williams revealed disinterst in the federation as no benefits were

gained for Trinidad and Jamaicas inclusion in the venture allowing discontent to ensue with the

union which led to its quick demise.

Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados were the principal members of the federation to

which Jamaica and Trinidad contributed the most. Jamaica and Trinidad combined contributed

81.7% of federal revenues. Trinidad could not be expected to carry the financial and economic
burden of the federation without Jamaicas assistance (Palmer 63). Jamaica was the unions

largest member and contributor, however, its political stance was not reflected in such a position

and Jamaica was upset at this. In the lyrics to Federation (Mighty Sparrow) it states that

...When they didn't get the capital site that nearly cause big fight

When Sir Grandley Adams took up his post that even made things worse

They bawling ... we ain't want no Bajan premier Trinidad can't be capital for here...

Jamaica was displeased with a Bajan Prime Minister and the capital site to be located in

Trinidad with Barbados in agreement with the latter. This is indicative of Jamaica assessing its

position being the major contributor to the federal revenue.

Even though Jamaica is arguably the cause of the federations death, there were

non-Jamaican factors which contributed to its downfall. In 1957, the Chaguaramas peninsula in

Trinidad was the chosen site for the federal capital but it had been leased to the United States by

Britain since World War II. This led to a quarrel between the Trinidad and federal governments

because Williams negotiated independently with the United States and United Kingdom

governments who were reluctant to end the lease. He had caused friction between the United

States and the federation over Chaguaramas as it was a federal issue (Dyde, Greenwood and

Hamber 77). As a result, Port-of-Spain served as the de facto capital of the federation. Also,

British Honduras and British Guianas opposition to federation revealed disinterest. In addition,

the two mainland territories of British Honduras and British Guiana rejected participation, fearful

of assuming far-reaching financial responsibility for the small islands which made the federation

fragile from its conception (Klinkers and Oostindie 20) and was against free movement with

fears of mass immigration. British Guianas Cheddi Jagan strongly opposed the concept of

federation. Jagan was the leader of the Peoples Progressive Party and was anti-British. He saw
no future in participating in federation. British Honduras George Price was the leading figure in

the Peoples United Party who had little cooperation as possible with the colonial government

(Claypole and Robottom 133). Price rejected the West Indies federation as a British colonial

project and argued that the country should look to Central America and the United States for its

future (Medina 39). These factors highlight even before the federations true inception, there

were issues with it making its foundation weak leading to the unions quick collapse.