To mark the fiftieth (50th) anniversary of the establishment of the West Indies Federation, the Archives has mounted an exhibition entitled Federation: The Failed Experiment. It was on the 22nd April 1958 that the West Indies Federation formally came into being when HRH Princess Margaret opened the first Parliament of the new nation.
The exhibition features reproductions of documents, publications, newspaper clippings and other items from the collection of the Archives. The printed items on display include copies of The British West Indies Federation Act, 1956, Provisions of the Plan for a British Caribbean Federation, 1953, which outlines the Legislative and Executive arms of Federation, A Plan for a British West Indies Federation - Report of the Fiscal Commissioner, and the Inaugural Federal Throne Speech..
Other materials displayed include photographs of the Federal Flag and the proposed Coat of Arms, as well as photographs of some of the early proponents of Federation, correspondence between Norman Manley and Alexander Bustamante, and reproduced Gleaner clippings chiefly concerning the Federal Flag Design Competition.
The history of the attempt by the British Government to federate its West Indian colonies date back to the nineteenth century. However, by the 1930’s and 40’s, a number of West Indian leaders became interested in the concept of federation. In a letter dated 14th March, 1945, Colonel Oliver Stanley, the Colonial Secretary, formally proposed the idea of federation to the West Indian Governments. This time around the Colonial Office asked that the West Indians themselves propose what form the federation should take.
Conferences were later held in London in 1953 and 1956 to write the Federal Constitution and to arrange for its promulgation while plans were put in place for the election of a Federal Parliament through Federal Elections, which were held on March 25, 1958. The West Indies Federal Labour Party (W.I.F.L.P.) defeated the Democratic Labour Party (D.L.P.) by a narrow margin and Sir Grantley Adams, from Barbados, became Prime Minister of the West Indies.
However, the hopeful beginnings of the West Indies Federation were soon to be overshadowed by the many disagreements over various measures that were proposed for the effective operation of the Federation. As a result of the growing unease in Jamaica, the Government, in 1961, decided to hold a referendum on the future of the Federation. The rest of the Caribbean tensely awaited the final results: 45.9% for; 54.1% against. Norman Manley, the Jamaican Premier, had to concede defeat. Jamaica’s application for secession from Federation was granted on March 31, 1962.
There was now a prevailing view in the West Indies that with the withdrawal of Jamaica from Federation, a collapse of the union would be inevitable. Trinidad soon decided to leave and the other territorities decided not to ‘go it alone’.
The final session of the Federation’s Parliament was held in April 1962, and on May 23, 1962 the West Indies Federation was formally dissolved. Four years after its inception the “Great Experiment” ended in failure. |
