Movements towards independence and regional integration
EVEN THOUGH the idea of federation had been a good one in principle, it was plagued with many problems. The federal system collapsed/dissolved in 1962 and listed below are the reasons why it did.
REASONS FEDERATION COLLAPSED
(1) CONSTITUTIONAL ARGUMENTS
The federation, as structured in 1958, was less advanced politically than Jamaica and Trinidad. Both countries, by 1960, had full internal self-government. This meant they had control of most areas of government except finance, foreign policy and security. Thus, federation was not affording them any improvements, as these they already had.
(2) FEARS OF JAMAICA AND TRINIDAD
Jamaica and Trinidad held 77 per cent of the population of the federation, 83 per cent of the land, and 75 per cent of the wealth of the federation. They contributed 82 per cent of the levy, yet, because the smaller territories supported the WIFLP and other representatives dominated the ministerial seats in the federal cabinet, Jamaica and Trinidad feared:
(i) as ‘haves’, their economies would be taxed to subsidize the ‘have-nots’
(ii) that their populations would be swamped by immigrants from the ‘have-not’ members.
(3) REVENUE AND FUNDING
The original levy of £2 million/$9 million per annum was inadequate. Of the total, Jamaica contributed 43 per cent, Trinidad 39 per cent, and the others 18 per cent. The larger territories saw this as unfair – why should they be forced to carry the bulk of the levy?
(4) THE ISSUE OVER CHAGUARAMAS
The site of the federal capital was disputed by Jamaica, particularly, as it was still, in 1958, a United States (US) military base. In 1961, Trinidad negotiated with the US for a continuation of the lease. Grantley Adams of Barbados was upset with this as he felt that the negotiation should have been a ‘federal’ issue and not a ‘local’ one. It appeared as if the islands were not operating as a collective unit but each only interested in fulfilling its individual interest.
(5) INCOMPLETE FEDERATION
The refusal of British Guiana, British Honduras and the British Virgin Island to participate in the federation weakened the general concept of it at the outset.
(6) JAMAICA REFERENDUM
Manley was in favour of federation, but Bustamante, along with the Democratic Labour Party in Jamaica, opposed it. Manley, in 1961, held a referendum to decide whether Jamaicans wanted to still be a part of this system. Manley lost the elections as 54 per cent of Jamaicans opted for a withdrawal. With such a blow, Manley had to withdraw. As you recall, Manley and Jamaica were one of the influential forces in the federation movement. Jamaica also paid a substantial annual levy; how would this now be supplemented? With Jamaica pulling out, is seemed as if there was no point in continuing the federation. Eric Williams made the famous statement, ‘1 from 10 equal 0’ in relation to Jamaica’s withdrawal. Subsequently, Trinidad withdrew from the federation and in March 1962 the federation was dissolved.