On 3rd of January in 1958, United Kingdom merged almost all of its possessions in the Caribbean to form the "Federation of the West Indies". This political project was an attempt to unify the administration and to create a state modelled on Canada, but also to counteract the independence efforts of the associated islands and colonies. However, jealousies arose between the large and small islands and even led to open dispute. In 1961, Jamaica initiated a successful referendum to leave the West Indies Federation, which was also sought in Trinidad and Tobago, with the result that the federation was dissolved on 31st of in May 1962. Jamaica became independent from United Kingdom on 6th of August and Trinidad and Tobago on 31st of August in 1962. The flag of the "Federation of the West Indies" was a light blue bunting with four horizontal white wavy lines and a golden disc in the centre. It symbolised the sun over the Caribbean Sea. There is some doubt about the colour shade of the blue; it is often assumed to be the usual British heraldic blue. However, a contemporary description calls it an "imperial blue", which would be light blue, and many contemporary prints also show this light blue. To this day, the West Indies have their own joint cricket team, which also has its own flag. These include: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, Montserrat, British Virgin Islands, Sint Maarten, US Virgin Islands.
Area: 7.814 square miles (1960), thereof the today's states and colonies: St. Kitts/Nevis, Anguilla, Montserrat, Antigua, Dominica, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands
Inhabitants: ca. 3.264.600 (1960)
Density of Population: 418 inh./sq.mi.
Capital: Port of Spain (auf Trinidad), 93.954 inh. (1960)
official Language: English
Currency: British West Indies Dollar (BWI$) = 100 Cent
On 3rd of January in 1958, United Kingdom merged almost all of its possessions in the Caribbean to form the "West Indies Federation". This political project was an attempt to unify the administration and to create a state modelled on Canada, but also to counteract the independence efforts of the associated islands and colonies. However, jealousies arose between the large and small islands and even led to open dispute. Many concessions had to be made to the individual islands and often more self-government had to be granted. In 1961, Jamaica initiated a successful referendum to leave the West Indies Federation, which was also sought in Trinidad and Tobago, with the result that the federation was dissolved on 31st of in May 1962. Jamaica became independent from United Kingdom on 6th of August and Trinidad and Tobago on 31st of August in 1962.
3rd of January 1958 · establishment of the Federation of the West Indies (by unification of the possessions of St. Kitts/Nevis/Anguilla, Montserrat, Antigua, Dominica, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands)
19th of September 1961 · successful plebiscite in Jamaica for leaving the Federation of the West Indies
31st of May 1962 · dissolution of the Federation of the West Indies
6th of August 1962 · Jamaica becomes independent
31st of August 1962 · Trinidad and Tobago becomes independent
1981 · foundation of the "Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States" (Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts/Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent)
The name "Federation of the West Indies" mirrors the geographic position and the federal structure of the country. Sometimes it is also called "Caribbean Federation" or "British Caribbean Federation".
