Movement towards Independence

From emancipation until the end of the nineteenth century Caribbean people were shaking off
the mental, psychological and emotional trauma associated with enslaved and bonded labour.
(Mohammed, 2007)
The abolition of slavery in 1834 in the British colonies did not result in any meaningful change
in the social, economic or political wellbeing of ex-slaves. However, freedom from slavery
created a demand for greater freedoms, and so began the movement to independence.
Economic enfranchisement
Economic enfranchisement is the condition whereby a country or nation achieves the right to
determine how it will develop its system of production (Mohammed, 2007). The downturn in
sugar prices caused the decline in the plantation economies; as a result the peasant farmers
developed alternative crops (cocoa, banana, coffee, ginger arrowroot) for export and national
consumption.
The peasant system developed an economic basis for independence from the plantation and the
colonial rule by:

attempted to developed a diversified local economy

freed slaves became self-sufficient
freed slaves became independent of the plantation and low wages offered by the
plantation owners
developed an export market

Anti-Colonial Struggle 1935 1938

A series of strikes and riots erupted across the region which began with estate workers and was
joined by other workers. This period saw the rise of the trade union movement which agitated for
the right of workers. Many of the political parties in the Caribbean were born out the trade union
movement. Also many of the early trade unionist such as V.C. Bird, Grantley Adams, Norman
Manley, and Alexander Bustemante eventually became Prime Ministers.
The Moyne Commission
An almost immediate response of the British Government to the labor ferment in the West Indies
was the appointment of a Royal Commission in August 1938 to investigate social and economic
conditions and related matters in the colonies and to make recommendations.
The Commission made recommendations to improve the education, health and labour situation
in the colonies

Universal Adult Suffrage/Political Enfranchisement

Political enfranchisement refers to the right of a people or nation to determine their own
affairs. (Mohammed, 2007). This propelled the process towards Constitutional Decolonization,
which is the process whereby the colony achieves independence.
The widespread unrest in the 1930s forced the colonial masters to instate elected representation.
There were no restrictions put on the population except that of age in being eligible to vote and
elect members to the legislature.
1944 Jamaica, 1945 Trinidad and Tobago, 1950 Barbados, 1951 Antigua and Barbuda, St. Lucia,
St.Vincent, Guyana and St. Kitts.
Governmental Stages to Independence
Ministerial system the head of a government department is chosen from the elected members
of the legislature.
Cabinet government the government is directed by a body of ministers chosen by the Head of
Government.
Internal self-government the Head of Government and the Cabinet are in control of all the
domestic matters, except security.
The West Indies Federation 1958 1961 A federal government was elected in 1958; this was
the first attempt at political integration among the British colonies.
Problems with the Federation
The federation failed under pressure of in-fighting between Jamaica, Trinidad.
Disagreements among the territories over policies, particularly with respect to taxation
and central planning.
Unwillingness on the part of most Territorial Governments to give up power to the
Federal Government; and the location of the Federal Capital.
The decisive development, which led to the demise of the Federation, was the withdrawal
of Jamaica - the largest member - after conducting a national referendum in 1961 on its
continued participation in the arrangement. The results of the referendum showed
majority support in favour of withdrawing from the Federation. This was to lead to a
movement within Jamaica for national independence from Britain. It also led to the now
famous statement of Dr Eric Williams, the then Premier of Trinidad and Tobago that, one
from ten leaves nought, referring to the withdrawal of Jamaica and signifying and
justifying his decision to withdraw Trinidad and Tobago from the Federal arrangement.
The Federation collapsed in January 1962.

On the break-up of the Federation independence was granted to the larger territories
Country

Year of Independence

Jamaica
Trinidad and Tobago
Barbados
Guyana
Bahamas
Grenada
Dominica
St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Antigua and Barbuda
St. Kitts and Nevis

1962
1966
1973
1974
1978
1979
1981
1983

What does Independence mean to you?

What are your feelings about celebrating Independence?
Readings
Mohammed, J. (2007). CAPE Caribbean Studies: An Interdisciplinary Approach.
Malaysia: Macmillan Publishers Limited.
Dookhan, I. (1975). A Post-Emancipation History of the West Indies. Hong Kong:
Longman Group.

Hamber. S., &. Greenwood, R. (1986). Development and De-colonization. London: Macmillan
Publishers Ltd.
Sunshine, Catherine. (1988). The Caribbean: Struggle, Survival and Sovereignty. USA: EPICA.