Jamaica Renounces Federalism

Press, Volume C, Issue 29634, 3 October 1961, Page 14

Jamaica Renounces Federalism

lf all had gone according to plan—and only idealists expected that it would—the West Indies Federation would become a fully independent member of the Commonwealth on May 31,

1962. Jamaica’s decision to withdraw and seek its own separate independence jeopardises a patiently-nur-tured scheme whereby Britain had hoped to foster constitutioual progress, economic prosperity, and military security among some of its smallest colonial possessions. Jamaica, with more than half the population of the federation, was nonetheless an awkward keystone, partly because of its relative isolation from the other members, partly because the Jamaicans suspected that they stood to lose through association with less developed territories.

In recent years the Jamaican economy has become more broadly based, overseas investments have been attracted, and agricultural productivity has risen. Marshalled astutely under Sir Alexander Bustamante’s direction, protectionism, timidity, suspicion, and sheer ignorance have proved too strong against the forward-looking policy

of the Jamaican Prime Minister (Mr Norman Manley). That the decision rested with barely 7 per cent, of voters in the recent referendum appears irrelevant, at least for the present. It will take a long time to sort out the administrative tangle created by the referendum; but all the signs point to the finality of the verdict. The problems will not be as great for Jamaica, however, as for the rest of the federation. If Cyprus can survive as an independent State, so may Jamaica. In a desperate attempt to preserve the federation in its original form, a very loose constitutional system was adopted (against Trinidad’s opposition) at the London conference in June. ‘ Jamaica’s defection should facilitate a reversion to strong central government and thus help to maintain Trinidad's interest Much will depend upon the attitude of Dr. Eric Williams, Prime Minister of Trinidad. Some months ago he threatened that if Jamaica seceded, so would Trinidad, the second biggest territory concerned. But Trinidad’s prospects of successful nationhood are tar slighter than Jamaica’s: and the promise of leadership within the shrunken federation may induce Dr. Williams to change his views.

Because of developments elsewhere in the Caribbean, notably in Cuba, constitutional progress in the British West Indies has gained importance both to the United Kingdom (which is anxious to continue the orderly shedding of colonial burdens) and to the United States (which is primarily responsible for hemispheric defences). Clearly, Britain intended to set in the West Indies Federation a pattern of advance towards safe, sensible autonomy for smaller colonies, to which the processes adopted in big territories such as Nigeria might well be inapplicable. So much good work has gone into the foundations

of the federation that its total collapse would be little short of tragic.