End Of Federation In West Indies

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29744, 10 February 1962, Page 14

End Of Federation In West Indies

IN.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) LONDON, February 8. The British Government today formally announced that it will “very shortly” introduce legislation to dissolve the four-year-old West Indies Federation.

Britain's Colonial Secretary (Mr Maudling), in a statement to the House of Commons, said Britain would set up an interim organisation which would be responsible for running the common services shared by the islands of the present Federation.

Mr Maudling said he regretted having to dissolve the Federation.

"Jamaica has declared its determination to withdraw from the Federation and this decision has been accepted by the British Government

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has decided not to participate in any Fed-

eration of the eastern Caribbean.

“Finally, the Premier of Barbados and the Chief Ministers of the Leeward and Windward Islands, while advocating a new Federation between their territories, are agreed that the present one should be dissolved," he said The Federation, set up in January. 1958. consists of 10 island governments for its more than 3.000.000 people.

The Jamaican Labour Party led a vigorous campaign which resulted last September in a referendum and the decision for Jamaica to break away from the Federation. Trinidad later also decided to secede from the Federation. The Jamaican Premier, Mr Norman Manley, and the Opposition Leader, Sir Alexander Bustamente, are at present in London leading delegations to a conference presided over by Mr Maudling.

The conference will work out Jamaica's independence date later this year, the date for her secession from the Federation, and possible continued co-operation with the other islands in common services.