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.

Development of the Peasantry Movement

In the Post-emancipation era a number of free villages were established with help of
missionaries. Apart from the missionary-supported free villages, many freemen bought their own
land with money earned from overtime work during apprenticeship. Others squatted on Crown
lands in remote areas, while others got involved in sharecropping where labourers planted cane
on estate lands and the profits was shared between themselves and the estate owners.

The subsistence farmers sold their surplus produce in local markets and they eventually
developed trading systems (huckstering).

The peasant activity created an alternative to the plantation economy, by providing employment
and a variety of food for local consumption and export.

Problems Encountered by the Peasantry Movement

• Lands not officially surveyed (therefore peasant could not get official titles)

• Colonial government imposed restrictions on sale of Crown Lands

• Land often marginal, infertile and remote

• Licences for sale of export crops were required but difficult to acquire

• Opposition from planters

• Exploitation of land-buyers – they were forced to pay excessively high prices for inferior
land.

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.

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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.

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  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 1962
Trinidad and Tobago 1962
Barbados 1966
Guyana 1966
Bahamas 1973
Grenada 1974
Dominica 1978
St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines 1979
Antigua and Barbuda 1981
St. Kitts and Nevis 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.

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