REGIONAL INTEGRATION The West Indian Federation 1958 1962

REGIONAL INTEGRATION The West Indian Federation 1958 -1962

The West Indian Federation was one of the first major attempts at regional integration in the Caribbean (1958 -1962)

• REGION: an area of a country or the world having definable characteristics but not always fixed boundaries • INTEGRATION: the act of combining things to form a whole Definable characteristics: noticeable features or qualities shared by the Caribbean islands

• CARIBBEAN: relating to the region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands and the surrounding coasts

7 DEFINABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CARIBBEAN REGION

1. LIMITED NATURAL RESOURCES a) Minerals (T&T has oil, Jamaica has bauxite) b) Agriculture-based economies (fertile soils: sugar, bananas, arrowroot, ground provisions) c) Tropical climate: suitable for agriculture and tourism 2. DEPENDENCE ON TOURISM – Historical sites, scenic beauty: eco-tourism (nature trails, bird watching, mud volcanoes etc) – Tourism industry is characterized by fickleness e. g. H 1 N 1 outbreak in Barbados can cause major losses in the hotel industry – Present world economic and financial crisis crippling tourist industry worldwide – Price fluctuations etc can lead to major losses of foreign exchange revenues

3. PRONE TO NATURAL DISASTERS: – e. g. hurricanes , floods and earthquakes which destroy property and cause economic setbacks (Grenada) 4. SMALL POPULATION SIZE, SMALL PHYSICAL SIZE: – Small domestic markets – Distance between the islands and inefficient inter -island transport • Hinders trade • Increases transport costs • Increases costs of production

5) BRAIN DRAIN – Skilled and educated people leave and migrate to developed countries in search of more attractive jobs and a higher standard of living 6) COMMON HISTORY AND HERITAGE – Members of the British Commonwealth • Law, language, education system, social institutions 7) VARIED ETHNIC COMPOSITION – Due to our cultural and national tradition

• Their small physical size, small population size, limited resources, underdevelopment etc led them to attempt to unite and cooperate for their common good

10 Member States 1. Antigua 2. Barbados 3. Dominica 4. Grenada 5. Jamaica 6. Montserrat 7. St. Kitts/Nevis/Anguilla 8. St. Vincent 9. St. Lucia 10. Trinidad and Tobago

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE WEST INDIAN FEDERATION

1. To generate ideas to solve their social and economic problems – Sugar industry in decline (unprofitable) – Shortages of goods & high prices after WW 2 – Low wages – High unemployment – Poor social facilities (hospitals, schools, utilities) 2. To increase their bargaining power – thereby securing cheaper prices for imports and better prices for exports through a united voice

3. To safeguard the democratic system of government – resist the US intervention in the affairs of the Caribbean (Monroe Doctrine) 4. To reduce foreign control over their economies – (foreigners controlled most of the fertile land) 5. To strengthen the movement towards independence and self-government

Achievements • Facilitated the move from colonialism to independence through a united voice • Increased effectiveness in dealing with international bodies such as the UN

VOCABULARY

Factors leading to the Collapse of the Federation in 1962 1. Trinidad and Jamaica thought it unjust that they were expected to provide 82% of the funding for running the Federation. 2. Smaller states distrusted the larger states – Felt Jamaica and Trinidad would change the constitution of the Federation in their own interest

3. Conflict over choice of the Prime Minister of the Federation – (Sir Grantly Adams, Premier of Barbados) 4. Conflict over choice of the capital site, Chaguaramas, Trinidad – Jamaica wanted to be the site of the headquarters of the Federation – Others felt it was unsuitable because the US had a military base there

5. Selfish Goals – Islands at various stages of political development and the more advanced countries felt that Federation might stifle their political progress i. e. their move towards independence – The most competent people to act as federal Prime Minister refused the role (Dr. Williams and Mr. Manley both preferred to remain as heads of their own countries) 6. Envy and jealousy among member states stemming from their varying levels of economic prosperity

7. Inefficient communication between the islands – (inadequate shipping, telephone and postal services)

8. Masses uneducated on the importance of the Federation: – Jamaica held a referendum in 1961 in which the majority of the population voted against Federation. Thus Jamaica withdrew from the Federation – Dr. Eric Williams “One from ten leaves naught” – so Trinidad and Tobago also withdrew from the Federation