Closer Union (attempts at regional integration)

Regional integration - A number of groups, societies or

countries within an area joining together to cooperate and
operate under one system or as one group

Insular lacking contact with other people

Parochialism a narrow outlook

Capricious- Given to sudden and unaccountable changes

of mood or behaviour.

Federation- the act of constituting a political unity out of a

number of separate states or colonies or provinces so that
each member retains the management of its internal affair

Tacit- understood without being openly expressed;

implied:tacitapproval, silent; saying nothing
Closer Union (attempts at regional integration)

The British Government has for the longest while

tried to federate her territories since the early sixteen
hundreds when these islands were settled on.

Attempts to bring these islands together had the

common objective of creating a more efficient
administration considering the limited economic
resources and small population.

To maintain all the offices in each colony would have

been too expensive and cumbersome for the British
government.
Closer Union (attempts at regional
integration)
From the beginning of English colonization in the Caribbean, efforts were
made to group the colonies under a single government.

For example Thomas Warner governed the leeward before 1660.

By 1660 the Earl of Carlise was in control of Barbados and all the Leeward
Islands and William Lord Willoughby was made governor over these same
territories (which was a very convenient and cheap arrangement).

However, later the Leeward complained that they did not receive much help
and that Barbados was holding back their development.

1671- Sir Charles Wheler appointed Governor of all the Leeward Islands.
1674 1685 Sir Williams Stapleton replaced Wheler , he convened the
first general meeting in St. Kitts which was attended by two representatives
from each major island (Antigua Montserrat, Nevis and St. Kitts) meetings
were fairly irregular and by 1837 an attempt to revive it met with failure.
Leeward Island Federation

Reasons for such federation

1.to reduce the cost : too many for government to deal with
amidst economic decline

2.to create a more efficient administration equipped with the

most qualified people. It was becoming quite difficult to find
people of ability to participate in government in the colonies.

3.The islands were relatively close to each other hence

communication would be made easier.

4. It was hope that federation would provide certain common services

Structure of the federation (Headquarters Antigua)

Crown

Governor (Sir. Benjamin Pine)

Executive Council Legislative Council

20 members half consisted
of nominated officials the
other half elected by the
unofficial members of the
local legislature
Leeward Island Federation

Countries that made up the

Leeward Island federation:
Antigua
St. Kitts
Nevis
Dominica
Montserrat
British Virgin Islands
Leeward Island Federation

Reasons why the federation was considered weak:

Each presidency/unit/island still controlled its own finances

The federal government had no power to impose tax the federal

government did not have sufficient funds to run the government
since each island gave grants of the barest minimum.

There was lack of enthusiasm for the federation

The geographical separateness of the islands

Their insularity (being interested in your own affairs)(history as

competitors, primary producers of similar goods for the same
market)

Windward Island federation 1876 Governor John Pope Hennessy

of Barbados
Windward Island Federation

Countries involved:
Grenada,
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Tobago
St. Lucia
Barbados.

Barbados was the headquarters for such union.

They had a similar structure as the Leeward

The following were some institutions that were shared;

auditor general
Chief Justice
lunatic asylum
lazaretto
Windward Island Federation
The union failed because of the
following reasons:

The attitude of Barbados

The insularity of the islands

Poor communication
Windward Island Federation
Reasons Barbados opposed the federation:

she did not want to lose her labour supply to other

islands

Barbados did not want to bear the financial burden of

the less fortunate states

they rejected Crown Colony government hence they

saw federation s the first step toward that form of
government

The confederation Riot in Barbados 1876 March April

(measure took to oppose federation)
Windward Island Federation

The Confederation Riot

Pope Hennessy was sent to Barbados to promote windward Island

federation but he was met with vey strong opposition by the planter class. .

The whites set up a Defence Association (to preserve their assembly and
independence)

the blacks rioted in some parts of the country as estates workers in

parishes in the South supported the Governor.

Troops were brought from Jamaica and British Guiana to help restore order
on the island.

The blacks felt that he (the governor) was on their side as he was fighting
for social improvements.

They also thought it would bring them increased wages. Many were also of
the view that the whites were holding back their advancement
Windward Island Federation

Aftermath of the riot

These riots left eight people (8) dead

several injured and properties destroyed.

Pope Hennessy was removed from his

post and made governor of Hong Kong

Barbados was allowed to retained their

former structure of government then in
1885 she separated from the windward
Common Problems among British Caribbean People

Unemployment

Low wages and wide spread poverty

Creation of slums with improper sanitation and

diseases such as malaria, hookworm and yaws

Transportation and communication poor

Depressed economy
Common Problems among
British Caribbean People
Few health services

No educational opportunities beyond primary level

Wide spread racism

The majority of the population was disenfranchised;

they could not vote since they could not meet the high
property qualification necessary.

They could not participate in government

FACTORS PROMOTING INTEGRATION/ HINDERING INTEGRATION

HINDERING

1. The geographical separateness of the various islands:

stretching from Guyana in the east to Jamaica in the west,
the colonies are separated by expanse of sea.

2. Inadequate communication among the islands made

the exchange of visitors and news among the several
states infrequent thus contributing to the ignorance West
Indians had foe each other.

3. Absence of trade among the colonies: West Indians had

few goods to trade with each other since they all produce
similar commodities and target the same markets.
FACTORS PROMOTING INTEGRATION/
HINDERING INTEGRATION
HINDERING

Differences in stages of development;

A. from the middle of the nineteenth century the economies of the West Indian

colonies developed in different directions. Barbados and Guyana continued as

primarily sugar producing plantation colonies. St. Vincent and Grenada peasant

holding took over plantation agriculture. Trinidad had a mixture of peasant

holding and plantation agriculture. Differences in economic organisation were

reflected in the different attitudes towards federation.

B. colonies had achieved different levels in their political evolution. There

were: representative, semi- representative and Crown Colony
FACTORS PROMOTING INTEGRATION/ HINDERING INTEGRATION

PROMOTING

Common resources though limited,

Common political ideology,

Common history: colonialism, descendants of migrants, slavery

Common economic status- developing countries Common

problems conditions were in a dismal state, low wages, high
unemployment, and poor educational facilities, medical and
housing facilities. The best lands were in the hands of wealthy
absentee owners.

After emancipation West Indian affairs were generally neglected by Britain

as the colonies has little to offer in terms of raw materials and market.
FACTORS PROMOTING INTEGRATION/ HINDERING INTEGRATION

PROMOTING
West Indians already have the example of the functioning of other
regional institutions for example the Imperial Department of Tropical
Agriculture (Trinidad)

West Indians were aware that co-operation could increase their

bargaining power in international negotiations and hence secure for
them better terms in world trade.

The federation of Canada and Australia provided examples of political

unions within the British Empire

The experiences of West Indians resident and educated abroad

created a new awareness of the value of political independence and
c0-operation. They also acquired the knowledge necessary to operate
political systems

Federation was seen as a step towards self government

FACTORS PROMOTING INTEGRATION/ HINDERING
INTEGRATION
PROMOTING
Common culture, language,

Strategic locations: all Caribbean countries are surrounded by the

Caribbean Sea.

Earlier attempts at federation example Leeward Island federation

Impact of Garveyism

Rise of trade unionism and impact of labour conferences

Call for federation by Marryshow, Chritchlow and Cipriani

Tacit support from England

Emergence of regional services example Caribbean Mrt Institute, University

College of the WI

Improved transportation and communication