West Indies Federation

From Warlike




The West Indies Federation, also known as the West Indies, the Federation of the West Indies or the West Indian Federation, was a short-lived political union that existed from 3 January 1958 to 31 May 1962. Various islands in the Caribbean that were part of the British Empire, including Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, and those on the Leeward and Windward Islands, came together to form the Federation, with its capital in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The expressed intention of the Federation was to create a political unit that would become independent from Britain as a single state – possibly similar to Australia, Canada, or Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Before that could happen, the Federation collapsed due to internal political conflicts over how it would be governed or function viably. The formation of a West Indian Federation was encouraged by the United Kingdom, but also requested by pan-Caribbean nationalists.

1958 — 1962  WikimediaWikidata



St. Vincent 3c West Indies Federation stamp 1958St. Vincent 3c West Indies Federation stamp 1958
West Indies Federation (1)West Indies Federation (1)
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commonsimageSt. Vincent 3c West Indies Federation stamp 1958 Commons
commonsimageWest Indies Federation (1) Commons