Culture Matters

DARA E HEALY

People want to know why Jamaica run

From the Federation

Well they want to know why Jamaica run away

From the Federation

Jamaica have a right to speak she mind

That is my opinion

And if you believe in democracy

You'll agree with me

But if they know they didn't want federation

And they know they don't want to unite as one

Independence was at the door

Why didn't they speak before

This is no time to say you ain't federating no more!

- Mighty Sparrow, Federation

TO BE honest, until I wrote this article, the only information I had about the federation was these lines from Mighty Sparrow's calypso. We may debate whether this is because of the huge gaps in our education system or Sparrow's skill as a storyteller.

Either way, the result of the failed federation of 1958-1962 is the same - Caribbean nations did not succeed in forming a political union, depriving the region of the long-term benefits of unity. A deeper dive into the history reveals murky waters of rivalry between Caribbean leaders, a degree of distrust among Caribbean peoples towards each other and, at the core of the problems, British sabotage of the very union they said they wanted.

The notion of bringing together the islands of the Caribbean within a political union was actually considered from as early as the 17th century and revisited over the decades. This was a purely administrative undertaking by the British Empire - to rationalise its possessions in the Caribbean and make the region easier to manage.

However, during WWI, attitudes towards empire and regional identity began to shift as Caribbean soldiers endured negative and oftentimes racist treatment by the very empire they were initially so proud to defend. The labour riots of the 1930s in TT and other islands across the Caribbean further challenged the foundations of colonialism. The uprisings 'discredited British colonialism internationally' and, it is said, helped to intensify calls for independence in African and Asian nations.

Globally, calls for independence were further complicated by heightened black consciousness, as Pan African conferences had already taken place in locations such as Paris and New York, spearheaded by TT national Henry Sylvester Williams, who organised the first Pan African conference in London in 1900.

In the 1930s, Caribbean attitudes towards political unity were fuelled by the advocacy of Albert Marryshow, Grenadian newspaper editor and later politician. His newspaper, The West Indian, carried the slogan 'The West Indies must be West Indian.' His position was supported by powerful voices such as CLR James in The Case for West Indian Self Government, where James argued that Caribbean people were ready to t