The West Indies Federation, 1958–62

Britain hoped its small Caribbean colonies would become independent together as a single federation, which it thought would be more viable than many tiny states. The West Indies Federation was launched on 3 January 1958, joining ten territories, including Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and smaller islands, with its capital at Port of Spain and Grantley Adams of Barbados as prime minister.

The federation faced serious problems: its central government was weak and underfunded, the islands were spread across more than 1,600 kilometers of sea, and their economies competed rather than complemented each other. Jamaica, the largest member, feared it would pay for poorer islands and resented limited influence. In a September 1961 referendum, Jamaicans voted to leave. Trinidad's Eric Williams then concluded that 'one from ten leaves nought', and Trinidad also withdrew.

The federation was dissolved in May 1962, and members went their separate ways to independence.