The Montego Bay Conference

September 1947 – As the British Empire unravels and London continues the process of giving up (or losing by force) its once vast number of colonies, delegates from the British island colonies in the Caribbean meet in Montego Bay where they agree to support the establishment of a regional multi-island federation.

The Montego Bay Conference also establishes the Standing Closer Association Committee which, under the chairmanship of Sir Hubert Rance, is tasked with developing proposals for a federal structure for the territories.

A 1947 conference in Montego Bay established a committee to develop proposals for a Caribbean federation.

The Rance Report

 October 1949 – The Standing Closer Association Committee produces the Report of the Caribbean Standing Closer Association Committee 1948-1949, also known as the Rance Report.

The report calls for a loose federation among the constituent islands with a weak central authority.

The proposals issued by the Committee are modified at the April 1953 Conference on West Indian Federation and the 1956 Conference on the British Caribbean Federation, both of which take place in London.

The British Caribbean Currency Board

1950 - The British Caribbean Currency Board (BCCB) is formed by Barbados, British Guiana (now Guyana), and the British colonies in the eastern Caribbean.

The Board issues the common currency for the member colonies - the British West Indies Dollar (BWI$).

The Board is mandated to hold Pound Sterling reserves equivalent to 100% of the face value of its currency issuance.

The West Indies Federation (1958-1962)

 1956 – As the British Empire unravels and London continues the process of giving up (or losing by force) its once vast number of colonies, the U.K. Parliament passes the British Caribbean Federation Act of 1956.

The Act seeks to establish a political union among several British colonies in the Caribbean that would ultimately become independent from the United Kingdom as a single state.

The envisioned political union is to include Barbados, Jamaica, Antigua, Montserrat, Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, Trinidad & Tobago, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent.

The Act grants the English monarch the authority to, by issuing an Order in Council, establish a federation comprised of the above listed territories and establish a federal government, legislature, and supreme court for these territories.

1957 – A July 1957 Order in Council exercises the powers conferred upon the Queen by the British Caribbean Federation Act of 1956 to create the West Indies Federation.

1958 – The West Indies Federation is inaugurated.

The West Indies Federation Collapses

October 1960 – The Bank of Jamaica Act establishes the Bank of Jamaica.  

September 19, 1961 – Jamaica holds a referendum on continued membership of the West Indies Federation. A majority votes to leave.

October 31, 1961 – A bipartisan drafting committee begins work on designing a new constitution for an independent Jamaica.

January 1962 – In the wake of the Jamaican referendum result, Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago Eric Williams expresses his intent to leave the Federation as well. His now famous statement “one from ten leaves naught” encapsulates how the Jamaican exit from the political union precipitated its collapse.  

April, 1962 – The West Indies Act, 1962 grants the English monarch the authority to, by issuing an Order in Council, allow a colony to secede from the West Indies Federation.

It also grants her the authority to dissolve the Federation by issuing an Order in Council.

May 31, 1962 – With the largest constituent of the political union moving towards independence, the West Indies Federation is dissolved effective June 1.

Jamaican and Trinidadian Independence (1962)

 July 19, 1962 – The U.K. Parliament adopts the Jamaica Independence Act, 1962 which grants the island full independence as of August 6, 1962.

 July 23, 1962 – The crown issues the Jamaica (Constitution) Order in Council, 1962 which establishes a new constitution for the soon-to-be independent Jamaica.

August 1, 1962 – The U.K. Parliament adopts the Trinidad and Tobago Independence Act 1962 which grants Trinidad and Tobago independence effective August 31, 1962.

August 24, 1962 – The crown issues the Trinidad and Tobago (Constitution) Order in Council 1962 which makes provision for a new constitution for the soon-to-be independent Trinidad and Tobago.

1964 - Trinidad & Tobago withdraws from the British Caribbean Currency Board and establishes its own central bank and currency under the Central Bank Act of 1964.

The Eastern Caribbean Currency Authority (1965 - 1983)           

1965 – Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Montserrat, St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent form the East Caribbean Currency Authority and adopt the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) in place of the British West Indies Dollar.

Like its predecessor, the new East Caribbean Currency Authority (ECCA) pegs the EC$ to the Pound at £1 = EC$4.80.

Unlike its predecessor, which was obliged to hold 100% sterling cover for its local currency issuance, the ECCA is only mandated to hold reserves equivalent to 70% of the face value of its currency issuance.

And the member states agree to preserve the option of reducing the foreign reserves requirement to 60% at a later date.

Caribbean Free Trade Association (1965-1972)

December 15, 1965 – The Dickenson Bay Agreement is signed by Chief Minister of Antigua V.C. Bird, Premier of Barbados Errol Barrow, and Premier of British Guiana Forbes Burnham in Antigua.

The Agreement establishes the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) which aims to promote trade among the territories by reducing import duties and forbidding export duties on goods produced in the member territories.

The trade bloc eventually grows to include Antigua, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad & Tobago.

Guyana, Barbados Independence (1966) 

May 12, 1966 – The Guyana Independence Act 1966 grants British Guiana independence effective May 26, 1966 and decrees that upon independence the new country is to be called Guyana.  

November 17, 1966 – The U.K. Parliament passes the Barbados Independence Act, granting the island independence from the United Kingdom effective November 30, 1966.

November 22, 1966 - The Barbados Independence Order 1966 establishes a new constitution for the soon-to-be independent island.

Associated Statehood

February 16, 1967 – The West Indies Act 1967 forms the West Indian Associated States (WIAS).

The act grants the British colonies of Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent “associated status.”

Under “associated status” the islands are granted control over their internal affairs while the U.K. remains responsible for foreign affairs and defense and the British monarch remains the head of state.

The Act authorizes the English monarch to, by issuing an Order in Council, terminate the status of association between any of these Caribbean colonies and the United Kingdom, effectively granting them full independence.

Furthermore, the Act states that the monarch may, by issuing an Order in Council, create courts for the Caribbean territories in question.

The Act also specifies that the monarch may alter the constitution of any associated state, if that state should request it, by issuing an Order in Council.

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

February 22, 1967 – Buckingham Palace issues an Order in Council known as the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court Order 1967 which exercises the authority granted by the provision of the West Indies Act of 1967 allowing for the establishment of courts for the “associated states.”

The Order establishes the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court.

Today the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court is known as the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and is headquartered in Castries, Saint Lucia.

The authority of this multinational court is enshrined in the constitutions of the now independent eastern Caribbean nations. (See for example, the judicial system of Saint Lucia.)

The headquarters of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is located on the 2nd floor of the Heraldine Rock Building in Castries, St. Lucia.

The headquarters of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is located on the 2nd floor of the Heraldine Rock Building in Castries, St. Lucia.

Barbados Leaves the ECCA

1972 – Barbados adopts the Central Bank of Barbados Act which establishes a new national central bank and decrees that the island shall adopt a new Barbados Dollar in place of the Eastern Caribbean Dollar at a date to be specified later. (The Barbados Dollar is formally adopted on December 3, 1973.)

Bahamas Independence (1973)

 June 14, 1973 – The Bahamas Independence Act 1973 grants the Bahamas independence effective July 10, 1973.

A few days later, the Bahamas Independence Order 1973 is issued to provide for a new constitution for the Bahamas effective July 10, 1973.

The Caribbean Community & Common Market (1973)

 July 4, 1973 – The Treaty of Chaguaramas establishes the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and a Caribbean Common Market.

The Treaty aims to facilitate economic integration among member states and coordinate member states’ foreign policies.

The signatories agree to adopt a common external tariff schedule on imports from third countries.

The Treaty is signed by Errol Barrow of Barbados, Forbes Burnham of Guyana, Michael Manley of Jamaica, and Eric Williams of Trinidad & Tobago.

August 1, 1973 – The Treaty comes into effect.

Grenada Independence (1973)

December 19, 1973 – The Grenada Termination of Association Order 1973 grants Grenada independence from the U.K. effective February 7, 1974.

December 19, 1973 – The Grenada Constitution Order 1973 establishes a new constitution for Grenada effective February 7, 1974.

Suriname Independence (1975)

1975 – Suriname gains independence from the Netherlands.

ECD Peg to the USD 

July 1976 – The Pound Sterling currency board is replaced with a peg to the US Dollar at a rate of $1 = EC$2.70.

Dominica, St. Lucia Independence (1978, 1979) 

July 25, 1978 – The Dominica Termination of Association Order 1978 grants Dominica independence effective November 3, 1978 and the Commonwealth of Dominica Constitution Order 1978 establishes a new constitution for Dominica effective on independence day.

December 20, 1978 - The Saint Lucia Termination of Association Order 1978 grants the island independence effective February 22, 1979 and the Saint Lucia Constitution Order 1978 establishes a new constitution for Dominica effective on independence day. 

(Learn about the Saint Lucian Constitution)

The Saint Lucia Constitution Order 1978 established a new constitution for the island which remains in force today.

St. Vincent Independence (1979) 

July 26, 1979 – The Saint Vincent Termination of Association Order 1979 grants St. Vincent independence effective October 27, 1979 and the Saint Vincent Constitution Order 1979 establishes a new constitution for St. Vincent effective independence day.

Anguilla Leaves St. Kitts & Nevis (1980) 

December 16, 1980 – The U.K. Parliament passes the Anguilla Act 1980. The Act makes provision for Anguilla to leave St. Kitts & Nevis.

On March 10, 1982 the English monarch issues the Anguilla Constitution Order 1982 which grants Anguilla a new constitution effective April 1, 1982.

Under the new constitution (still in force today) Anguilla remains a British Overseas Territory.

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

June 18, 1981 – Seven Caribbean signatories - Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines - agree the Treaty of Basseterre, signed in the capital city of St. Kitts and Nevis.

The Treaty aims to promote the regional integration of the signatory countries and establishes the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

The British Virgin Islands (1984), Anguilla (1998), Martinique (2016), and Guadeloupe (2019) also eventually join the OECS as associate members.

The treaty establishing the OECS was signed in Basseterre, St. Kitts.

Belize and Antigua Independence (1981) 

July 28, 1981 – The U.K. Parliament adopts the Belize Act 1981 which makes provision for the colony to become an independent country.  

July 31, 1981 – The Belize Independence Order 1981 decrees that Belize shall become independent on September 21, 1981 and establishes a constitution effective that day.

July 31, 1981 – The Antigua Termination of Association Order 1981 grants Antigua independence from the United Kingdom effective November 1 and the Antigua and Barbuda Constitution Order 1981 establishes a new constitution effective independence day.

Antigua & Barbuda became an independent nation on November 1, 1981.

St. Kitts & Nevis Independence (1983)

June 22, 1983 – The Saint Christopher and Nevis Termination of Association Order 1983 grants the islands independence on September 19, 1983 and the Saint Christopher and Nevis Constitution Order 1983 provides for a new constitution.

Article 113 of this new constitution allows Nevis to secede from its federation with St. Kitts with the support of 2/3 of votes cast in a referendum.

St. Kitts & Nevis became independent on September 19, 1983.


The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (1983 - Present)

July 5, 1983 – Representatives of seven Caribbean islands – Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines - meet in Trinidad and Tobago to sign the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Agreement.

The Agreement establishes the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, a supranational central bank headquartered in Basseterre, as the Eastern Caribbean Dollar currency area’s monetary authority.

The Bank replaces the Eastern Caribbean Currency Authority.

The British Overseas Territory of Anguilla becomes a full member of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank on April 1, 1987, bringing membership of the ECCB to eight.

The headquarters of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank in Basseterre, St. Kitts.

The headquarters of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank in Basseterre, St. Kitts.

The Grand Anse Declaration

July 1989 – At the Tenth Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, held in Grand Anse, Grenada, the Grande Anse Declaration is issued.

The Declaration announces the intent of the attending Heads of Government to work toward establishing a single market and economy for the Caribbean Community.

Nevis Independence Referendum

1998 – The island of Nevis holds a referendum on independence from St. Kitts. A majority of 62% of voters vote to leave, but the result falls short of Article 113’s the requirement of a 2/3 majority for secession. Nevis therefore remains part of the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis.

The CARICOM Single Market & Economy

 2001- The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas establishes the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.

The signatories agree to remove restrictions on financial capital flows between member states.

They also commit to the goal of free movement of people between the CARICOM member states. And they agree, as a first step toward this goal, to allow CARICOM nationals who are university graduates, work in media, are sportspersons, are artistes, or are musicians to freely seek employment anywhere in the Caribbean Community.

The 15 full members of CARICOM today are Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago. The Revised Treaty applies to all the full members except Montserrat and The Bahamas.

The Caribbean Court of Justice 

February 4, 2001 - The Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice is reached.

The Agreement is eventually ratified by 12 countries: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Dominica, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines.

The supra-national Caribbean Court of Justice has original jurisdiction over disputes related to the interpretation of the CARICOM Treaty (Treaty of Chaguaramas) and the functioning of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.

The court is headquartered in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

Eastern Caribbean Economic Union 

June 18, 2010 – The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) member states agree the Revised Treaty of Basseterre, which creates the Eastern Caribbean Economic Union.

The Union is intended to promote co-operation among member states, harmonize member states’ foreign policies, and facilitate economic union.

Article 6 of the treaty recognizes the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court as OECS institutions.

Articles 7-12 of the treaty create the Authority of Heads of Government of the Member States, the Council of Ministers, the OECS Assembly, the Economic Affairs Council, and the OECS Commission.

 

Written By: Aiden Singh Published: July 15, 2020