History of Anguilla political status

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

1. 1.

   Claim: On 11 July 1967, Anguilla held a referendum on secession from the associated state of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla (granted associated-state status by Britain on 27 February 1967), following Anguillan objection to continued political subservience to Saint Kitts and the 30 May 1967 eviction of Saint Kitts police from the island; the referendum recorded 1,813 votes for secession against 5.

   • 1967 Anguillian separation referendum (Wikipedia) link, 1967 referendum section. Source record
2. 2.

   Claim: In February 1969, a further Anguillan referendum recorded 1,739 votes in favour of a Republic of Anguilla against 4, and Ronald Webster was declared its president; this republic was never internationally recognised. On 19 March 1969, British forces landed in the bloodless "Operation Sheepskin," ending the republic without a shot fired and without restoring Anguilla to St Kitts rule, reflecting that Anguillans sought separation from St Kitts while wishing to remain linked to Britain, not independent statehood.

   • The 1967 Anguillan Revolution (Everything Everywhere) link, Republic and Operation Sheepskin section. Source record
   • Republic of Anguilla (Wikipedia) link, Republic of Anguilla section. Source record
3. 3.

   Claim: Anguilla was formally separated from Saint Kitts-Nevis on 19 December 1980, becoming a distinct British dependency (today a British Overseas Territory); no current independence campaign from the United Kingdom is documented in the sources reviewed.

   • Republic of Anguilla (Wikipedia) link, 1980 formal separation section. Source record