Covers Jamaica's membership of the West Indies Federation (1958-62) and the 19 September 1961 referendum by which it withdrew, the Jamaica Independence Act, 1962 and its effect on 6 August 1962, and Jamaica's UN admission on 18 September 1962. It does not cover Jamaica's subsequent political history.
Jamaica had been a member of the West Indies Federation, formed in 1958 as a planned political union of Britain's Caribbean colonies. A referendum on 19 September 1961 asked whether Jamaica should remain in the Federation; 54.11% of votes favoured leaving, and Jamaica's withdrawal led to the Federation's dissolution in 1962.[1] The Jamaica Independence Act, 1962, enacted by the UK Parliament and given Royal Assent on 19 July 1962, provided that "as from the sixth day of August, nineteen hundred and sixty-two ... Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom shall have no responsibility for the government of Jamaica."[2] Jamaica was admitted to the United Nations on 18 September 1962, six weeks after independence, following a unanimous Security Council recommendation.[3][4]
Status verified as of
Jamaica has been an independent, UN-member state since 1962.[4]
History
From the Jamaica Independence Act, 1962 to independence on 6 August 1962 and UN admission six weeks later.
136 words · 1 min read
· Referendum or popular consultation
A referendum on 19 September 1961 asked Jamaican voters whether the country should remain in the West Indies Federation; 54.11% voted against, leading to Jamaica's withdrawal and the Federation's dissolution the following year.
Significance here: The vote that ended Jamaica's participation in the West Indies Federation and led directly to separate independence negotiations.
· Declaration
The Jamaica Independence Act, 1962 ended British responsibility for the government of Jamaica with effect from 6 August 1962.
Significance here: The Act that ended British colonial rule and established Jamaica as an independent state.
· Recognition
The Security Council unanimously recommended Jamaica's admission to the United Nations on 12 September 1962, and the General Assembly admitted it on 18 September 1962.
Significance here: Formal international recognition of Jamaican statehood shortly after independence.
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
Claim: A referendum held in Jamaica on 19 September 1961 asked "Should Jamaica remain in the Federation of the West Indies?" Of 777,965 registered voters, 61.6% turned out; 256,261 votes (54.11%) favoured leaving the Federation and 217,319 (45.89%) favoured remaining. Jamaica withdrew from the West Indies Federation as a result, and the Federation was dissolved in 1962.
Claim: The Jamaica Independence Act, 1962, given Royal Assent on 19 July 1962, provided in Section 1(1): "As from the sixth day of August, nineteen hundred and sixty-two (in this Act referred to as 'the appointed day'), Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom shall have no responsibility for the government of Jamaica."
Claim: On 12 September 1962, at its 1018th meeting, the Security Council, having examined the application of Jamaica, unanimously recommended to the General Assembly that Jamaica be admitted to UN membership.
Claim: The General Assembly, at its 1122nd plenary meeting on 18 September 1962, having received the Security Council's recommendation and considered Jamaica's application, decided to admit Jamaica to United Nations membership, alongside Rwanda, Burundi and Trinidad and Tobago, admitted at the same meeting.