The West Indies Federation and the 1961 referendum
Jamaica had been a member of the West Indies Federation, formed in 1958. A referendum on 19 September 1961 asked whether Jamaica should remain; 256,261 votes (54.11%) favoured leaving against 217,319 (45.89%) to remain, on 61.6% turnout. Jamaica withdrew, and the Federation was dissolved in 1962.[1]
· Referendum or popular consultation
1961 West Indies Federation membership referendum
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.
Independence
The Jamaica Independence Act, 1962, 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]
· Declaration
Independence of Jamaica, 1962
The Jamaica Independence Act, 1962 ended British responsibility for the government of Jamaica with effect from 6 August 1962.
United Nations membership
The Security Council unanimously recommended Jamaica's UN membership on 12 September 1962, and the General Assembly admitted Jamaica on 18 September 1962.[3][4]
· Recognition
Admission of Jamaica to the United Nations, 1962
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.
Sources for this page
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
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1.
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.
- 1961 Jamaican Federation of the West Indies membership referendum (Wikipedia) link, Results section. Source record
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2.
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."
- Parliament of the United Kingdom, The Jamaica Independence Act, 1962 (19 July 1962) link, Section 1. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
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3.
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.
- United Nations Security Council, Security Council resolution 174 (1962) (United Nations, 12 September 1962) link, resolution text. Source record
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4.
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.
- United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly resolution 1750 (XVII): Admission of Jamaica to membership in the United Nations (United Nations, 18 September 1962) link, operative paragraph and surrounding resolutions. Source record
Printed from https://independenceatlas.com/movements/jamaica/history · last substantive update 24 September 2026.