Attempts at Unification pt 2: The Windward Islands

The Windward Islands (1833-1958)

Barbados was the most windward of the Windward Islands and well outside
the chain of the Eastern Caribbean Islands. From 1763, the Governor of
Barbados acted as Governor-General of the Windwards, e.g. Grenada and the
Grenadines, St. Vincent, Tobago, and Barbados. Each had its own Assembly.
In 1838, Trinidad and St. Lucia joined the group as Crown Colonies but did
not have any assemblies. From 1833 to 1885, the Windwards were a formal
union known as the ‘’Windward Island Colony’’. In 1840, Trinidad left the
group.
In 1868, the British Government proposed federation for Barbados and the
Windwards but they resisted especially Barbados. The whites wanted to keep
their Assembly whereas the blacks wanted federation because they felt that
it would bring them increased wages. In 1876, the people rioted when
Governor Pope-Hennessy wanted to enforce federation and tried to dissolve
the Assembly. As a result, the British Government was convinced that
Barbados did not want a Windward Federation. The Governor of Barbados
remained the Governor-General of the Windwards until 1885 when Barbados
finally left the Windwards. From 1885 to 1958, the Windward Island Colony
consisted of Grenada, the Grenadines, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and Tobago
until 1889 when it formed a union with Trinidad. Dominica was transferred to
the Windwards in 1940. The islands of the Windward Island Colony continued
to resist attempts to establish a federal assembly. The Windward Island
Colony however, did not end until 1958.

Reasons why the federation of the Windwards failed:
1. Barbados’ attitude in that Barbados was very strongly opposed to the
federation. It saw federation as a step towards Crown Colony
Government and did not want to adopt that system of government.
Furthermore, it was not prepared to merge with less fortunate islands.
2. The insularity of the islands.
3. The poor communication among them.