In 1961 Jamaica Held A Referendum On Its Continued Membership Of The Federation of the West Indies

61 years ago on 19 Sep 1961, Jamaica held a referendum on its continued membership of the Federation of the West Indies. 54.1% voted "no", resulting in the country leaving and its dissolution in 1962. 479,220 voters; 61.5% of electorate participated.

The West Indies Federation, also known as the West Indies, the Federation of the West Indies or the West Indian Federation, was a short-lived political union that existed from 3 January 1958 to 31 May 1962. Various islands in the Caribbean that were part of the British Empire, including Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, and those on the Leeward and Windward Islands, came together to form the Federation, with its capital in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The expressed intention of the Federation was to create a political unit that would become independent from Britain as a single state —possibly similar to the Canadian Confederation, Australian Commonwealth, or Central African Federation. Before that could happen, the Federation collapsed due to internal political conflicts over how it would be governed or function viably. The formation of a West Indian Federation was encouraged by the United Kingdom, but also requested by West Indian nationalists.