- West Indies Associated States
The West Indies Associated States was the collective name for a number of islands in the
Eastern Caribbean whose status changed from being British colonies to states infree association with theUnited Kingdom in1967 . These states included Antigua,Dominica ,Grenada ,Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla ,Saint Lucia , and Saint Vincent.Associated Statehood between these six territories and the UK was brought about by the Associated Statehood Act 1967. Under the Act each state had full control over its constitution (and thus internal self-government), while the UK retained responsibility for external affairs and defence. The
British monarch remainedhead of state , but theGovernor now had only consititutional powers, and was often a local citizen. Many moved to change their flags from modified versions of theBlue Ensign , to unique designs with three, St. Vincent, St.Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla and Grenada adopting blue, green and yellow flags. [ [http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Grenada.html World Statesmen Grenada] ] [ [http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Saint_Kitts_and_Nevis.html World Statesmen Saint Kitts and Nevis] ] [ [http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Saint_Vincent.html World Statesmen Saint Vincent] ] [ [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/gb-carib.html#ass Flags of the World West Indies Associated States] ]During the period of free association, all of the states participated in the
West Indies Associated States Council of Ministers , theEast Caribbean Common Market andCaribbean Free Trade Association orCARIFTA (now superseded byCARICOM ). Cooperation between the eastern caribbean states continued after the West Indies Associated States achieved separate independence, in the form of theOrganisation of Eastern Caribbean States (the successor organisation).Over time, Associated States moved to full independence, the first being
Grenada in1974 . This was followed by Dominica in1978 ,Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent both in1979 ,Antigua and Barbuda in1981 andSaint Kitts and Nevis in1983 .The moves towards independence were not always smooth, with separatist movements/campaigns occurring in
Barbuda ,Nevis andAnguilla . In Anguilla, this resulted in the secession of Anguilla from Saint Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla in1969 and its reversion to British rule as a separate colony. During the 1970s, Nevis' local council had wished to follow Anguilla's example, rather than become independent with Saint Kitts, however the UK was opposed to Nevis becoming a separate colony and eventually the federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis became independent in 1983. In Barbuda, there was a campaign for separate independence from Antigua, but this was unsuccessful.Of all of these islands that were once associated states, all are now independent, except for Anguilla within the former St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, which is still a
British Overseas Territory .See also
*
Associated State
*Caribbean Community
*Organization of Eastern Caribbean States
*West Indies Federation References
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