TIMELINE TO INDEPENDENCE
- 1929 – Jamaica’s first political party, the People’s Political Party was formed under the leadership of Marcus Garvey who had returned to the island in 1927.
- January-May 1938 – Labour riots occurred at the Frome factory owned by Tate and Lyle. The police killed four protestors and wounded nine. The unrest extended to the Kingston waterfront and a general strike was called, with one of the leading figures being Alexander Bustamante. This unrest led to the formation of the Moyne Commission.
- 18 September 1938– The People’s National Party was launched with Norman Washington Manley as the leader.
- 8 July 1943 – The Jamaica Labour Party was launched with Alexander Bustamante as leader.
- 20 November 1944 – A new Constitution came into effect in Jamaica, which afforded voting rights to all Jamaicans over the age of 21.
- September 1947 – The first Conference on British West Indian Federation in Montego Bay with leading West Indian politicians and Arthur Creech-Jones, Labour Secretary of State for the British Colonies, present.
- 20 December 1949 – General Elections won by the Jamaica Labour Party with 17 of the 32 seats in the House of Representatives. The PNP gained only 13 seats despite getting the popular vote with 43.5% to 42.7% for the JLP.
- 12 January 1955 – General elections won by the People’s National Party with 18 members elected to the House of Representatives with 50.5% of the popular vote, to 39.03% for the JLP who won 14 seats.
- 2 August 1956 – Parliament of Westminster passed the British Caribbean Act to establish a federal union among the territories making up the British West Indies.
- 3 January 1958 – The Federation of the West Indies was officially established.
- 1958 – During the Caribbean-wide elections, JLP won 12 of the 17 seats allotted to Jamaica in the Federal West Indies Parliament.
- 28 July 1959 – PNP won the General Elections once more with 24 of the 45 seats of the house and 54.8% of the popular vote. The JLP won 21 seats with 44.3% of the popular vote.
- 3 November 1959 – D.C. Tavares from the Jamaica Labour Party proposed a referendum to decide if Jamaica should remain a part of the Federation in Parliament.
- 31 May 1960 – Alexander Bustamante released a public statement declaring that the JLP “would oppose the Federation and to do everything within their power to secure Jamaica’s withdrawal.” In response, Norman Manley agreed to a referendum so that the people could determine the nation’s fate.
- June 1961 – The first motion specifically seeking a date for Jamaica’s Independence was proposed by L.G. Newland, JLP member in Parliament, who moved to request “Her Majesty’s Government to take the necessary steps to introduce legislation to grant Jamaica Independence on the 23rd May 1962 and to seek admission for Jamaica in the British Commonwealth as a Dominion.” This motion was defeated by the PNP.
- 19 September 1961 – Jamaica voted on the Referendum to determine if the country should withdraw from the British West Indies Federation. The majority (54%)of the electorate voted in favour of withdrawal, supporting the JLP’s stance, while 46% agree with Manley and the PNP that Jamaica should remain in the Federation.
- 31 October 1961 – The first joint meeting of the Independence Committees set up by the House of Representatives and the Legislative Council of Jamaica was held at Gordon House.
- 10 February 1962 – A joint delegation consisting of Norman Manley, Florizel Glasspole and Vernon Arnett (People’s National Party); and Alexander Bustamante, Donald Sangster and Robert Lightbourne (Jamaica Labour Party) traveled to England and signed the Independence Agreement at Lancaster House.
- 10 April 1962 – General elections were held with the JLP claiming victory with 26 seats with 50.04% of the vote to 19 seats and 48.59% of votes for the PNP. Thus, Alexander Bustamante became the first Prime Minister of independent Jamaica at age 78.
- 6 August 1962 – Jamaica became officially independent from Britain and the occasion was commemorated with island-wide Independence Day celebrations and the raising of the new Jamaican flag.