HC Deb 22 January 1963 vol 670 cc13-4W
53. Mr. Iremonger

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his visit to the West Indian colonies.

Mr. Sandys

During my tour of the West Indies I visited Antigua, Montserrat, Dominica, Barbados and Grenada, and in each island 1 had talks with the Administrators and with representatives of Government and Opposition groups.

In Grenada, the Chief Minister gave me an account of the recent discussions his Government had had with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago concerning a possible union between the two countries.

While in Barbados I had a joint meeting with the Premier of Barbados and the Chief Ministers of Antigua, Dominica, Montserrat, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, St. Lucia and St. Vincent to discuss the future relationship between these Islands, after which a joint statement was issued, which was as follows: The Secretary of State for the Colonies, Mr. Duncan Sandys, held a meeting in Barbados with Ministers of the territories concerned on 28th and 29th December to consider the next steps to be taken to implement the agreed conclusions of the London Conference of May, 1962, regarding the establishment of a "West Indies Federation". In view of the current discussions between the Government of Grenada and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago regarding a possible union between the two countries, the Government of Grenada was not represented at the meeting. The Secretary of State explained that when the Government of Grenada had sought his permission to examine this matter with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago he had replied that he would not wish to raise any objection, on the understanding that these initial discussions would be purely exploratory and without commitment either to the British Government or the Government of Grenada. The Ministers of the seven other territories re-affirmed their conviction that federation offers the best prospect for the economic and political progress of their territories. They emphasised that the uncertainty about Grenada's attitude did not in any way affect the determination of their governments to proceed with this plan; and they welcomed the assurance by Mr. Sandys of the British Government's continued readiness to support this project, irrespective of whether Grenada decided to participate. It was noted that the legislatures of Montserrat, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla and St. Vincent had already passed resolutions expressing general approval of the recommendations of the London Conference, as set out in the White Paper (No. 1746). The Ministers of Antigua, Barbados, Dominica and St. Lucia stated that it was their intention likewise to seek decisions from their legislatures during the course of January. It was also noted that the expert inquiries on fiscal matters, civil service organization, economic development and the proposed customs union, which had been set in train at the London Conference, were well advanced and that reports were expected within the next three months. In the light of this, it was decided to aim at convening a conference in London next June to reach final decisions about the form of the Federation. In order to facilitate the work of the Conference, it was agreed that, after the reports of the inquiries had been received, a British Minister would come to Barbados to hold preparatory discussions with the Ministers of the territories concerned.