From
1866 to August, 1914,
Jamaica had continued
to live in profound peace
and security. During that
time the roads of the
island were extended and
improved. The Railway
was greatly extended also;
a large number of schools
and hospitals were established;
and very many of the people
acquired land as their
own property. Progress
was slow but sure. No
danger from the outside
seemed to threaten the
colony. Then suddenly,
the Great War broke out
on August I, 1914. It
involved Jamaica, as it
involved every other country
in the world, directly
or indirectly. Its influence
on this island was felt
all the time it lasted
and the influence of changes
it brought about were
felt by generations to
come.
Jamaica
took part in the War, sending
to the front about ten thousand
men. While the fighting
continued she suffered from
lack of ships to take her
products to other countries.
This was a disturbance of
trade that always takes
place in time of war and
affects all countries. In
course of time Jamaica was
able to resume her regular
trade in sugar, rum, tobacco,
coffee and cocoa, which
were admitted into the English
market on better terms than
the same things produced
in foreign countries. In
other respects also the
War brought about many changes
in Jamaica, as it did the
world over. So with its
outbreak began the fifth
period of our history.
In
1914 on August
1, Germany plunged Europe
into war by declaring war
on Russia and next day invading
France through Belgium.
As England was a party to
a treaty with France and
(any to defend Belgium against
invasions, England declared
war on Germany. It was to
be a long and bitter war
lasting four years till
1918. It became known as
the Great War and was afterwards
called the First World War,
because most nations in
the World became involved.
When
the war started, Martial
Law was immediately proclaimed
in Jamaica and a body
of troops called the Jamaica
Reserve Regiment was formed
for the defence of the
island. Further, on August
14, a fund was launched
which raised £20,000
by year-end to provide
comforts for British soldiers.
On
September 17, the Legislative
Council voted £50.000
to purchase sugar for
donation to England.
In
1915, by voluntary
effort, Jamaica began to
arrange to send soldiers
to fight in the Great War
and a contingent of 500
men was sent off on November
8. The Legislative Council
took over the effort.
On
August 12 and 13 a hurricane
hit the island; a second
occurred on September
25 and 26. Both wrought
much damage to property
and agriculture, especially
to bananas.
In
1916, on January
7, the second contingent
of volunteers was sent off
to was with a third following
on March 16.
On
March 29, the Legislative
Council voted £60,000
a year for 40 years as
Jamaica's contribution
to the expenses of the
war. Intensive recruitment
was started in all parishes.
The fourth contingent
sailed on September 30.
Other West Indian islands
followed Jamaica's lead
in sending men to fight,
so the British War Office
resolved to regard all
West Indians as one unit
to be known as The British
West Indies Regiment.
On
August 15 and 16, a hurricane
swept Jamaica.
In
1917, March 6,
the Legislative Council
introduced compulsory military
service, with every male
from 16 to 41 being obliged
to register. This was to
ensure sufficient soldiers
being available, but the
Conscription Law was never
put into effect since all
the recruits needed came
forward voluntarily. A number
of women volunteers also
went to England, mainly
to join the nursing services.
Five contingents justify
Jamaica in 1917 bringing
the total to nine contingents
in all, comprising about
10,000 men.
In
May, some women property-owners
were given the right to
vote.
In
September, still another
hurricane hit the island
damaging property, banana
plantations and crops.
Thus for three successive
years the island had not
escaped the ravages of
hurricanes .
In
1918 May 11,
Sir William Manning justify
Jamaica to go to Ceylon
as Governor. In June, Sir
Leslie Probyn, who had been
Governor of Barbados, arrived
here as Governor.
On
November 1, an Armistice
was signed between Germany
and her allies Austria,
Turkey and Bulgaria and
the Allies, chief nations
of which were England,
France, U.S.A., Italy
and Japan. The war being
now practically over,
the Jamaican soldiers
began to be sent home.
The first lot of them
to return landed in Kingston
on May 2, and received
a hearty welcome. Many
of the men sent away had
died or had been wounded,
but most of them had escaped
injury. In Palestine,
especially, the West Indian
soldiers, most of whom
were Jamaicans, had distinguished
themselves in fighting
the Turks.
In
1923 the parishes
of Kingston and St. Andrew
were amalgamated. The union
came into effect on May
1.
In
1924 Sir Samuel
Wilson arrived (September
29), as Governor in succession
to Sir Leslie Probyn. He
remained only nine months,
leaving the colony in June,
1925. He subsequently became
Under-Secretary of State
for the Colonies.
In
1925, January,
a delegation, consisting
of several Members of the
British Parliament paid
a visit to Jamaica; this
was a very important event,
for the visitors were influential
men and by seeing for themselves
were able to carry back
to England a better knowledge
of Jamaican affairs both
political and economic.
On
March 16, the branch railway
from Chapelton to Frankfield
was opened. The line is
ten miles long. The Hon.
A. S. Jelfe, Colonial
Secretary, arrived in
October and administered
the Government until a
successor to Sir Samuel
Wilson was appointed.
In
1926, April,
Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs
arrived as Governor. In
May there was held, in a
room in the House of Lords,
a West Indian Conference.
It was attended by representatives
of the West Indian colonies
and its object was to provide
a place where representatives
of the different Governments
could meet and discuss their
problems. During this year
the West India Regiment
was disbanded. The Regiment
had had a long and distinguished
career. It first formed
in America as the North
Carolina Regiment in the
year 1779. It was later
re-organized and named the
West India Regiment. It
took part in the capture
of St. Lucia, Martinique,
Guadeloupe and Dominica,
during the wars with Napoleon.
During the latter part of
last century it was frequently
engaged in operations on
the West Coast of Africa,
notably Ashantee (1873),
West Africa (1887, 1892-1894),
and Sierra Leone (1898),
and in the Great War (1914-1918)
the Regiment saw service
in Palestine, the Cameroons
and East Africa. The final
parade of the Regiment was
held at Up Park Camp on
the 26th October, 1926.
Later on, in February,
In
1927, the Colours
were taken to England in
charge of several officers.
The King received the Colours
at Buckingham Palace on
the 18th February. In receiving
them, His Majesty said:
"I am proud to take
charge of the Colours to
be preserved and held in
remembrance of a great Regiment."
The Band of the Regiment,
which always had a great
musical reputation, was
kept in existence as a memory.
The bandsmen still wear
the historic Zouave uniform.
On
May 4, the Hermitage Dam,
on the Wag Water River,
was opened. It was built
to provide a reserve water
supply for the Corporate
Area of Kingston and St.
Andrew. The dam is 142
feet high, 465 feet wide,
and is capable of storing
430,000,000 gallons of
water. It took two and
a half years to build.
In
August, an organization
called the Jamaica Producers'
Association was formed.
The object was to get
all the banana growers
of the island or as many
of them as possible to
form themselves into a
large Company to sell
their fruit together.
By so doing they hoped
to obtain the best prices
when the fruit was sold
in the markets abroad.
A direct line of steamers
was to be run as part
of the scheme. The Government
supported the idea and
helped the Association
to start operating. The
fruit industry was also
further assisted by a
line of steamers to Canada.
The object was to encourage
Canadian and West Indian
businessmen to do more
business together.
In
1930 in February,
a delegation headed by Lord
Olivier visited Jamaica
to enquire into the state
of the sugar industry. Visits
were also paid to other
West Indian colonies for
the same reason. The industry
had been receiving support
from the British Government
in the form of a reduced
tax. It was being said that
the support should be taken
away. The delegation was
sent out to find out the
exact state of affairs in
the different colonies.
In
1932 the Cayman
Islands were severely hit
by a disastrous hurricane,
which swept over them on
the night of Tuesday, November
8. Many buildings were demolished
in Grand Cayman, but there
was no loss of life. The
island of Cayman Brac was
completely devastated Dwelling
houses and stores were wrecked
by wind and sea. Hundreds
of the inhabitants were
injured, many of the seriously,
and 67 lost their lives.
In Little Cayman similar
damage was done to buildings
and many of the inhabitants
were injured, but no lives
were lost.
On
November 9, Sir Edward
Stubbs sailed from Jamaica,
having completed his term
of office, to assume the
Governor-ship of Cyprus.
His administration was
a very successful one.
His Excellency lent great
encouragement to the idea
of local enterprise, and
important economic developments
took place during his
administration.
He
was succeeded by Sir Ransford
Slater, K.C.M.G., C.B.E.,
who arrived in Jamaica
as Governor on November
21.
In
1933 between
the night of the 14th of
August and the morning of
the 15th, a disastrous flood
of record intensity occurred
in Kingston and Lower St.
Andrew, taking 53 lives
and destroying over £300,000
of Government, Municipal
and private property. The
flood followed very heavy
rains which had been falling
for several weeks and the
swollen gully courses overflowed
their banks, taking away
houses and drowning the
people sleeping in them.
Nearly five inches of rain
fell in one hour, and the
rainfall for the day was
11.60 inches. A severe water
shortage was caused by the
gullies bursting the water
mains. Relief measures were
carried out and a fund,
opened by the Governor,
provided nearly £5,000
for the sufferers.
In
1934, October
24, Sir Edward Denham arrived
as Governor, in succession
to Sir Ransford Slater,
who justify Jamaica in April,
retiring from the Governorship
on the grounds of ill-health.
In 1935, May 6, King George
V celebrated the Silver
Jubilee of his reign.
In
1936 King George
V died, on January 20, after
a short illness, The Prince
of Wales ascended the throne
as King Edward Vlll: he
abdicated on December 10.
On the abdication of Edward
Vlll, his brother, the Duke
of York, was called to the
throne as George Vl. He
was crowned, with Queen
Elizabeth, at Westminster
Abbey on May 12, 1937.
On
April 3, a radio-telephone
service was inaugurated
by which persons in Jamaica
were able to speak over
the telephone with others
in the United States,
England, Canada, Mexico
and Cuba. The Jamaica
Progressive League first
advocated self-government
for Jamaica.
In
1938 discontent
over wages and unemployment
throughout the island led
to the appointment by the
Government of a Commission
to enquire into the position,
but before the Commission
could conclude its work,
serious labour disturbances
broke out at Frome, Westmoreland,
followed by grave disorders
in Kingston, St. Mary, St.
James and other parts of
the island. One of the leaders
of the movement, Alexander
Bustamante, was arrested
but afterwards freed, and
then was formed what was
the first recognized Labour
Union in Jamaica.
These
disturbances, which occurred
during the same period
as troubles in the other
West Indian islands, led
the Imperial Government
to send out the West India
Royal Commission, the
Moyne Commission, which
took evidence here and
in other colonial possessions
in the Caribbean. Sir
Edward Denham, Governor,
died in the Kingston Public
Hospital on June 2 and
was buried at sea on the
following day.
He
was succeeded by Sir Arthur
Richards, who arrived
in Jamaica on August 19.
The People's National
Party was formed under
the leadership of Norman
W. Manley.
In
1939 an important
improvement to internal
communications was made
with the inauguration of
the All-island Trunk Telephone
Service to connect all the
principal towns of the island.
The first connection was
opened to the public on
April 1.
In
September, the Second
World War broke out in
Europe, in which Britain
became involved. Germany
attacked and invaded Poland.
Great Britain had a treaty
with Poland, and with
the Dominions and Colonies,
declared war on Germany.
Jamaica, like other parts
of the Empire, was immediately
placed under the Defence
of the Realm Act, under
which the Governor made
regulations controlling
prices of all commodities
to prevent profiteering,
controlling foreign exchange,
and imposing censorship
of the press, mails and
of telegraph and cable
messages.
In
1940 Great Britain
and the United States entered
into an arrangements by
which the United States
was granted air, military
and naval bases in British
territory. Among the places
selected for these bases
was Jamaica, one at Portland
Bight, and another at Vernamfield
in Clarendon. A corps of
American engineers arrived
in the island shortly after
the arrangement between
the two countries was completed,
and immediately set to work
on plans for the building
of the bases.
In
1942, March 9,
the Anglo-American Caribbean
Commission was formed. Its
object was to co-ordinate
effort in planning agricultural
and other research in the
Caribbean. The Commission
consisted of six members,
three appointed by the British
Government and three the
United States of America.
Later it was broadened to
take in the French and Dutch
West Indies. Members from
those governments were appointed
and it became the Caribbean
Commission. In June, Marcus
Mosiah Garvey died in London.
In
1943, July 8,
in the Ward Theatre, the
Jamaica Labour Party was
founded, under the leadership
of Alexander Bustamante.
In August, agricultural
labourers (sometimes called
farm workers) were recruited
for temporary employment
in the USA to meet war needs.
So successful was the venture
that recruitment was repeated
year by year, and the plan
extended to other West Indian
Islands. In September, Sir
John Huggins arrived as
Governor in succession to
Sir Arthur Richards, who
went to Nigeria to assume
the Governorship there.
In
1944, August
20, a disastrous hurricane
swept over Jamaica, almost
completely destroying the
coconut industry. Many homes,
as well as schools and other
public buildings, were badly
damaged and some completely
demolished.
On
November 20, a new Constitution
was proclaimed, under
which the island obtained
representative, though
not responsible government.
In place of the single
Legislative Council, presided
over by the Governor,
there was created one
wholly-elected body, the
House of Representatives,
chosen under universal
suffrage and presided
over by its own Speaker;
and a Legislative Council,
partly ex-officio and
partly nominated by the
Governor. There also came
into existence an Executive
Council of ten Members,
five chosen by the House
of Representatives and
five by the Governor.
November
20 was declared a public
holiday, and is known
as Constitution Day intill
after Independence in
1962 when it was replaced
by national Heroes Day,
on the third Monday of
October.
In
the general elections
that followed, the Jamaica
Labour Party, led by Mr.
Bustamante, obtained a
large majority over the
People's National Party.
In
1945 the second
World War came to an end.
The Germans collapsed in
Europe in May, and the Japanese
yielded in August to intensive
bombing, which included
the first use of the atomic
bomb, on Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
In
1947 a conference
took place at Montego Bay
to consider uniting the
British West Indies under
a single Federal Government.
The subject had been discussed
informally from time to
time, but this was the first
occasion on which representatives
of all the British Caribbean
peoples met to give the
matter official consideration.
Representatives were sent
by the Governments of all
the territories, namely:
Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados,
the Windward Islands, the
Leeward Islands British
Guiana and British Honduras,
and the conference was presided
over by the Right Hon. Arthur
Creech Jones, Secretary
of State for the Colonies.
A Standing Committee to
study the problem was appointed;
it made a report, three
years later, which was the
basis for further debate
in all the territories as
to the desirability of federation.
In
1948 The University
College of the West Indies
was founded at Mona, St.
Andrew. It received support
from the Governments of
all the British Caribbean
territories. In August the
Jamaica Public Service Co.
Ltd., abolished its tramway
system in favour of buses
for all public transport.
In 1949 new general elections
were held. The Jamaica Labour
Party again won, but by
a greatly reduced majority
in the House of Representatives.
In
1950 on July
9, commercial broadcasting
was started by the Jamaica
Broadcasting Co. in Kingston.
The name would later be
changed to Radio Jamaica
Ltd. (RJR).
In
1951 Sir Hugh
Mackintosh Foot became Governor
in succession to Sir John
Huggins.
On
August 17, the most severe
hurricane in seventy years,
Hurricane Charlie, swept
over the island. It did
great damage in Kings
Port Royal was destroyed
for the third time in
its history. Morant Bay
was hard hit. The loss
of life was in excess
of 150.
In
1952 on February
6, King George Vl died.
His Majesty had been ill
for some time and had undergone
a serious operation. He
was gradually convalescing
from this illness when he
died, and Princess Elizabeth
ascended the throne as Queen
Elizabeth II.
The
manufacture of cement
in Jamaica was started
at Rockfort, 4 miles from
Kingston, on the road
to St. Thomas by the Caribbean
Cement Company, in February
of this year.
In
May, Government set up
the Agricultural Development
Corporation (often referred
to as the A.D.C.) to promote
further development of
agriculture throughout
the island. Early emphasis
was on rice-growing.
In
June, Government set up
the Industrial Development
Corporation (now called
the J.l.D.C.) to aid expansion
in industry and to help
to attract overseas capital
in setting up industries
in the island.
In
the Olympics held in Helsinki,
Finland, Jamaica's team
of Arthur Wint, Leslie
Laing Herbert McKenley
and Gsorge Rhoden won
the 4 x 400 relay in world
record time, as did Rhoden
in winning the gold medal
in the 400 metres. McKenley
won silver medals in the
100 and 400 metres and
Wint the siver in the
800 metres.
In
1953 a broadening
of the Constitution was
put into effect. The number
of Ministries was increased
to nine, giving the popular
side of the Government a
Cabinet for the first time,
with Ministers responsible
for their portfolios and
with the elected leader
becoming Chief Minister.
Mr. Alexander Bustamante
was the first Chief Minister.
In
November, Queen Elizabeth
II stopped off for two
days on her way to Australia,
this being the first time
that Jamaica had been
visited by a reigning
English monarch. Great
crowds cheered Her Majesty
at many points. She was
accompanied by her husband,
Prince Philip, Duke of
Edinburgh.
In
1954 success
attended an Industrial Fair
held in Kingston by the
Jamaica Manufacturers Association.
In November, President William
V. Tubman of Liberia paid
a State visit. In July there
was a serious outbreak of
poliomyelitis. It was brought
under control by December,
by which time 759 cases
had been reported out of
which there were 94 deaths.
In
1955 island-wide
celebrations marked the
300th Anniversary of the
coming of Penn and Venables
in 1655, and thus the tercentenary
of association with Britain.
The year opened politically
with general elections in
January. The People's National
Party gained a majority,
and on February 2 Norman
W. Manley took office as
Chief Minister. Later, in
February, an official good-will
visit to Jamaica was paid
by General Paul Magloire,
President of Haiti. Less
than a week afterwards,
HRH Princess Margaret spent
five days during the course
of her official tour through
the British Caribbean. She
opened the new hospital
at Morant Bay which was
named for her. Then followed
Senor Luis Munoz Marin,
Governor of Puerto Rico,
who opened the Agricultural
Fair at Denbigh.
The
second Industrial Fair
in Kingston was opened
in September by the Hon.
Adlai Stevenson, former
candidate for the Presidency
of the United States.
Tercentenary
activities which went
on for the full year included
a "bandwagon"
show which made a circuit
of the parishes with artistic
and athletic events of
all kinds.
In
1956 a conference
held in London of representatives
of the Caribbean island
territories, settled major
points concerning Federation,
exclusive of the name of
the new nation-to-be and
the site of its capital.
A Commission of three Englishmen
was pointed to tour the
region and propose three
locations from which the
capital would be chosen.
Migration
to England, which for
some years since the Second
World War had been rising
from almost a trickle,
gathered momentum and
over 17,000 Jamaicans
went to England to seek
work in this year.
In
1957 early in
the year, a final Federation
Conference took place at
Mona, St. Andrew. The name
West Indies was adopted
for the Federation. The
Commission on the capital
recommended Barbados, Jamaica
and Trinidad in the order
named. By vote of the regional
delegates, Trinidad was
selected. Elaborate naval,
military and civic displays
attended the unveiling of
historical markers at Port
Royal, the most important
being a plaque in honour
of naval heroes who had
commanded there. His Excellency
the Governor presided.
In
January a new system of
land valuation for tax
purposes was introduced,
based on unimproved value
instead of an improved
value as before. It was
planned to introduce this
system gradually, each
parish being done in turn.
On
March 1 there was a heavy
earthquake which shook
almost the entire island,
causing substantial damage
to buildings. During this
year Government policy
on education was revised
and expanded, whereby
1,500 free places in secondary
schools and 50 scholarships
and bursars to the University
College of the West Indies
was made an annual affair.
In
June the Mona Reservoir
in St. Andrew, building
of which had started in
the early 1940s, was put
into service. It has a
capacity of 825,000,000
gallons.
In
1957 on November
l1, Jamaica received full
internal self-government
which meant a complete change
of the political structure
that had existed for almost
three centuries. This change
gave control of all internal
matters to a Council of
Ministers, called the Executive
Council, nominated by the
Governor on the recommendation
of the Chief Minister, who
now became known as Premier.
This Parliamentary system
was modeled on that of the
United Kingdom. There were
now ten Ministers instead
of the nine under the 1953
Constitution.
Sir
Kenneth Blackburne, formerly
Governor of the Leeward
Islands arrived on December
18 to take over as Governor
from Sir Hugh Foot, who
had justify the island
on November 18 to go to
Cyprus as Governor. During
this year bauxite and
aluminum exports almost
doubled those of 1956.
Financial arrangements
between Government and
the bauxite companies
were revised, whereby
Government received greatly
increased revenues from
the mining companies.
Migrants to England in
this year numbered 13,087.
In
1958 Jamaica
became a member territory
of the West Indies Federation
when it was proclaimed on
the 23rd of February. During
this year the Sugar Industry
Labour Welfare Board was
established to improve and
control the conditions of
workers on sugar estates
and cane farms, and of their
dependents.
In
December, Government set
up the Jamaica National
Trust Commission with
power to take steps for
the purchase and preservation
of National Monuments.
On
December 31 the Jamaica
Regiment disbanded, most
of its members being absorbed
the next day by the West
India Regiment. Migrants
to the United Kingdom
in this year amounted
to 9,992.
In
1959 on March
17, the Hon. Noel Nethersole,
Minister of Finance, died
suddenly of a heart attack
while preparing the Government
Budget.
In
Federal Elections held
in April, the Bustamante-led
Democratic Labour Party
won 12 seats in Jamaica
to 5 won be the Federal
Labour Party, led by Norman
Manley.
On
June 14, the Jamaica Broadcasting
Corporation, which is
run by a Government Statutory
Board, started operations,
thus bringing a second
broadcasting station to
the island.
On
July 4, important changes
in the Constitution of
Jamaica were proclaimed.
The Council of Ministers
established in the 1957
Constitution was now replaced
by a Cabinet with a Premier.
The number of electoral
constituencies for electing
Members of the House of
Representatives was increased
from 32 to 45.
The
new Montego Bay International
Air Terminal was officially
opened to traffic on July
9, while in August the
new 7,600 ft. runway at
the Palisadoes Airport,
near Kingston, was opened
to traffic, even though
the new terminal building
was still under construction.
On
July 28 there was a general
election, as a result
of which the People's
National Party was returned
to power, having won 29
seats in the House against
the Jamaica Labour Party's
16 seats. Mr. Norman Manley,
Q.C., became Premier and
assumed the portfolio
of Minister of Development.
Work
began in this year on
the important Negril development
project in the west of
the island.
Migrants
to the U.K. in this year
amounted to 12,796.
In
1960 the Governor,
Sir Kenneth Blackburne,
went on overseas leave and
Mr. Geoffrey Gunter was
appointed to act in his
place. This was the first
occasion on which a Jamaican
had been appointed in this
way to represent the Crown
since the surrender of the
old Constitution in 1866.
Mr. Gunter was later knighted.
On
October 26, the Legislature
was transferred from Headquarters
House, where it had been
located for 88 years,
to a new building next
door on Duke Street. This
new House was named Gordon
House in honour of the
great Jamaican patriot,
George William Gordon,
who had been a member
of the House of Assembly
under the old Constitution
and a victim of the aftermath
of the 1865 rebellion.
During
this year, considerable
expansion of the manufacturing
industry took place. New
industries appeared, and
important amalgamations
of businesses and remodeling
of factories took place
or were completed.
In
November the Government
awarded 75 bursars to
the University of the
West Indies.
Migrants
to the UK. reached the
figure of 32,060.
In
1961 in May the
Government opened a national
bank, the Bank of Jamaica,
thus marking a new and important
phase in the development
of the island's financial
institutions.
On
September 19, a Referendum
was held for the people
of Jamaica to vote as
to whether or not they
wished the island to remain
in the West Indies Federation.
256,261 people voted "No"
and 217,319 people voted
"Yes". As a
result, Jamaica decided
to withdraw from the Federation,
which was later dissolved.
Jamaica then asked Britain
for independence.
A
conference was held
in London between Jamaican
leaders and the British
Government which resulted
in the granting of independence
with Dominion status
of Jamaica on the basis
of an agreed Constitution.
The agreed date for
Independence was set
for August 6, 1962.
Migration
to the United Kingdom
in this year exceeded
39,000.
In
1962, April 10,
a general election was held.
The Jamaica Labour Party
won 26 seats, while the
People's National Party
won the remaining 19 seats.
The Government therefore
passed from the PNP to the
JLP and Sir Alexander Bustamante
became Prime Minister.
On
May 31, the West Indies
Federation was dissolved.
Jamaica, after her decision
of late September 1961,
to secede, had remained
a member until its dissolution.
On
June 22, the last British
Regiment in Jamaica, The
Royal Hampshire Regiment,
justify the island, thus
bringing to a close an
era which had begun in
1655, since when British
troops had always been
quartered in Jamaica.