Jamaica Independence Act 1962

The Jamaica Independence Act 1962 (10 & 11 Eliz. 2. c. 40) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that gave Jamaica its independence on August 6, 1962. This was a big moment for Jamaica, as it became the first English-speaking country in the West Indies to fully leave the control of the United Kingdom.

Before this, Jamaica had been part of the West Indies Federation since 1958. After Jamaica became independent, places like the Cayman Islands stopped being under Jamaica’s control and were ruled directly by Britain again.

After becoming independent, Jamaica joined the Commonwealth of Nations as a Commonwealth realm. This meant that Jamaica was its own country but still recognized the British monarch as its head of state, just like some other countries in the Commonwealth.

Background to enactment

The Jamaica Independence Act 1962 began in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom on May 22, 1962. Reginald Maudling helped it pass through several steps and it was approved on June 29, 1962.

The bill then went to the House of Lords, where it was read on July 5, 1962, and approved on July 16, 1962 without changes. On July 19, 1962, Queen Elizabeth II gave it official approval, called royal assent. The act started on August 6, 1962, a day celebrated each year in Jamaica as Independence Day.