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 granted independence to Jamaica on August 6, 1962. This act marked an important 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. With Jamaica’s independence, nearby places like the Cayman Islands changed from being under Jamaica’s control to being ruled directly by Britain again.

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

Background to enactment

The Jamaica Independence Act 1962 started its journey in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom on May 22, 1962. The person in charge at the time, Reginald Maudling, helped it move through several steps before it was approved on June 29, 1962.

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