ABSTRACT
Britain had been encouraging its Caribbean colonies to unite on their way to independence, but the West Indian Federation formed in 1958 broke up in 1962. By 1983, 12 British colonies had become independent as separate states (9, 73); however, they co-operated in the Caribbean Community (Caricom), formed in 1973. In 1994 this group joined several mainland countries in a new Association of Caribbean States.
