Premier Norman Manley and Opposition Leader Sir Alexander Bustamante stood up to United Kingdom Cabinet and insisted that Jamaica be allowed to be given an independence day. The duo impressed the Cabinet and was given the approval of August 6.

Published Friday, February 9, 1962

AUGUST 6 (THIS YEAR) INDEPENDENCE DAY

National holiday – first Monday that month

LONDON: AFTER A HURRIED REFERENCE OF JAMAICA’S DEMANDS to the United Kingdom Cabinet this morning, the United Kingdom agreed to Jamaica having its Independence Day on the first Monday in August – August 6 this year.

At yesterday’s session, Premier Norman Manley and Opposition Leader Sir Alexander Bustamante both made it clear that Jamaica would not be fobbed off by any delays to suit any other colony. The British Colonial Secretary, Mr Maudling, this morning said that he had been impressed by the views expressed unanimously by the joint Jamaican delegation and would be prepared so to recommend to Prime Minister Harold Macmillan and the Cabinet.

Manley enquired how long that reference might take. Mr Maudling said a reply would be had that very morning.

And so, by 11 o’clock this morning, a telephone message had been received at the conference at Lancaster House, stating that the United Kingdom Cabinet had agreed to the Jamaican stipulation as to the date for Jamaican Independence.

It was then decided to embargo the news of the date – already predicted in The Gleaner – until midnight tonight.

The following communiqué was issued: “Jamaican Independence Conference Date of Independence agreed.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr Maulding) announced at this morning’s (Thursday, February 8) plenary session of the Jamaica Independence Conference now being held at Lancaster House, London, that the British Government were quite agreeable to the suggestion put forward by the Jamaica delegation for the date of Independence. This date will be the first Monday in August of this year, August 6, 1962.

REPORT

Britain has agreed that Jamaica – linked with Britain for three hundred years – will emerge as an independent nation on August 6, from the wreckage of an ill-fated West Indies Federation.

This decision was announced in a communiqué issued after yesterday’s meeting of the Jamaican Constitutional conference which opened at Lancaster House on February 1 and charted a new freedom constitution for Jamaica.

The conference will end today with formal closing speeches and the issue of the report on conclusions of the conference. This report will include details of the constitution which Jamaican delegates said would have strongly entrenched clauses to safeguard against any dictatorship seizing power on the island.

A communiqué released at midnight said, “The Secretary of State for the Colonies, Mr Reginald Maudling, announced at this morning’s plenary session of the Jamaican Independence Conference now being held at Lancaster House, that the British Government was agreeable to the suggestion put forward by the Jamaican delegation for the date of Independence.

“This date will be the first Monday in August of this year – August 6, 1962.”

In leaving Lancaster House, Mr Manley said the first Monday in August would now become the Jamaican National Holiday.

The present public holiday held on August 1 to commemorate the abolition of slavery in Jamaica would be added.

QUITE A FIGHT

Jamaica will become an independent member of the Commonwealth on August 6.

This morning, delegates to the constitutional conference went to Lancaster House expecting to meet firm opposition from Colonial Secretary Mr Reginald Maudling, who yesterday opposed the Government-Opposition suggestion that Independence should come in August.

He put forward a date in October, but this was strongly objected to by Premier Norman Manley, and Opposition Leader Sir Alexander Bustamante.

This  morning, Mr Maudling had reconsidered his ideas and made no difficulties about August 6.

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