Towards Decolonisation: Political, Labour and Economic Developments in Jamaica 1938-1945

Towards Decolonisation starts with a description of conditions in Jamaica in the 1930s and of the social upheaval that occurred in 1938. It describes and accounts for the emergence of the leaders who came forward at this time of need, and the organisations they formed and led.

The work considers the repercussions to the outbreak of World War I and discusses the relationships, rivalry and conflicts among popular organisations in the 1940s. Labour struggles, trade union activities and the policies of rival political parties are recorded and examined. Renewed demands for constitutional reform in 1941 and the rejection of the British Government's inadequate response to these demands hold some focus.

The author examines constitutional concessions made in 1943 and representations made thereon by local organisations, leading to the introduction of a new constitution based on universal adult suffrage in 1944. The conclusion is drawn that this did not represent a firm commitment to decolonisation but the beginnings of a movement towards it.