To Dwell Together In Unity (English) | |||||
| Anthem | "A Song For Federation" | ||||
| Capital (and largest city) |
Port of Spain | ||||
| Other cities | Kingston, St. John's, Roseau | ||||
| Language official |
English | ||||
| others | French (in Dominica, Grenada and Saint Lucia) | ||||
| Religion main |
Protestantism | ||||
| others | Catholicism, Hinduism | ||||
| Demonym | West Indian | ||||
| Government | Federal Presidential Republic | ||||
| Established | 3 January 1949 | ||||
| Independence | from Great Britain | ||||
| Currency | West Indies dollar | ||||
The Federation of the West Indies, colloquially known as the West Indies, is a sovereign insular country in the Caribbean. It comprises several major islands scattered across the Caribbean Sea and numerous minor islands and islets. It is the largest country in the region by population, and the one with the largest economy: most of the islands have a tropical, warm climate, as it's typical of the whole Caribbean.
While the islands had been settled by Europeans as early as the 16th century, the country was created after the end of the Great War, from the unification of the many former colonies and territories of Great Britain in the region. As the territories gradually demanded and obtained independence, it became clear that most of them (some of which consist of only a single island) wouldn't be able to survive as an independent country: one after the other, the various islands that were once British joined the new federation. Rapidly, the West Indies rose to become one of the most culturally vibrant nations of the New World, known across the globe for their unique music, dances, and other art forms.
The West Indies are a loose federation of states, with the federal government having only a limited power to intervene in the affairs of the single states. Most of the population is a descendant of African slaves brought to the region during the 17th and 18th centuries, a descendant of European colonists, and the vast demographic majority is made up of mixed race people. The economy of the West Indies is highly diversified, with the most important sectors being naval industry, fishing and agriculture. There are ten states in the federation:
