The island of Anguilla had been part of the British colony of Saint Christopher and Nevis. In 1967, Anguilla briefly declared itself as the Republic of Anguilla; the island returned to British control in 1969. Nevis is the smaller of the two islands in the Saint Christopher and Nevis federation. A 1998 referendum failed to achieve the necessary two-thirds majority votes required for Nevis to be allowed to separate from Saint Christopher. The West Indies Federation was a short-lived political union consisting of several British controlled territories in the Caribbean. Port of Spain, located on Trinidad, served as the capital. The West Indies Federation was dissolved in 1962 with the eventful formation of 9 separate countries. From 1967 until 1983, the flag for the British colony of Saint Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla was a tricolor with a centered palm tree. The flag was changed when independence was granted in 1983.
