How did the West Indies Act of 1967 change Dominica’s government?

The West Indies Act of 1967 fundamentally altered Dominica’s government by granting the island the status of association with the United Kingdom. Under the constitution established by this act, Dominica became fully self-governing regarding its internal affairs.12

While the island gained control over its domestic governance, the United Kingdom retained responsibility for Dominica’s defense and external affairs. This arrangement followed the dissolution of the West Indies Federation in 1962 and served as a transitional political status before the country eventually achieved full independence in 1978.312