West Indies Royal Commission

British history

Also known as: Moyne Commission

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 15, 2026

Quick Summary

The West Indies Royal Commission, established in 1938, was dispatched to investigate social and economic conditions in the British West Indies. This commission played a role in the decolonization process following World War II. It endorsed reforms such as the legalization of trade unions and the expansion of voting rights, which helped to curb the political power of the white planter elite. These reforms laid the groundwork for the institutionalization of mass political organizations and ultimately contributed to the independence of many British territories in the West Indies.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Anguilla
History of Anguilla
…commission (popularly known as the Moyne Commission) to examine social and economic conditions in the islands. The commission advocated political and social reforms, and its findings hastened the democratization of the political process. Anguilla was granted universal adult suffrage in 1952. Further changes occurred in 1956—with the dissolution of the…
Read More
…commission (popularly known as the Moyne Commission) to examine social and economic conditions in the islands. The commission advocated political and social reforms, and its findings hastened the democratization of the political process. Anguilla was granted universal adult suffrage in 1952. Further changes occurred in 1956—with the dissolution of the…
Read More

Barbados
British rule
The West Indies Royal Commission (Moyne Commission), dispatched in 1938 to report on social and economic conditions in the British West Indies, endorsed some of the political and social reforms that were advocated by the leaders of the new mass organizations, particularly the full legalization of…
Read More
The West Indies Royal Commission (Moyne Commission), dispatched in 1938 to report on social and economic conditions in the British West Indies, endorsed some of the political and social reforms that were advocated by the leaders of the new mass organizations, particularly the full legalization of…
Read More