The feasibility of an autonomus social development policy in the countries of the Commonwealth Caribbean is discussed in this paper within the frame of reference of the political, economic and social events of the last thirty years. An analysis of the structure and 'modus operandi' of the Caribbean political parties leads the author to comment on the objectives and development options promoted by the political leaders facing many interrelated economic and social constraints arising out of both the international and domestic scene. The growing unemployment of the young labour force, the disenchantment that this situation provokes in the population, and the instability of international markets that turns government revenue unstable, are some of the factors discussed in assessing the political viability of social development policy. The analysis includes a discussion of the systems of political representation currently at use that introduce an institutional bias against the influence of labour in development policy decision making.