in the later 1950s, constantine supported the campaign, led by james, to appoint west indies cricket's first black captain; the success of black people like constantine in attaining government positions while not permitted to captain the cricket team was a key factor in an ultimately successful campaign. while in government, constantine assisted in the development of the west indies federation, as a step towards the independence of the islands, and his fame and familiarity with britain played some part in the negotiations which led to trinidad's independence in 1962. after he decided not to stand for re-election in 1961, williams appointed him as trinidad and tobago's first high commissioner in london.