by Caribs. It was visited in 1596 and found to be uninhabited. The island remained unoccupied until 1632 when 300 Zealanders were sent out by a Company of Dutch merchants who styled it New Walcheren. After a residence of about two years these settlers were all killed or expelled by the Indians and Spaniards from Trinidad. In 1641 James, Duke of Courland, obtained a grant of the island from Charles I and in 1642 two vessels arrived with a number of Courlanders who settled on the north side. These were followed by further Dutch colonists in 1654 who, having effected a compromise with the Courlanders, established themselves on the southern coast; but in 1658 the Courlanders were overpowered by the Dutch, who remained in possession of the island until 1662 when the Dutch company resigned their right to it. In this year Cornelius Lampsius procured Letters Patent from Louis XIV creating him the Baron of Tobago and proprietor of the island under the crown of France.

In 1664 the grant of Tobago to the Duke of Courland was renewed by Charles II. The Dutch refused to recognise the Duke's title but in 1667 they themselves were compelled by the French to evacuate the island. Louis XIV restored the island to the Duke of Courland who, in 1681, made over his title to a company of London merchants. In 1748, by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, Tobago was declared neutral; the subjects of all European Powers were at liberty to form settlements or carry on commerce but not to place garrisons upon it. At the peace of 1763, by the Treaty of Paris, Tobago was ceded by France to England in perpetuity.

In 1781 Tobago was captured by the French after a gallant defence by the colonists. In 1783 it was surrendered by treaty to the French Crown. On 15th April 1793 it was captured by British Forces under Admiral Lefrey and General Cuyler. It was once more restored to the French by the Treaty of Amiens in 1802 and again re-conquered in 1803. In 1814 it was ceded in perpetuity to the British Crown.

Tobago continued to keep its old institutions, its House of Assembly, its Legislative Council, its Privy Council and its numerous Law Courts until 1874, when the House of Assembly was abolished and a one-Chamber Legislative Council formed. The abolition of slavery, the great storm of 1847 when most of the sugar works were damaged, the introduction of beet sugar in Europe, the lack of capital and many other factors had by this time resulted in a depressed state of trade. Tobago became a Crown Colony in 1877 at the request of the Legislative Council following the disastrous Belmanna riots. The Government was then administered by a resident administrator, subordinate to the Governor-in-Chief of the Windward Islands at Grenada, and a Legislative Council was established by an Order in Council on 7th February 1877, to consist of not less than three persons designated by Her Majesty The Queen.

The fall in the price of sugar gave the final blow to Tobago's status as a separate colonial unit, and in 1888 Tobago was amalgamated with Trinidad.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

By Order in Council dated 17th November 1888 Tobago was amalgamated with Trinidad, the name of the new Colony being Trinidad and Tobago. The latter island was then administered by a Commissioner appointed by the Governor of the United Colony, who was ex officio a member of the Legislative Council. One unofficial member of Council represented Tobago. The Commis

sioner was assisted by a financial board of five members, two nominated by the Governor, and three elected. The revenue, expenditure and debt of the islands remained distinct, but there was a freedom of commercial intercourse between them and the laws of Trinidad were, with some specified exceptions, the laws of both.

By an Order in Council of 20th October 1898 the Order in Council of November 1888 was almost entirely revoked and it was provided that the Island of Tobago should become a Ward of the United Colony of Trinidad and Tobago; that the revenue, expenditure and debt of Tobago should be merged with those of the United Colony; that the debt due from Tobago to Trinidad should be cancelled; that (with some specified exceptions) the laws of Trinidad should operate in Tobago, and those of Tobago cease to operate so far as they conflicted with the laws of Trinidad; that all future Ordinances of the Legislature of the Colony should extend to Tobago, with the proviso that the Legislature should be able to enact special and local ordinances and regulations applicable to Tobago as distinguished from the rest of the Colony. This Order in Council was brought into effect on 1st January 1899 by a Proclamation of the Governor. The post of Commissioner for the island of Tobago then ceased to exist and the post of Warden was created instead.

In 1924 the elective principle was introduced for the formation of the Legislative Council. Adult suffrage and further steps towards self-government and independence then followed (see Constitutional Development below).

The discovery of oil in the south of Trinidad and its exploitation after 1910 made it the most important industry but agriculture continued to play a major role. In 1931 sugar regained its lead over cocoa as the most important agricultural industry and today oil, sugar (with its by-products, molasses and rum), cocoa, asphalt, chemicals, coffee and fertilisers constitute the main exports. There has been a steady expansion of the manufacturing industry since 1950, assisted by pioneer aid legislation.

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The 1924 Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago, which was contained in the Trinidad and Tobago (Legislative Council) Order in Council 1924 (subsequently amended by Orders of 1928, 1941, 1942 and 1945) provided for twelve official, six nominated unofficial and seven elected members. The 1941 Order in Council made the Constitution more liberal by eliminating nine nominated official members and increasing the elected members to nine. During this period, the Executive Council, the composition of which was controlled by Royal Instructions passed in 1924 and 1941, consisted of three ex officio members and such other persons as the Governor might appoint, usually one nominated and four elected members. The 1945 amending Order in Council brought into effect universal adult suffrage and reduced the qualifications for election as a member of the Legislative Council. In February 1947, following a resolution moved by one of the elected members of the Legislative Council, a Committee was appointed to consider the reform of the Constitution; its report, and subsequent discussions, led to the introduction of the Constitution of 1950.

The Constitution of 1950, subsequently amended in 1956 and 1959, provided for a unicameral legislature (Legislative Council) with an elected majority, the composition being three ex officio members, five nominated members and eighteen elected members, presided over by a Speaker, with neither an original

nor a casting vote, appointed by the Governor from outside the Council. Other provisions were: an executive Council, which was the chief instrument of policy, comprising three ex officio members, one nominated member and five elected members elected by the Legislative Council; a quasi-ministerial system in which members of the Executive Council were associated with the administrative work of Government Departments; reserve powers of the Governor to be exercisable with the consent of the Executive Council, but in the event of their refusing to give such consent, with the approval of the Secretary of State; a Public Service Commission.

After further changes introduced by Orders in Council in 1956, 1958 and 1959, the Constitution in 1959 provided for a Legislative Council consisting of a Speaker elected by the members; two ex officio members (the Chief Secretary and the Attorney-General), five members nominated by the Governor and twenty-four elected members. The Cabinet consisted of nine Ministers including the Premier, who were elected members of the Legislative Council, and two ex officio members (the Chief Secretary and the Attorney-General), neither of whom was entitled to vote. The Governor did not normally preside at Cabinet meetings, but had the power to call special meetings of the Cabinet and, if he did so, to preside over them. With certain exceptions, the Governor had to consult with the Cabinet in the exercise of his powers and act in accordance with its advice. At this stage, the Constitution also contained provisions for the establishment of a Judicial and Legal Service Commission and a Police Service Commission, as well as a Public Service Commission. The Governor was bound to accept the recommendations of these Commissions on appointments and promotions, except in respect of a few special posts.

In elections held on 24th September 1956, under the 1950 Constitution, as amended, the People's National Movement (P.N.M.) gained thirteen seats and formed a Government under the leadership of Dr Eric Williams. The People's Democratic Party (now the Democratic Labour Party-D.L.P.) gained five seats; the Home Rule Party two seats; the Trinidad Labour Party two seats and Independents two seats.

After further Constitutional discussions held in London in November 1959 and June 1960, the Secretary of State for the Colonies announced agreement on a new Constitution providing for full internal self-government with a bicameral legislature consisting of a nominated Senate and an elected House of Representatives. This new Constitution was brought fully into operation following the General Election held on 4th December 1961, at which the P.N.M. was again returned to power, winning twenty of the seats in the House of Representatives and polling 58 per cent of the total votes cast. The D.L.P. won the remaining ten seats polling 39.7 per cent of the total votes cast. The 1960 Constitution provided that of the twenty-one nominated members of the Senate, twelve should be appointed on the advice of the Premier, two on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition and seven by the Governor in his discretion to represent special interests. The Cabinet was to consist of the Premier (as the Chief Minister was now called) and not more than eleven other Ministers (of whom one would be the Attorney-General). There was a wholly-elected House of Representatives of 30 members which was later increased to 36 members. The People's National Movement was again returned at the General Election held on 7th November 1966, winning 24 of the 36 seats in the Lower House and polling 52 per cent of the votes cast. The Democatic Labour Party, which

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won the remaining 12 seats and polled 34 per cent of the votes cast, again formed the Opposition.

In 1958 the Federation of the West Indies was formed with a membership consisting of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados and the Leeward and Windward Islands. Agreement had been reached in principle on a Constitution under which the Federation would proceed to Independence on 31st May 1962; but in September 1961 the Jamaican Government held a referendum on the question of membership of the Federation which resulted in a vote in favour of withdrawal. The British and the Jamaican Governments subsequently agreed that Jamaica would withdraw from the Federation and would proceed to Independence on its own. As a consequence, on 14th January 1962, the General Council of the People's National Movement unanimously approved a resolution that Trinidad and Tobago should also proceed forthwith to independence without prejudice to the possibility of the territory's future association in a unitary state with other territories in the East Caribbean. The resolution also requested the Government to take the initiative in proposing the maximum possible measure of collaboration between the former members of the Federation of the West Indies regarding common services, and to declare their willingness to take part in and work for a Caribbean economic community. This resolution was endorsed at a special convention of the party held towards the end of January and the Government accepted the terms of the resolution as their policy in this matter. In April the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in reply to a despatch from the Governor, agreed that Trinidad and Tobago should become independent as early as practicable in 1962, and proposed that, provided the necessary steps could be taken in time, an independence conference should be held in London towards the end of May to agree upon a constitution and the date of independence. Meanwhile, in February, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago had published the first draft of an independence constitution: this was distributed widely in the territory, and organisations and the general public were invited to submit written comments on it by 31st March. Over 160 memoranda were received, and from 25th to 27th April the Government held meetings with those who had submitted memoranda, at which the draft constitution was considered. The draft constitution, as amended in the light of these consultations, was considered by a Joint Select Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives, after which it was debated and, on 11th May, approved by a majority of 16 to 9 in the House of Representatives.

The revised draft of the independence constitution, as approved by the Legislature, formed the basic document at the Trinidad and Tobago Independence Conference held in London between 28th May and 8th June 1962. At this Conference, at which the Trinidad and Tobago delegation unanimously expressed the wish that an independent Trinidad and Tobago should be accepted as a Member of the Commonwealth and stated that it was the firm wish of the people of Trinidad and Tobago to continue after Independence in their allegiance to Her Majesty The Queen, it was agreed that Trinidad and Tobago should become independent on the 31st August 1962.

CONSTITUTION

The Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago is contained in the Trinidad and Tobago (Constitution) Order in Council 1962 (S.I. 1962 No. 1875). It provides for a Governor-General, appointed by Her Majesty The Queen on the advice of

the Prime Minister, and for a bicameral Legislature. The Senate (Upper House) consists of 24 Senators, 13 of whom are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, 4 on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition and 7 on the advice of the Prime Minister after consultation with those religious, economic and social organisations from which the Prime Minister considers that such Senators should be selected. In 1966 the Electoral Boundaries Commission recommended that the number of seats in the House of Representatives (Lower House) be increased from 30 to 36. This proposal was adopted and the General Election of November 1966 was fought in 36 constituencies. There is universal adult suffrage. The normal life of Parliament is 5 years. The Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister, who must be a member of the House of Representatives, and such other ministers as the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, appoints from among the senators and members of the House of Representatives. The Attorney-General must be a member of the Cabinet. The Governor-General appoints as Leader of the Opposition the member of the House of Representatives who, in his judgement, is the Leader in the House of the party commanding the support of the largest number of members of the House in opposition to the Government.

The principal provisions of the Constitution are entrenched and, of these, the most important are specially entrenched. The ordinary entrenched provisions can only be amended by a vote of two-thirds of all the members of both Houses; these include the provisions relating to human rights and freedoms, prorogation of Parliament, appointment, etc., of judicial officers, the various Service Commissions and the office and functions of the Auditor-General. Specially entrenched provisions can only be altered by a vote of three-quarters of all the members of the House of Representatives and two-thirds of the Senate. The specially entrenched provisions included among other things those concerning the office of the Governor-General, the establishment of Parliament and the composition of the two Houses, general elections and the appointment of Senators, the establishment of boundaries and election commissions and matters affecting the Judiciary.

There is a Supreme Court of Judicature, consisting of a High Court and a Court of Appeal, and in certain cases a further appeal lies to the Judicial Committee of Her Majesty's Privy Council. The Chief Justice is appointed by the Governor-General acting on the advice of the Prime Minister. Puisne Judges are appointed by the Governor-General acting in accordance with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commissions.

The Constitution also contains provisions relating to citizenship; an amendment to the Constitution in 1965 provided for a limited category of dual nationality.

GOVERNMENT

In August 1970 the composition of the political parties in the House of Representatives was: People's National Movement 24, Democratic Labour Party 7 and Democratic Liberation Party 5.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL

His Excellency Sir Solomon Hochoy, TC, GCMG, GCVO, OBE