In 1812 the Soufrière erupted and devastated the greater part of the island. In 1848 due to the shortage of local labour, Portuguese were imported in fairly large numbers from Madeira to work on the sugar estates, and a little over a decade later East Indians arrived for the same purpose. Both the Portuguese and the East Indians are now respected members of the island community. In the second half of the nineteenth century the price of sugar fell and a serious depression set in which lasted until the end of the century. Before prosperity returned, the island suffered a great calamity in the hurricane of 1898 which killed about 300 people and damaged a large number of buildings. This was followed in 1902 by the disastrous volcanic eruption mentioned at the beginning of this chapter. In 1951 universal adult suffrage was granted, and in 1956 elected members were given a majority in the Executive Council and elected Ministers took office for the first time. CONSTITUTION Following decisions taken at a conference in London in April and May 1966, subsequently endorsed by a resolution in the Legislative Council, and further discussions in London in January and February, 1967, provision was made in the West Indies Act 1967 under which St. Vincent could assume a status of association with the United Kingdom. The appointed day was intended to be not later than 1st June 1967, but due to political problems within St Vincent this date was delayed. A further Constitutional Conference was held in London in June 1969 to reach final decisions on the Constitution. As a result, St Vincent became an Associated State on 27th October 1969. The association is a free and voluntary one, terminable by either country at any time. An Associated State is fully self-governing in all its internal affairs. The United Kingdom is responsible for defence and external affairs. By agreement there is close consultation over the discharge of these responsibilities and delegation of executive authority in a wide field of external relations. The British Government conduct their affairs with all the West Indies Associated States through the British Government Representative who has his headquarters in Castries, St Lucia, or through his deputies in Antigua and St Vincent. It was agreed that as an Associated State St Vincent would have a new Constitution under which there is a Governor who is Her Majesty's Representative. Except where otherwise provided the Governor is required to act in accordance with advice of the Cabinet or a Minister acting under the general authority of the Cabinet. The Cabinet is collectively responsible to the Legislature for the government of St Vincent. It consists of the Premier, the other Ministers and, at any time when his office is a public office, the Attorney-General ex officio. The Governor is required to appoint as Premier a member of the House of Assembly who appears to him best able to command a majority in that House. The other Ministers are appointed on the advice of the Premier. The Legislature consists of Her Majesty and a House of Assembly. The House of Assembly consists of a Speaker, thirteen members elected in single member constituencies under universal adult suffrage, one of whom can be the Speaker; three nominated members appointed by the Governor, two on the advice of the Premier and one on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition; and, so long as his office is a public office, the Attorney-General ex officio. Under the constitution the St Vincent Legislature may make laws for the peace, order and good government of the territory. The Constitution contains safeguards for fundamental rights and freedoms. There are special provisions relating to a Bill to alter the Constitution or the law establishing the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court or the law relating to appeals to the Privy Council. The West Indies Associated States Supreme Court (q.v.), was established by Order in Council, to serve all the six territories which were intended to become Associated States, and Montserrat and the Virgin Islands. LAND POLICY All land, other than Crown Land, is freehold. Individual ownership is recognised, but aliens may purchase land only with the approval of the Government. GOVERNMENT GOVERNOR His Excellency Sir Rupert Godfrey John, BA, DipEd MINISTRY Hon. J. F. Mitchell, Premier and Minister of Trade, Agriculture and Grenadines Affairs HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY J. L. Eustace, Speaker J. F. Mitchell, Member for the Grenadines E. T. Joshua, Member for South Central Windward CIVIL ESTABLISHMENT Financial Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Cabinet Secretary: F. G. Thomas Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Com- Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Director, Economic Planning Unit: W. F. Senior Medical Officer: K. W. Fenwick Chief Personnel Officer: J. A. Pompey Comptroller of Customs and Excise: S. Labour Commissioner: E. H. N. La Borde Statistical Officer: T. A. Browne Manager, Central Water Authority: S. Superintendent of Airports: D. Joseph District Officer, Southern Grenadines: A. W. Postmaster: N. Scott Superintendent of Prisons: F. O. Mason READING LIST JUDICIARY Puisne Judge, St Vincent Circuit: N. A. Berridge ASPINALL, Sir A. Pocket Guide to the West Indies, Methuen, 1960. T HE country takes its name from Cecil John Rhodes (1853-1902) on whose initiative it was opened up for European settlement and development. Since the independence of Northern Rhodesia as the Republic of Zambia on the 24th October 1964 it has become the generally accepted practice to refer to the country as 'Rhodesia' and this title is therefore employed here, except where the use of Southern Rhodesia is appropriate in referring to past constitutional development. The legal name remains Southern Rhodesia. Rhodesia extends from the Zambesi River (latitude 15° 50′ S.) to the Limpopo River (latitude 22° 25′ S.) and from Botswana in longitude 25° 14' E. to Mozambique in longitude 33° 4' E. Entirely land-locked, its neighbours are Zambia on the north and north-west, Botswana on the south-west, the Republic of South Africa on the south, and Mozambique on the east and north-east. Part of the boundary to the north with Zambia runs through Lake Kariba which was formed by the damming of the Zambesi in the Kariba Gorge. This was completed in 1959. The Lake is 175 miles long, up to 20 miles wide, and covers 2,000 square miles. The area of Rhodesia is 150,820 square miles, which is about three times the size of England. Although Rhodesia lies within the tropics the climate is not typically tropical owing to the elevation of much of the country particularly in the High Veld areas where the majority of the population lives. Of the total area 21 per cent lies over 4,000 feet above sea-level. Temperatures range from a mean minimum of 40°F to a mean maximum of 85°F on the central plateau. The central plateau, known as the High Veld, traverses the country in a northeasterly direction until it links up with a narrow belt of mountainous country striking north and south along the eastern border. There are two important offshoots from the main plateau to the north-west and north of Salisbury. On either side of the main plateau is the Middle Veld which lies between 4,000 and 2,000 feet above sea-level. The Low Veld region, below 2,000 feet, is found along a narrow strip in the Zambesi valley and in a broader tract in the basin of the Limpopo and Sabi Rivers. The lowest point is 660 feet above sea-level where the Limpopo River leaves the country. The greatest rainfall occurs in the mountainous country along the eastern border where considerable areas have an annual mean of over 48 inches. In the centre of the country annual rainfall varies from a mean of 33 inches in the Salisbury area to a mean of 24 inches in the Bulawayo area. The highlands are in two main portions. The northern portion is generally about 6,000 feet high, rising at the highest point to 8,517 feet above sea-level. The southern portion forms the Vumba Mountains, the Chimanimani Range, which has peaks rising to a height of over 8,000 feet, and the Melsetter Uplands. Between them is the Umtali gap through which run the road and railway to Beira, the nearest outlet to the sea. In December 1971 the total population was estimated to be 5,590,000, comprising 5,310,000 Africans, 255,000 Europeans, 17,200 persons of mixed race and 9,400 Asians. (The accuracy of these figures cannot be determined). The African population is composed mainly of the Mashona and Matabele and their related tribes. No reliable figures are available of the breakdown into tribes but there is no doubt that in the country as a whole the Mashona and their related tribes are in the majority. The official language is English but Shona and Ndebele are important vernaculars. Numerous Christian missions of various denominations including Anglican, Roman Catholic and non-Conformist are active throughout the country, but the majority of Africans are still non-Christian, adhering to tribal, animistic and other beliefs. There are small Muslim, Hindu and Jewish communities. The capital of Rhodesia is the city of Salisbury. Since its foundation in 1890, the city has become the centre of a large urban complex with a population in December 1971 estimated to be 463,000 of which 102,900 were Europeans. Salisbury and Bulawayo, the second largest city and the railway centre, possess the two largest concentrations of secondary industry in Rhodesia. The other areas of greatest industrial development are situated in the Midlands (Gwelo, Que Que and Gatooma) and at Umtali, near the border with Mozambique. Salisbury Airport, eight miles by road from the city, is the centre of Rhodesia's internal and external civil air communications. The other principal civil airport in Rhodesia, Woodvale Airport, is 10 miles from the city of Bulawayo. The total mileage of roads open to traffic at the end of 1966, excluding those falling under the responsibility of local authorities, was 45,553 of which 3,602 were of bitumen standard. All the main centres of population are also served by Rhodesia Railways, and operate in conjunction with the South African, Zambian, Botswana, Mozambique and Angola railways. Rhodesia has 2,706 miles of 3 ft 6 in. gauge railway line. The Rhodesia Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts from Salisbury and Bulawayo using short and medium wave transmitters which, with the help of booster and satellite stations, provide country-wide coverage. Television is at present available in the Salisbury and Bulawayo areas only. The last detailed economic statistics to be published were those for the year ending December 1965. In that year the Rhodesian Gross Domestic Product was £R352-1 million of which agriculture made up £R66·7m. (19.2 per cent) and the manufacturing industry £R66-6m. The régime claim that in 1971 the GDP was £R544-2 million of which agriculture made up £R91.0m (16.7 per cent) and the manufacturing industry £R126.0m. In agriculture, the main crops were, until 1965, tobacco, sugar, maize and cotton. Since 1965 however, tobacco production has had to be cut back by over 60 per cent because of sanctions. Rhodesia also produces a wide variety of minerals, notably asbestos, gold, chrome and copper. Total mineral production in 1971 was valued at £R50-5m. Other minerals produced in Rhodesia include coal, lithium, nickel and iron ore. On 12th November 1965, immediately following the illegal declaration of independence, the Security Council passed a Resolution (No. 216) condemning the unilateral declaration of independence and calling upon all States not to recognise the illegal regime and to refrain from rendering any assistance to it. On 20th November 1965 the Security Council passed Resolution No. 217, which, inter alia, called on all States to do their utmost to break all economic relations with Southern Rhodesia, and included an embargo on oil and petroleum products. A large number of countries thereupon severed all trading links with Rhodesia and others placed a partial embargo on trade with Rhodesia. The United Kingdom applied a wide variety of economic and other sanctions to Rhodesia and by February 1966 had cut off virtually all trade with Rhodesia. The effect of these international sanctions (which were still voluntary) was to reduce Rhodesia's exports from £142.5m. in 1965 to an annual rate of around £R100m., thereby causing a reduction in Rhodesia's imports of about one third On 9th April 1966, following an attempt to supply petroleum to Rhodesia in defiance of Resolution No. 217, the Security Council passed another Resolution (No. 221) which called upon the United Kingdom to prevent, by the use of force if necessary, the arrival at Beira of vessels reasonably believed to be carrying oil destined for Rhodesia. The Resolution and the subsequent patrolling of the Mozambique Channel have effectively prevented the illegal regime from obtaining supplies of crude oil to operate their refinery at Umtali. On 16th December 1966, the Security Council adopted a resolution (No. 232) on selective mandatory sanctions against Rhodesia. The Security Council adopted a further resolution (No. 253) on 29th May 1968, which, inter alia, imposed comprehensive mandatory economic sanctions against Rhodesia covering virtually all trade. On 18th March 1970, the Security Council adopted another resolution (No. 277), which, inter alia, called for the severance of all diplomatic, consular, trade and other relations with the illegal régime and the interruption of existing means of transportation to and from Rhodesia. The provisions of previous resolutions were reaffirmed by Security Council resolutions on 17th November 1970 (No. 288), and on 28th February 1972 (No. 314), and on 28th July 1972 (No. 318). |