Dr Rita Pemberton

FROM THE beginning of the 19th century, the seeds of conflict between the different arms of government created turmoil in the administration of Tobago. Like the other assemblies in the region, the members of the old Tobago House of Assembly (THA) were bitter over a series of decisions which were made by the British Parliament from early in the century and with which they were in strong disagreement.

There were three issues which made the situation particularly offensive to the THA. In the first instance they dealt with matters over which the Assembly members were particularly sensitive and secondly was the fact that the decisions were made without consultation which, to its members, signified disrespect and a flagrant disregard for its powers. What was worse was that the Assembly viewed these actions as deliberate attempts by the British Parliament to erode the Assembly's powers and assume control over those areas which rightfully belonged to the domain of responsibility of the THA.

At the centre of the controversy was the changing nature of the society after the implementation of the various pieces of legislation instigated by the British Parliament to deal with the question of enslavement. These laws included the 1806 Limitation Ac, which limited the number of captive Africans that could be purchased in the colony.

Through their mouthpiece the Assembly, the large planters argued for special consideration based on the turmoil the island experienced between 1781 and 1802 and its small inadequate labour force, to no avail. The termination of the trade in captive Africans in 1807, which was like rubbing salt to the wound, made the planter fraternity fearful for the continued operations of their plantations, a fear which was echoed by the THA.

The Assembly was convinced that the actions of the British Parliament demonstrated its lack of care for the welfare of Tobago as further evidenced by the passage of the 1834 Emancipation Act and the 1838 termination of the apprenticeship system. The period from1838 to 1863 demarcates a time of intensified conflict between the THA and the British Parliament and its representatives on the island. The issue at stake was the question of power: With whom does supreme authority lie?

In the old colonies, there was agreement that the British parliament acted in a high-handed manner and, as a result, the assemblies in the region resisted in an effort to reassert their power and against the violation of their rights. But there was no support in Britain for increased power to the assemblies and it was the view of some that they were unfit to rule. Some top officials also argued that the assemblies should be abolished and the colonies revert to complete Crown rule.

In Tobago an impasse between the THA and the Executive occurred when the Assembly refused to vote the Supply Bill, which caused a lack of funds for the provision of public services on the island for two and a half years. During this period the salaries of public employees remained unpaid.