Dr Rita Pemberton

When the idea of emancipation of the enslaved Africans in the British Caribbean was first broached, planters across the region gave a collective gasp at what was considered the unthinkable. They employed a variety of unsuccessful strategies to derail the anti-slavery movement. But, recognising that the tripartite force of imperial policy - the increase of costly resistance of the enslaved who were determined to attain freedom and the growing popularity of the anti slavery movement - they relented to the inevitable and negotiated with the imperial authorities for the terms of emancipation. The compromise was a compensation package which included a transitory apprenticeship period and a cash payment for each African that was 'lost' to freedom. The sugar planters of Tobago received the sum of £233,875 as compensation for the loss of the labour of the 11,599 enslaved Africans on the island when the Emancipation Act was passed by the British Parliament. But the Tobago planters who remained opposed to emancipation were embittered by the prospect of losing their 'possessions' so they sought various means to frustrate the freedom effort and secure their interests. Their main concerns were two-fold, security and the economy, both of which were inextricably linked.

Security meant protection of their property - the land and labour - the sources of their wealth and social privileges. The protection of these factors of production was considered a necessity during enslavement, which led to the creation of a security system in which the property owners established themselves as the first port of call for defence through the establishment of a militia. During the period of enslavement this group of plantation owners secured themselves by connecting their estates with bridle paths to allow them to render assistance to their fellows in the event of a crisis. But although the militia was an important feature of the system of enslavement, it assumed even greater importance after 1834 when it was considered of utmost importance to prevent any further loss of 'their property' in the face of the grim reality of the economic decline of the Tobago sugar industry and to the imperial government's cost cutting exercise. It was then considered necessary to formalise the militia as a part of the island's administrative system.

On February 9, 1836, two years before the termination of the apprenticeship system, an Act was passed to establish and regulate the militia in Tobago. But this law was replaced by a more comprehensive piece or legislation with a detailed set of regulations proclaimed on April 3, 1840. Under the new law it was compulsory for all white males between the ages of 18 and 50 to enroll for duty in the militia in the town or parish of their residence, or with the commanding officer of the cavalry within 30 days of their arrival on the island, with a penalty of £4 for every 30 days of non-compliance, in default of which the offender was liable to 15 days imprisonment. However, the privilege of memb