Dr Rita Pemberton

Since the early colonial period, even before Tobago was declared a possession of the British monarchy, a relationship developed between Barbados and Tobago, in which, at that time, the occupants of Tobago had no voice.

While Tobago was under the control of the First Peoples and after the English settlement of Barbados in 1627, Barbadian whalers and fishermen freely exploited the marine resources of Tobago. They discounted the First Peoples, whom they befriended, and reported to their administrators that the island was unoccupied and open for settlement.

This practice of resource exploitation, which continued across the 17th century, intensified as a result of the rapid development of Barbados, which became dependent upon the forest resources of Tobago for timber, after that island's forest cover was almost completely denuded to make way for sugar plantations.

Tobago was then used and perceived as an extension of Barbados by the administrators of Barbados. That it became a British possession and was placed under the administration of the Governor of Barbados in 1833 supported the assumption that Barbados had the right to exploit the resources of Tobago and the perception that Tobago was its possession.

Although marine resource exploitation continued, the relationship changed with the presence of Barbadian migrants in Tobago. During the second half of the 19th century, Barbadian immigrants, some of whom were involved in the Belmana War of 1876, were recruited to work on estates in Windward Tobago.

Later other immigrants came as adventurers seeking better opportunities, or under the auspices of the Anglican Church as clergy, teachers and church administrators, policemen and government officials.

The relationship changed further when Tobago faced serious economic challenges and saw increasing trade with Barbados as a means of assisting the ailing economy.

The number of Barbadian migrants to Tobago increased during the 20th century, particularly after World War II. But sentiments of ownership persisted and continued to emanate from Barbados, as reflected in an article entitled Tobago Once a Ward of Barbados, published in the Advocate Magazine on July 2, 1982.

In it Edward A Stoute was proud to reveal: 'Few Barbadians realise that up to 93 years ago Tobago was a part of the Government of Barbados because the governor of Barbados was the governor of Tobago.' Tensions which developed between the governments of independent Barbados and TT over the question of Barbados fishing rights in Tobago waters led to arbitration as recently as 2006.

Long before the intensification of the rivalry between England and France for possession of Tobago during the 18th century, the English had carefully established an informal presence on the island. The policy of the imperial government, manifested through its representatives who administered the colony of Barbados, determined Barbados/Tobago relations. Right after the 1627 settlement of Barbados, the gaze of its administrators focused on