Dr Rita Pemberton

The political ambitions of the growing black landowning class were stymied when the ruling class willingly surrendered its legislative powers to the imperial government.

The surrender was made by the Tobago Constitution Act of 1876, which abolished all the functions and powers of the House of Assembly and demoted the island to crown colony status. This was a response to the Belmana War of May 1876, when the black population exploded against oppression, and landlessness.

There were rigid class distinctions between the white elite ruling planter class and the black labouring class, which, devoid of representation in the island's administration, had recourse to resistance to give expression to its dissatisfaction.

The reaction of the members of the ruling class emanated from the recognition of their vulnerability against the superior numbers of the black population and the damage such resistance would pose to their interests. They made the exchange in the effort to maintain the status quo, for they refused to consider the notion of black representation in the administration, with fears of black reprisal action against whites, should such a situation develop. They traded control of the purse for expected military support from the imperial government to protect themselves from the labouring population, as well as financial support for the failing sugar industry, neither of which was on the agenda of the imperial government.

The union of Trinidad and Tobago into one colony raised the question of Tobago's representation in the colony. It was determined that Tobago should be represented at the Legislative Council of Trinidad and Tobago by its chief administrative officer, the Commissioner for Tobago, and one other person. In keeping with the system of crown colony government, the representative was nominated by the governor of the colony.

This arrangement inflicted a further blow to the political ambitions of Tobago's emerging class of black landowners, who were even further removed from the corridors of political power in the colony, and for whom there was no mechanism through which to convey their concerns to the decision-makers of the Legislative Council in Trinidad.

The fact that the Governor selected the representative was an assurance that it would be a planter or planter supporter who would get the nod.

The Tobago planters were in for disappointment, for they too became concerned about their political power, as it became clear from early on that the dictates would come from central government in Trinidad, which was controlled by the large wealthy planter class.

During the first 36 years of union, Tobago was represented by five nominated members, along with the Commissioner for Tobago.

The first was John Mc Killop, who held a lease on Bacolet Estate.

Having declared himself bankrupt in 1893, he was replaced by George Horatio Mc Eachrane, a partner in the company Henderson and Co. Mc Eachrane, who served as the island's representative from 1893-1903, was more o