The 100th Year Anniversary We Forgot

On March 4, 1925, the first elections were held under a new constitution that replaced the System of Crown Colony Government that had been instituted in 1876, some 49 years before. Following Emancipation in 1838, the freedom the newly emancipated were hoping for never came.

The planters and merchants who controlled the Legislature continued to act in their own interests and stifled the hopes and aspirations of the enslaved, even their desire for Crown lands. Despite the obstacles put to limit the desires of the emancipated for a better living, some were able by different means to acquire lands, while the landless through strikes and protests, continued their struggles. The riots in 1862 in St. Vincent and at Morant Bay in Jamaica in 1865 forced the governing class to reflect on the state of things and to realise that the point would eventually arise where some of the emancipated were able to own enough land to qualify to be members of the Legislative Council and at some time force the traditional planter and merchant class into a minority status position

The Morant Bay riots of 1865 forced the Legislators to act. In St. Vincent a number of the planters and merchants who qualified to be members of the Legislature were absent, living mainly in England and left managers and lawyers in charge of their estates. The majority of Caribbean colonies with the exception of Barbados, the Bahamas and Bermuda decided to surrender their Legislative powers leaving control of the government in the hands of the Governor, whose Executive, in any event was made up of members of the planter/merchant class. There was then no elected representation. There was also, particularly among the emancipated, an awareness that the planter/merchant class had been acting in its own interests, refusing to pass money to meet the education and health needs of the emancipated. Since their interests were neglected under the old system, they welcomed the move and hoped for a better deal under the new dispensation.

In 1882 an application was made to the Secretary of State to borrow money to improve public works and sanitary conditions. Shortly after, approval was also given for a survey of Crown lands which was needed to establish a Crown Lands Scheme. The welcome given to the Crown Colony system of Government was however short lived. It was the same merchant and planting interests that advised the Governor. Protests broke out in the 1880s and 1890s. Voices of protests arose, with meetings held highlighting the worsening economic situation and plight of the people. Residents of Barrouallie petitioned, demanding land and stated that the system of government was responsible for much of the depression that existed. Elizabeth Rose who claimed she was speaking on behalf of the poorer classes stated that without doubt the problem was a political one.

A number of other issues fed the dissatisfaction in the first decades of the 20th century. Soldiers returning from the First World War brought not only dissatisfaction with the way they were treated but ideas relating to liberty. The growth of a black and coloured middle class facilitated the birth of the Representative Government Association in 1919, following the formation of a counterpart in Grenada in 1917. Its mission was to bring representative government back to St. Vincent. With similar calls coming from different West Indian colonies the British Government set up a Commission headed by E.F.L Wood, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Colonies. The Commission visited St. Vincent from January 11-12, 1922.

The recommendations of the Commission with a provision that included three elected members were widely proclaimed at the Court House “amidst great popular rejoicing.” A new constitution modelled on the Wood Recommendations was introduced by Order in Council in 1924 and the first elections under the new constitution were held on March 4, 1925. Of a population of 48,182 in 1925 only 661 were registered for the three electoral discussions. One should note that before the introduction of Crown Colony Government in 1877, only 368 persons were registered from a population of 36,000. The franchise was still limited; a man of 21 years was allowed to vote while a woman had to be 30 years to vote. They also had to meet property and income qualifications. Between 1925 and 1935 six elected members served the Council in uncontested elections. Continued pressure led to an extension of the franchise, so that in 1934 women, once they reached 21 years, were able to vote.

The riots of 1935 led to the emergence of George McIntosh and his Workingmen’s Association and to that body sweeping the polls in 1937. Along with colleagues in other colonies the political scene was being transformed although the franchise was still limited and most of McIntosh’ supporters did not qualify to vote. The push for the development of trade unions, of independence through a federation came later, leading eventually to Adult Suffrage in 1951. The elections of 1925 with all its limitations was a start but the disturbances and riots of the 1930s created an environment to which the British Government had to respond. That was 100 years ago, and we need to know about it.

Dr Adrian Fraser is a social commentator and historian