PROPRIETARY SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

At the beginning of English settlement in the

Caribbean, the territories were government by a
Lord Proprietor (people with power and influence at
the court). At the inception he was chosen by a
joint company which consisted of an individual and
a merchant. For example, Thomas Warner and
Ralph Merrifield a merchant chose The Earl of
Warwick to be the Proprietor of St. Kitts, Montserrat
and Barbados. However, the King must first issue
licences. The Proprietor was then responsible for
choosing a governor who will govern a territory.
Warner was made Governor of St. Kitts.

STRUCTURE OF THE PROPRIETARY SYSTEM OF

GOVERNMENT

KING
PROPRIETOR
GOVERNOR

SETTLERS

FUNCTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE

PROPRIETARY SYSTEM

Crown
Proprieto
r
Governo
r

issued licences

appointed Governor
raised taxes
made laws
responsable for defense
recruited new colonists

ensured the smooth

running of the colony

OLD REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

Structure

Crown
Govern
or
Assem
bly

Council

Crown appointed Governors

Made laws

Governor Enforced all laws ( Navigation Laws)

In charged of the defence of the island

Collected taxes and custom duties
Summoned and dismissed Assemblies
Called elections
Enforced laws made by Assemblies
Overlooked the work of the following:
Chief Justices
Custom Inspectors
Tax Collectors

Assembly Elected by locals who had wealth (only

a few freed people here in some colonies).
Responsible for granting money to the Governor to pay
expenses
incurred in running the country ( controlled local
revenue).
Made laws

Council Nominated by the Governor (Crown) from

among the most prominent
merchants and planters
Advised the Governor
Supported the Governor in enforcing regulation from the
Crown

Reasons for conflict between Governor and

Assembly

- When the Assembly refused to vote money

requested by the Governor
- When the Crown passed unpopular
legislations
- When the Governor refused to pass bills
drawn up by the Assembly
- When the Assembly joined a money bill unto
a non money bill ( better known as tacking

quite inefficient: public buildings,

Reasons for the failure
the
ORS
and
roadsof
and
bridges
were
neglectedColony
introduction of Crown

-The Morant Bay Rebellion-The Assembly looked out only

for the rich white settlers. (even
though slavery
was abolished, and white
people were in the minority, it
was he white people
who held political control)
-The mass of the population was
neglected
-Constant conflicts between the
Assembly and Governor

-the majority of the people were

disenfranchised (freemen could
not vote unless
they owned land and paid
taxes)
-The British Government
believed that the blacks needed
education and
experience before they could
operate democratic political
institutions.
- Britain wanted to act in a
paternalistic manner towards the
mass and to see that justice was
done

CROWN COLONY SYSTEM

A form of government where laws of a colony
were made by a governor and a legislative council
consisting of official and non official members
Official members - sr. civil servants eg Colonial
Secretary, and the Attorney General
Unofficial members were chosen by the
Governor from among the planters and merchants
pure crown colony ( all members of government
are nominated, there is no elective principle)

STRUCTURE (pure Crown Colony no elective

principle)

Crown
Governor

Council

official members

unofficial
members

This is the form of government given to colonies like Trinidad

and British Guiana which were acquired by Britain during the
Napoleonic Wars (1793 1815). The Assembly evinced a spirit
of complete independence and would not tolerate interference
from the home government. Perhaps it was her experience
with existing Assemblies in the older colonies that cause
Britain to devise the Crown Colony form of government for
such territories as Trinidad and British Guiana and made her
refuse to grant their repeated requests for elected Assemblies.

The main change brought about by Crown Colony was that the
Crown had the power to override all domestic political
opposition.

Problems with Crown Colony

those in charge wee responsible
government and not the people

to

the

imperial

they served
Caribbean people had little experience in government
because major
administrative post was reserved for British men.
The rich whites continue to dominate politically and
economically.

extravagant public spending

corrupt officials