(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:CAB/24/189
Image Reference:0002
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
Printed
for
the Cabinet.
November
1927.
SECRET.
C P .
270
Copy N o .
^0
(27).
CONSTITUTION
OF B R I T I S H
GUIANA.
M E M O R A N D U M BY THE A C T I N G SECRETARY OF S T A T E FOR THE COLONIES.
I C I R C U L A T E , for t h e i n f o r m a t i o n of the. C a b i n e t , a m e m o r a n d u m i n d i c a t i n g
t h e need of a n e w c o n s t i t u t i o n in t h e Colony of B r i t i s h G u i a n a a n d t h e necessity of
e a r l y legislation on t h e subject by t h e I m p e r i a l G o v e r n m e n t .
W O G
Colonial Office, Downing
Street,
November 10, 1927.
1. B r i t i s h G u i a n a i s a s l a r g e a s G r e a t B r i t a i n , but d e v e l o p m e n t i n t h e i n t e r i o r
h a s been of t h e s l i g h t e s t , a n d n e a r l y all i t s i n h a b i t a n t s live on the c o a s t a l s t r i p .
T h e i r n u m b e r is only 300,000, a l t h o u g h a b o u t 350,000 i m m i g r a n t s h a v e been
i n t r o d u c e d d u r i n g t h e l a s t h u n d r e d y e a r s . T h e whole c e n t u r y between i t s cession
to t h i s c o u n t r y a t t h e e n d of t h e N a p o l e o n i c w a r s a n d the o u t b r e a k of t h e G r e a t W a r
w a s one of m a r k e d m o r a l a n d m a t e r i a l s t a g n a t i o n . A n a b n o r m a l l y h i g h d e a t h r a t e ,
d u e to t h e absence of t h e most e l e m e n t a r y f o r m of t r o p i c a l h y g i e n e a n d s a n i t a t i o n ,
p r e v e n t e d a n y n a t u r a l i n c r e a s e in i t s p o p u l a t i o n .
T h e physical conformation
of its c o a s t l a n d s p r e c l u d e d t h e r i s e of a p r o s p e r o u s p e a s a n t
proprietary
w i t h o u t e l a b o r a t e d r a i n a g e a n d i r r i g a t i o n , w h i c h t h e p o o r m a n c o u l d n o t afford a n d
which t h e G o v e r n m e n t m a d e n o a t t e m p t t o p r o v i d e . T h o u g h n i n e - t e n t h s of t h e
Colony is forest, w h i c h c o n s t i t u t e s i t s g r e a t e s t p o t e n t i a l a s s e t , a f o r e s t r y d e p a r t m e n t
did n o t exist even i n t h e m o s t r u d i m e n t a r y f o r m . T h e only i m p o r t a n t i n d u s t r y w a s ,
a n d a l w a y s h a d been, s u g a r , w h i c h c o n t i n u e d t o be g r o w n in d i m i n i s h i n g q u a n t i t i e s
a n d u n d e r p r e c a r i o u s c o n d i t i o n s on the. c o a s t . I t w a s n o t till s h o r t l y after t h e w a r ,
u n d e r a m o s t able a n d e n e r g e t i c a d m i n i s t r a t o r , t h a t a b e g i n n i n g w a s m a d e w i t h t h e
m o s t obvious, essential a n d o v e r d u e r e f o r m s . Schemes for p r o v i d i n g t h e c o a s t l a n d s
with drainage, irrigation and w a t e r supply were started. I t w a s decided to equip
t h e c a p i t a l , h i t h e r t o c o r r e c t l y described a s floating on s e w a g e , w i t h a p i p e - b o r n e
sewerage s y s t e m . A F o r e s t D e p a r t m e n t w a s c r e a t e d t o e x p l o r e t h e g r e a t t i m b e r
possibilities of t h e Colony. Scientific a n d t e c h n i c a l s u r v e y s w e r e set o n foot t o
e x a m i n e t h e i n t e r i o r a n d i m p o r t a n t r e f o r m s in the. e x t r e m e l y inefficient e d u c a t i o n a l
system w e r e p r e p a r e d .
2. A p r o g r a m m e of t h i s k i n d , u n p r e c e d e n t e d in t h e a n n a l s of t h e Colony,
would, in a n y case, h a v e p l a c e d a g r e a t s t r a i n on i t s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . T h e consti­
t u t i o n of B r i t i s h G u i a n a , like those of m a n y of t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g colonies, p r o v i d e s
for a p a r t l y - e l e c t e d l e g i s l a t u r e .
A s is u s u a l u n d e r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e w i t h o u t
responsible g o v e r n m e n t , these elected m e m b e r s t e n d t o r e g a r d themselves as a n
opposition a n d to i n t e r f e r e i n t h e m i n u t e s t d e t a i l s of a d m i n i s t r a t i v e business a s well
a s general policy. I n c o n s t i t u t i o n s of t h i s t y p e i t is c u s t o m a r y to s u p p l y t h e govern­
m e n t w i t h t h e m e a n s of c a r r y i n g o u t t h e i r policy i n v i t a l m a t t e r s e i t h e r by a n official
majority or by a reserve p o w e r . N o s u c h p r o v i s i o n exists in B r i t i s h G u i a n a , w h e r e
t h e elected m e m b e r s , t h r o u g h t h e p o w e r of t h e p u r s e , exercise, in t h e l a s t r e s o r t ,
complete c o n t r o l .
3. I n 1925 S i r G r a e m e T h o m s o n , t h e t h e n G o v e r n o r , w i t h t h e u n a n i m o u s con­
currence of his E x e c u t i v e Council, i n f o r m e d t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e t h a t he w a s
" e n t i r e l y convinced t h a t no r e a l p r o g r e s s c a n be achieved u n t i l t h e G o v e r n m e n t is
provided w i t h a n official m a j o r i t y in o r d e r t h a t it m a y n o l o n g e r be w i t h i n t h e p o w e r
of a small m i n o r i t y , in n o sense t r u l y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e or alive t o t h e i n t e r e s t s of t h e
p o p u l a t i o n as a whole, t o c o n t r o l t h e f a t e of e s s e n t i a l m e a s u r e s w h e t h e r of policy o r
[16794]
finance."
S i r G r a e m e T h o m s o n s u p p o r t e d t h i s conclusion by t a c t s , i n t o w h i c h it
i s u n n e c e s s a r y to e n t e r i n d e t a i l , b u t t h e s u b s t a n c e of which w a s t h a t
t h e elections t o t h e l e g i s l a t u r e w e r e d e t e r m i n e d by b r i b e r y a n d t r e a t i n g
a n d r e s u l t e d in t h e r e t u r n of a d i s r e p u t a b l e a n d u n s c r u p u l o u s t y p e of d e m a g o g u e ,
u s u a l l y in b a d f i n a n c i a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s , whose " a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s l a r g e r questions
of policy, s u c h a s i n t e r i o r d e v e l o p m e n t a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , h a d been, a n d u n d e r
e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n s will c o n t i n u e to be, g o v e r n e d by p e r s o n a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s a n d
i n t e r e s t e d m o t i v e s . " S i r G r a e m e T h o m s o n a d d e d t h a t it w o u l d be w a s t e of t i m e to
a t t e m p t to proceed w i t h h i s p r o g r a m m e of r e f o r m s unless t h e G o v e r n m e n t were p r o ­
vided w i t h a bare, m a j o r i t y in t h e L e g i s l a t u r e composed p a r t l y of G o v e r n m e n t
officials, p a r t l y of n o m i n a t e d unofficials of s t a n d i n g a n d ability, "whose class is a t
p r e s e n t w i t h o u t a voice in t h e affairs of G o v e r n m e n t a n d w h o could be relied upon
to t r e a t G o v e r n m e n t m e a s u r e s on t h e i r m e r i t s .
4. N o a c t i o n w a s t a k e n on t h i s d e s p a t c h till S i r G r a e m e T h o m s o n ' s successor
h a d been sufficiently l o n g in t h e Colony to enable h i m t o form an o p i n i o n o n t h i s
q u e s t i o n . T h i s w a s received in 1926 a n d e n t i r e l y coincided w i t h h i s p r e d e c e s s o r s .
A b o u t t h e s a m e t i m e c e r t a i n of t h e elected m e m b e r s , concerned a t the
c o n d i t i o n of t h e Colony, i n t i m a t e d t h a t a commission of e n q u i r y would be welcome
f r o m t h e i r p o i n t of view.
I n these c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for t h e
Colonies d e c i d e d t h a t t h e t i m e h a d come to a p p o i n t a P a r l i a m e n t a r y Commission
to v i s i t B r i t i s h G u i a n a w i t h t e r m s of reference w h i c h w e r e d e l i b e r a t e l y m a d e a s
w i d e a s possible. T h e commission consisted of M r . R o y W i l s o n , M . P . (Conservative),
a n d M r . Snell, M . P . ( L a b o u r ) . T h e i r r e p o r t (Cmd. 2841) w a s l a i d before P a r l i a m e n t
a n d published last April.
5. T h e C o m m i s s i o n a g r e e w i t h the conclusion r e a c h e d by S i r G r a e m e Thomson,
h i s successor, a n d indeed all responsible persons connected w i t h t h e Colony, t h a t
t h e p r e s e n t c o n s t i t u t i o n is n o l o n g e r w o r k a b l e , a n d r e c o m m e n d a c h a n g e in the
c o n s t i t u t i o n i n t h e d i r e c t i o n of s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e h a n d s of t h e executive a s d e s i r a b l e
per se i n t h e i n t e r e s t s of t h e Colony.
B u t t h e y also d r a w a t t e n t i o n t o a n e w a n d
serious d e v e l o p m e n t w h i c h r e n d e r s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r e f o r m n o t merely d e s i r a b l e b u t
inevitable.
B r i t i s h G u i a n a is now on t h e verge of insolvency.
T h e s t a t e of i t s
finances is n o t d u e to a n y r e a l i n a b i l i t y t o meet i t s c o m m i t m e n t s b u t to a hopelessly
u n s o u n d financial system w h i c h is itself merely a n o t h e r i n s t a n c e of t h e b r e a k d o w n
of t h e old c o n s t i t u t i o n a l m a c h i n e u n d e r t h e p r e s s u r e of m o d e r n r e q u i r e m e n t s .
The
C o m m i s s i o n f u r t h e r p o i n t o u t t h a t i t will soon be necessary t o r a i s e a loan of a t
l e a s t £ 2 m i l l i o n on t h e L o n d o n m a r k e t i n o r d e r to p a y for t h e cost of t h e schemes
a l r e a d y r e f e r r e d to. I n view of t h e s t a t e of the Colony s finances t h e y s u g g e s t t h a t
such a n o p e r a t i o n will be difficult a n d expensive a n d m a y h a v e t o be p o s t p o n e d
a l t o g e t h e r u n t i l t h e Colony c a n show a b a l a n c e d b u d g e t w i t h effective control by
G o v e r n m e n t over t a x a t i o n . T h e i r final r e c o m m e n d a t i o n is a s follows :—
r
" I t a p p e a r s to us e s s e n t i a l , a s well on t h e g r o u n d of i m m e d i a t e
financial
e x i g e n c i e s a s on t h a t of f u t u r e d e v e l o p m e n t , t h a t t h e a u t h o r i t i e s
finally­
r e s p o n s i b l e for t h e solvency a n d good g o v e r n m e n t of t h e Colony should h a v e
p o w e r i n t h e l a s t r e s o r t to c a r r y i n t o effect m e a s u r e s w h i c h t h e y consider essential
for i t s well-being.
T h i s will involve a n a l t e r a t i o n i n t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n , t h e
p r e c i s e n a t u r e of w h i c h , w e suggest, m i g h t be r e f e r r e d t o a local commission
convened by t h e G o v e r n o r t o a d v i s e u p o n t h e s t e p s w h i c h s h o u l d be t a k e n to
c o n f e r p o w e r upon t h e G o v e r n o r to c a r r y i n t o effect m e a s u r e s w h i c h he a n d t h e
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e c o n s i d e r e s s e n t i a l for t h e well-being of t h e Colony; a n d also
w h a t o t h e r i m p r o v e m e n t s , if a n y , m i g h t be effected i n t h e p r e s e n t C o n s t i t u t i o n .
6. I n c o n s i d e r i n g t h i s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n it w a s necessary t o t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t
t h e f o l l o w i n g f a c t s :—
(a.) T h e r e p o r t of t h e Commission, by d r a w i n g a t t e n t i o n to t h e c o n d i t i o n of t h e
Colony, h a s i n c r e a s e d t h e difficulty of r a i s i n g a loan on reasonable
t e r m s . I f a loan w e r e now floated a t a h i g h r a t e of i n t e r e s t i t would,
even if succesful, p e r m a n e n t l y d e p r e s s t h e c r e d i t of t h e Colony a n d merely
h a s t e n t h e b a n k r u p t c y w h i c h seems t h e i n e v i t a b l e outcome of t h e p r e s e n t
i n c o m p e t e n t a n d p r o f l i g a t e regime.
E v e n w i t h G o v e r n m e n t control of
t h e finances, w h i c h w o u l d enable t h e loan to be r a i s e d on t h e t e r m s
c o m m a n d e d by o t h e r colonies, it is almost c e r t a i n t h a t I m p e r i a l a s s i s t a n c e
w i l l p r o v e t o be necessary. I f t h e C o l o n y ' s l i a b i l i t i e s a r e increased by
t h e i s s u e of a loan a t e x t r a v a g a n t r a t e s t h e d e m a n d s u p o n . B r i t i s h
t a x p a y e r w i l l i n t h e e n d be c o r r e s p o n d i n g l y a u g m e n t e d .
(A.) S h o r t l y a l t e r t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of t h e C o m m i s s i o n ^ r e p o r t a n a c c o u n t of t h e
d e l i b e r a t i o n s of t h e l e g i s l a t u r e on t h e a n n u a l b u d g e t w a s received w h i c h
e n t i r e l y bore o u t t h e s t r i c t u r e s p a s s e d i n t h e r e p o r t on t h e m a n a g e m e n t
of t h e finances. I n s p i t e of t h e c r i t i c a l financial p o s i t i o n n o s t e p s
were t a k e n to r e s t o r e e q u i l i b r i u m between r e v e n u e a n d e x p e n d i t u r e
beyond the i m p o s i t i o n of a s m a l l a n d i n d e f e n s i b l e t a x o n a p a r t i c u l a r
c o m p a n y , which, a t the r e q u e s t of t h e elected m e m b e r s , w a s s u s p e n d e d
i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r it w a s passed.
(c.) A b o u t t h e s a m e t i m e ^ a n e m i n e n t firm of c o n s u l t i n g e n g i n e e r s , w h i c h h a d
been e n t r u s t e d w i t h t h e s u p e r v i s i o n of t h e e x e c u t i o n of t h e m o s t
i m p o r t a n t of t h e n e w i m p r o v e m e n t schemes, r e s i g n e d on t h e g r o u n d t h a t
p o l i t i c a l c o n d i t i o n s in t h e Colony w e r e n o t such a s could be t o l e r a t e d
by a n y s e l f - r e s p e c t i n g professional
firm.
S i m u l t a n e o u s l y , a n d for
s i m i l a r reasons, t h e h e a d of t h e new F o r e s t r y D e p a r t m e n t decided t o
t a k e a d v a n t a g e of h i s o p t i o n to r e t u r n to t h e I n d i a n F o r e s t r y Service
on t h e e x p i r y of h i s a g r e e m e n t . T h e r e s u l t of these two r e s i g n a t i o n s , i f
they h a d t a k e n effect, would have been to j e o p a r d i s e t h e completion of a
scheme on w h i c h t h e Colony h a s a l r e a d y s p e n t n e a r l y a million a n d t h e
f u t u r e of a d e p a r t m e n t of t h e g r e a t e s t i m p o r t a n c e t o i t s f u t u r e develop­
m e n t . B o t h these r e s i g n a t i o n s were, i n f a c t , d u e to t h e a t t i t u d e of
c e r t a i n of t h e elected m e m b e r s , w h o w e r e p r i v a t e l y i n t e r e s t e d i n
w r e c k i n g t h e i m p r o v e m e n t schemes a n d d e s t r o y i n g t h e n e w F o r e s t
Department.
7. I n these c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e d e c i d e d t h a t h e h a d n o
alternative but to accept this recommendation.
The Governor was accordingly
i n s t r u c t e d to a p p o i n t a local commission, w i t h t e r m s of r e f e r e n c e based on those
s u g g e s t e d by t h e P a r l i a m e n t a r y Commission.
T h i s local commission h a v e n o w
r e p o r t e d . T h e i r r e p o r t r e c o m m e n d s : (a) n o a l t e r a t i o n in t h e n u m b e r of t h e elected
m e m b e r s o r t h e level of t h e f r a n c h i s e ; (6) a s i n g l e L e g i s l a t i v e C o u n c i l , on t h e u s u a l
model, c o n s i s t i n g of 14 elected m e m b e r s , 5 n o m i n a t e d unofficial m e m b e r s , a n d
10 official m e m b e r s ; (c) t h e G o v e r n o r to be i n v e s t e d w i t h a reserve p o w e r e n a b l i n g
h i m to c a r r y i n t o effect m e a s u r e s w h i c h , in h i s o p i n i o n , a r e n e c e s s a r y *" in t h e
i n t e r e s t s of p u b l i c o r d e r , public f a i t h or o t h e r first e s s e n t i a l s of good g o v e r n m e n t ,
i n c l u d i n g t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s of t h e Colony as a c o m p o n e n t p a r t of t h e B r i t i s h
Empire.''
8. A c o n s t i t u t i o n on these lines w o u l d comply w i t h t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n of
t h e B r i t i s h G u i a n a C o m m i s s i o n a n d m e e t t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s of t h e Colony. I t would,
a s s u g g e s t e d by S i r G r a e m e T h o m s o n , give t h e G o v e r n m e n t a n d n o m i n a t e d
unofficials c o m b i n e d a b a r e m a j o r i t y over t h e electives, a n d to t h i s e x t e n t p r o v i d e
a g a i n s t p u r e l y factious or i n t e r e s t e d o p p o s i t i o n .
I n a d d i t i o n , i t w o u l d , by t h e
provision of a reserve power, enable a loan to be floated f o r t h w i t h on r e a s o n a b l e
t e r m s . T h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s of t h e local commission h a v e been u n a n i m o u s l y s i g n e d
by i t s m e m b e r s , of w h o m t h r e e w e r e unofficials, i n c l u d i n g t w o electives.* T h e y w i l l
u n d o u b t e d l y be w a r m l y s u p p o r t e d by t h e responsible elements in t h e Colony,
who have already, through the S u g a r P l a n t e r s ' Association, representing B r i t i s h
G u i a n a ' s g r e a t e s t i n d u s t r y , a n d t h e G e o r g e t o w n C h a m b e r of Commerce, r e p r e s e n t i n g
i t s business men, p a s s e d resolutions u n a n i m o u s l y e n d o r s i n g t h e decision to effect a
c h a n g e in t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n .
T h e r e is, however, n o t t h e r e m o t e s t p r o b a b i l i t y of
s e c u r i n g a n y g e n e r a l a s s e n t from t h e elected m e m b e r s . E v e n if i t w e r e possible t o
c a r r y t h e p r o p o s e d c h a n g e s t h r o u g h t h e local l e g i s l a t u r e by t h e official vote r e i n f o r c e d
by defections from t h e electives, such a p r o c e d u r e would, i n t h e o p i n i o n of t h e C o l o n i a l
G o v e r n m e n t , a r o u s e t h e b i t t e r e s t controversy, subject t h e m e m b e r s of t h e l e g i s l a t u r e
to p r e s s u r e a n d o d i u m , a n d i n t e n s i f y a n d e m b i t t e r p r o p a g a n d a w h i c h h i t h e r t o h a s
h a d only superficial effects. On t h e o t h e r h a n d , a n I m p e r i a l e n a c t m e n t e m b o d y i n g
t h e complete new c o n s t i t u t i o n w o u l d be a fait accompli,
a n d , a s such, would be
welcomed a n d acquiesced in by m a n y who would h e s i t a t e t o e x p r e s s o p i n i o n s openly
or m i g h t j o i n t h e o p p o s i t i o n u n d e r p r e s s u r e . I t is a c c o r d i n g l y p r o p o s e d t o a c c e p t
t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s of t h e local commission in toto, a n d to c a r r y t h e m i n t o effect
by a n A c t of P a r l i a m e n t c o n f e r r i n g p o w e r u p o n t h e C r o w n i n Council to c r e a t e a
new c o n s t i t u t i o n for B r i t i s h G u i a n a . A d r a f t Bill for t h i s p u r p o s e is a n n e x e d .
9. S u c h a m e a s u r e will of course be d e n o u n c e d by m o s t of t h e elected m e m b e r s
a n d possibly c r i t i c i s e d i n P a r l i a m e n t a s a n u n p r e c e d e n t e d a n d r e a c t i o n a r y a t t a c k
* Oue of the electives has, however, saved his face by appending a note which impairs the value of
his signature.
1
u p o n local s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t . T h e r e a l a n s w e r to t h i s is t h a t so long a s t h e S e c r e t a r y
o i S t a t e is c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y responsible for t h e good g o v e r n m e n t of t h e Colony, h e
c a n n o t acquiesce i n t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n of a s t a t e of affairs which h a s been conclusively
s h o w n t o e n d a n g e r i t s solvency, i m p e d e i t s d e v e l o p m e n t a n d reflect on i t s good n a m e .
T h e p r o p o s e d c h a n g e s will p r o v i d e B r i t i s h G u i a n a w i t h a c o n s t i t u t i o n s i m i l a r to
those of T r i n i d a d a n d J a m a i c a , c e r t a i n l y n o less politically a d v a n c e d t h a n t h e i r
n e i g h b o u r a n d f a r more p r o s p e r o u s .
T h e y will affect n e i t h e r t h e r i g h t s of t h e
e l e c t o r a t e n o r t h e n u m b e r of i t s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , a n d a r e confined to e q u i p p i n g t h e
G o v e r n m e n t w i t h p o w e r s w h i c h a r e necessary to enable the Colony to m e e t i t s
o b l i g a t i o n s ; which a r e u s u a l a t t h i s s t a g e of d e v e l o p m e n t ; a n d w i t h o u t w h i c h
efficient a n d e n l i g h t e n e d a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , i n d i s p e n s a b l e to the p r o g r e s s of B r i t i s h
G u i a n a , is impossible.
N o r is t h e mode of p r o c e d u r e u n p r e c e d e n t e d .
An
A c t of P a r l i a m e n t , c o n f e r r i n g o n t h e G o v e r n o r of J a m a i c a t h e e q u i v a l e n t of a
reserve p o w e r , w a s passed by L o r d M e l b o u r n e ' s G o v e r n m e n t in t h e d a y s w h e n t h e
r i g h t of s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t w a s monopolised a n d a b u s e d by a small w h i t e o l i g a r c h y of
e x - s l a v e - o w n i n g l a n d l o r d s . I n B r i t i s h G u i a n a , i t is t r u e , p o w e r h a s passed to a black
a n d coloured e l e c t o r a t e , b u t t h e m a s s of t h e p o p u l a t i o n a r e completely u n r e p r e s e n t e d ,
a n d p r o b a b l y unfit to exercise p o l i t i c a l r i g h t s i n t h e o r d i n a r y m a n n e r . T h e v o t i n g
e l e c t o r a t e consists of a b o u t 8,000 p e r s o n s , m a n y of w h o m sell t h e i r votes t o t h e h i g h e s t
b i d d e r , w h e t h e r in r u m o r i n d o l l a r s , a n d r e t u r n m e m b e r s who use t h e p o w e r s vested
i n t h e m by t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n to b l a c k m a i l t h e G o v e r n m e n t .
T o invoke t h e sacred
r i g h t s of local s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t in defence of such a c o n s t i t u t i o n would be to follow
t h e e x a m p l e of P e e l , who o p p o s e d L o r d M e l b o u r n e ' s B i l l for t h e s u s p e n s i o n of t h e
old J a m a i c a n C o n s t i t u t i o n , one of t h e m o s t complete a n d i n t o l e r a n t o l i g a r c h i e s t h a t
h a v e ever existed, on t h e g r o u n d t h a t i t w a s a p r o p o s a l to set u p " a d e s p o t i c a n d
a r b i t r a r y p o w e r in p l a c e of t h a t l i b e r a l system w h i c h h a d p r e v a i l e d for u p w a r d s of
150 y e a r s . "
I fully realise t h a t c i r c u m s t a n c e s p r e v e n t t h e Bill being t a k e n before C h r i s t m a s ,
b u t t h e s o o n e r i t c a n be g o t t h r o u g h P a r l i a m e n t t h e b e t t e r . If t h e C a b i n e t a p p r o v e
t h e policy, I h o p e t h e y will a u t h o r i z e t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n of t h e Bill a t a very e a r l y d a t e
in 1928 so t h a t t h e R o y a l A s s e n t m a y be o b t a i n e d n o t l a t e r t h a n t h e E a s t e r recess.
Draft
of a Bill to make"Provision
and its
for the Government
Dependencies.
of British
Guiana
B E it e n a c t e d . &c.
Power to
L*gtta,ture
for British
Ouians.
Short title.
I . — ( 1 . ) I t shall be lawful for H i s M a j e s t y in C o u n c i l to c r e a t e a n d c o n s t i t u t e
s u b s t i t u t i o n for t h e e x i s t i n g L e g i s l a t u r e a L e g i s l a t u r e for B r i t i s h G u i a n a a n d its
d e p e n d e n c i e s in s u c h form a n d w i t h s u c h p o w e r s a s H i s M a j e s t y in Council m a y
d e t e r m i n e , a n d from t i m e t o t i m e t o a l t e r a n d a m e n d t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n of t h e Legis­
l a t u r e a n d a n y p o w e r s t h e r e o f ; a n d a n y s u c h O r d e r in Council m a y p r o v i d e t h a t ,
n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e p o w e r s conferred on t h e Legislature, t h e r e b y , t h e r e s h a l l be
reserved t o or conferred on H i s M a j e s t y full p o w e r by O r d e r in Council from t i m e to
t i m e to m a k e l a w s for t h e p e a c e , o r d e r a n d g o o d g o v e r n m e n t of B r i t i s h G u i a n a a n d
its dependencies.
(2.) Before a n y s u c h O r d e r in C o u n c i l c r e a t i n g a n d c o n s t i t u t i n g s u c h L e g i s ­
l a t u r e o r a l t e r i n g t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n or p o w e r s thereof is m a d e , a d r a f t thereof s h a l l be
l a i d before each H o u s e of P a r l i a m e n t for a p e r i o d of n o t less t h a n t w e n t y - o n e d a y s
on w h i c h t h a t H o u s e h a s s a t , a n d if e i t h e r H o u s e of P a r l i a m e n t before t h e e x p i r a t i o n
of t h a t p e r i o d p r e s e n t s a n a d d r e s s to H i s M a j e s t y a g a i n s t t h e O r d e r or a n y p a r t
thereof, n o f u r t h e r p r o c e e d i n g s s h a l l be t a k e n o n t h e d r a f t , w i t h o u t p r e j u d i c e t o t h e
m a k i n g of a n e w d r a f t O r d e r .
2. T h i s A c t m a y be cited a s " T h e B r i t i s h G u i a n a A c t , 1 9 2 7 . "
1 1 1
o