TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO REPUBLIC DAY Trinidad and Tobago became a Republic on August 1st, 1976.

The event is celebrated as a public holiday on September 24th because this is the date when the first Parliament met under the new Republican Constitution. The date was removed from the official calendar of holidays from 1999 to 2001 to make way for the Spiritual Baptist (Shouter) Liberation Day which is celebrated on March 30th. The Republic Day holiday was reinstated in 2002. DEFINITION OF A REPUBLIC Republic [noun]: A state or nation in which the supreme power rests in all the citizens entitled to vote (the electorate), and is exercised by representatives elected, directly or indirectly, by them, and responsible to them. ON BEING A REPUBLIC When Trinidad and Tobago achieved independence on August 31st, 1962, the monarchy continued, in that, Her Majesty the Queen remained the Queen of Trinidad and Tobago and all citizens continued to owe allegiance to Her. After many years of being a monarchy, it was decided that Trinidad and Tobago should no longer be required to owe allegiance to the Queen and should therefore become a Republic having a Head of State in its own right, Trinidad and Tobago became a Republic on August 1st, 1976. The event was celebrated as a public holiday on September 24th because this is the date when the first Parliament met under the new Republican Constitution. To bring about such a meaningful and independent status, the conversion of the former Constitution from its character as an Order in Council of the Queen into that of an indigenous instrument of government fashioned by citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, was effected by the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago enacting the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Act, 1976. The Constitution provides for a President who, in the exercise of his functions under the Constitution or any other law, acts in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet or a minister acting under the general authority of the Cabinet where provision is made by the constitution. The Constitution also provides for the Prime Minister to keep the President fully informed concerning the general conduct of the government of Trinidad and Tobago and to furnish him with such information as he may request on any matter relating to the government of Trinidad and Tobago. A principal feature of the Constitution is the inclusion of a comprehensive set of fundamental human rights and freedoms whereby all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and minorities are provided with effective safeguards against arbitrary government and acts of the executive or other bodies or authorities which may be inconsistent with the concept of the Rule of Law. These fundamental human rights and freedoms have been entrenched in the Constitution and any alteration of any of them can only be effected by the consent of effective majorities of both houses of Parliament. In general, the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago creates, fosters and encourages a truly democratic representative government and more particularly the following factors:

Its recognition and acceptance of fundamental human rights and freedoms to be enjoyed by all regardless of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, wealth, education, status or birth; and the incorporation of adequate machinery for the protection and enforcement of all rights and freedoms; The inclusion of adequate checks and balances in the Legislative, Executive and Judicial arms of Government;

The existence of an enlightened and independent Judiciary charged and vested with the ultimate determination as to whether the law, or executive or administrative acts infringe the enshrined rights and freedoms of the individual; Its provision for representative government deriving its power and authority from the people, which power and authority are exercised through representatives freely chosen and responsible to them; Its acceptance of free periodic elections based on universal adult suffrage held by secret ballot under conditions where the right to vote is exercised without hindrance or pressure; and Its encouragement and built-in machinery for the creation and maintenance of an efficient, honest and impartial civil service.

The various Service Commissions created under the Constitution are intended to ensure that appointments, conditions of service, termination and retirement from the Public Service are based on uniform principles of impartiality and probity. The creation of an Integrity Commission is designed to maintain a high standard of morality in public affairs. Free and fair elections, including the delineation of constituenciesm, are for much the same reason the responsibility of the Elections and Boundaries Commission. Above all, the Constitution firmly establishes a Cabinet system of Government under which Ministers are responsible to the legislature and, through it, to the country. General Elections are held at least every five years to give the people the opportunity of selecting a government. There exists a nonpolitical Public Service, the members of which are expected to observe a high degree of neutrality in politics and loyalty to the government of the day. The same is expected of members of the armed forces and of the police. Under its Republican Constitution, Trinidad and Tobago has a form of government that is truly based upon the principles as well as the practice of Parliamentary Democracy and the Rule of Law. The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is governed by a bicameral Parliament. Republic Day | On Being a Republic | Presidents | Guides to Our Republican System of Government PRESIDENTS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Sir Ellis Clarke 1976-1987

Mr. Noor Hassanali 1987-1997

Mr. A. N. R. Robinson 1997-2003

Prof. George Richards 2003-

Organisational Structure of the Government

The President | The Executive: The Cabinet | The Prime Minister | The Senate | The House of Representatives | The Speaker of the House of Representatives | Parliament | The Attorney General | The Judiciary | The High Court | Court of Appeal | Director of Public Prosecutions | The Leader of the Opposition | The Ombudsman | The Tobago House of Assembly THE PRESIDENT The Trinidad and Tobago Republican Constitution provides for a President who is the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. He is also the repository of all Executive Authority. His powers are exercisable within certain constitutional limits and most of his constitutional acts must be performed in accordance with the advice of or after consultation with another authority, usually the Cabinet, the Prime Minister or the Leader of the Opposition. Although the President does not sit in parliament, he is responsible for the summoning, prorogation and dissolution of Parliament and also gives his assent to Bills. A person is qualified to be nominated for election as President if: 1. He is a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago 2. He is of the age of thirty five years or upwards and 3. At the date of his nomination as President, has been ordinarily resident in Trinidad and Tobago for ten years immediately preceding his nomination The Constitution provides for an Electoral College consisting of all the members of the Senate and all the members of the House of Representatives assembled together

and convened and presided over by the Speaker of the House. The President is elected by the Electoral College voting by secret ballot. Ten Senators, the Speaker and twelve other members of the House of Representatives constitute a quorum of the Electoral College. The President so elected shall normally hold office for a term of five years. All Bills passed in both Houses of Parliament must be assented to by the President before they become law. The President also appoints members of Commissions and other senior officials. He is also responsible for appointing Senators - sixteen on the advice of the Prime Minister, six on the advice of the Opposition Leader and nine on his own discretion. The current President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is Professor George Maxwell Richards.

THE EXECUTIVE: THE CABINET The Constitution provides for a Cabinet under the general direction and control of the Government, collectively responsible to Parliament. The Cabinet has effective control of the nation's affairs and is headed by the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the President, and such numbers of other Ministers as he may decide to have, of whom one shall be the Attorney General, chosen from among the members of the House of Representatives and the Senators appointed by the President acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister. The functions of the Cabinet include initiating and deciding on policy, the supreme control of the Government and the coordination of Government departments. The Prime Minister and his Ministers retain office after the dissolution of Parliament until a new Prime Minister is appointed or the old

one reappointed. They may vacate office by replacement or resignation or by ceasing to be a member of the House to which they belong.

THE PRIME MINISTER Where there is occasion for the appointment of a Prime Minister such as after a General Election, the President must appoint as Prime Minister a member of the House of Representatives who is the leader in the House of the party which commands the support of the majority of members of that House. Under the party system which operates in Trinidad and Tobago that person is usually the party's leader. Where no majority Party emerges or where the party has no undisputed leader, the President appoints as Prime Minister the person, who, in his view, is most likely to command majority support in the House of Representatives. In this case the President uses his discretion. The person appointed must be willing to accept the Office of Prime Minister. The Prime Minister's position of authority derives from the majority support in the House of Representatives and from the power to appoint and dismiss ministers. The Prime Minister presides over the Cabinet and is responsible for the allocation of functions among ministers. Apart from being the leader of the Cabinet which has effective control of the nation's affairs, the Prime Minister shall keep the President fully informed concerning the general conduct of the government and shall furnish the President with such information as he may request with respect to any particular matter relating to the government. The Office of the Prime Minister is also responsible for Citizens Initiative Fund, Commissions of Enquiry,

Constitutional Matters, Ecclesiastical Affairs, National Awards, Policy Planning, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Protocol/Communications Unit, Public Service Administration, Public Concerns/Enquiries, Public Holidays, Sports and Culture Fund. The Office of the Prime Minister also oversees the Business Facilitation Council, the National Quality Council, the National Security Council. The current Prime Minister is Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

THE SENATE The Senate, also called the Upper House, consists of thirty one (31) Senators appointed by the President as follows: 1. Sixteen acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister. 2. Six acting in accordance with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, and 3. Nine at his discretion from outstanding persons from economic or social or community organisations and other major fields of endeavor. The President and Vice President of the Senate are elected from among the Members of the Senate in accordance with the provision of Chapter 4, Sections 39-45 of the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago. The Constitution provides that when the Senate first meets after a general election and before it proceeds to the dispatch of any other business, it shall elect a Senator to be President of the Senate. A Senator who is a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary shall not be elected to be the President of the Senate.

The President of the Senate presides over the sittings of the Senate and acts as Chairman of Committees of the whole Senate. He interprets the Standing Orders and has the power to regulate the conduct of business in all matters not provided for in the Standing Orders. The President of the Senate also acts temporarily as President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago where the office is vacant or when the President is incapable of performing his functions of President by reason of his absence from Trinidad and Tobago or by reason of illness.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House of Representatives consists of forty one (41) members elected by the people at General Elections. In 1960, the House of Representatives was introduced with 30 elected members. In 1961, the number was increased to 36 and then to 41 in 2005. The 41 members of the House of Representatives sit under a permanent chairperson, who is known as 'the Speaker'. To be elected to the House of Representatives, a person must be a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago and has resided in Trinidad and Tobago for a period of two years immediately before the date of his nomination for election, or is domiciled and resident in Trinidad and Tobago at that date. Parliament makes laws for the peace, order and good government of Trinidad and Tobago, through Bills passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate that are assented to by the President. A Bill other than a Money Bill may be introduced in either House. Money Bills cannot be introduced in the Senate. The Senate and the House of Representatives regulate their own

procedures by Standing Orders. The Standing Orders of the Senate and the House of Representatives provide for the following committees: 1. 2. 3. 4. Regulations Standing Orders Privileges House

One significant feature of Parliamentary Government in Trinidad and Tobago is the provision where a Minister who is a member of the House of Representatives and a Minister who is a Senator has the right to attend any sitting of the Senate or the House of Representatives, or on the adoption of either House of a motion for the purpose, be required at the request of the President of the Senate or the Speaker to attend any sitting. A Minister, attending any sitting of either House may take part in any debate or other proceedings concerning matters falling within his portfolio in such House and may speak on any such motion, except that a Minister who is a senator cannot vote in the House of Representatives. The Attorney General may, however, attend any sitting or take part in debates and other proceedings and speak on any motion before any House. He may also move amendments to any motion even though the matter falls within the portfolio of some other Minister.

THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The Office of Speaker of the House of Representatives is almost as old as Parliament itself. In the United Kingdom, the Office of the Speaker was central to the battle for supremacy between Parliament and the Monarchy. In Trinidad and

Tobago, the Speaker, or in his absence the Deputy Speaker presides over each sitting of the House of Representatives, acts as Chairman of Committees of the House and enforces the observance of all rules for preserving order in its proceedings. As a result, he maintains order, enforces the rules as is necessary, interprets Standing Orders and practices of the House, deals with points of order and gives rulings when called upon to do so. The Speaker is considered the Guardian of the privileges of the members of the House of Representatives and the chief characteristics required are authority and impartiality. The Speaker is also responsible for the management and general administration of the House. The Constitution provides that when the House of Representatives first meets after any general election and before it proceeds to the dispatch of any other business, it shall elect a person to be the Speaker of the House from among members of the House who are not Ministers or Parliamentary Secretaries. Persons who are not members of either the House of Representatives and Senate may also be elected provided he is a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago and is not disqualified for election as a member of the House of Representatives. The Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago recognizes that Parliament may regulate its own procedures and that an order of the House of Representatives is a legitimate decision of the house. Our constitution provides for the House of Representatives to elect a person to preside over it as a Speaker of the House either from among the members of the House of Representatives or from among persons who are not members of the either House.

The House of Representatives is regulated by Standing Orders and the Standing Order of the House, Section 3, deals with the election of a Speaker. Section 5 provides for the Speaker or, in the Speaker's absence, the Deputy Speaker, to preside in the House or on Committees. The Speaker's powers, function and duties may be categorized as manifold or multifunctional, and include traditional, ceremonial,statutory and constitutional duties. While presiding in the House, the chief characteristics required are authority and impartiality. The Speaker is required to give a completely objective interpretation of Standing Orders and precedent and is considered to be the guardian of the privileges of the members of the House of Representatives. The Speaker presides over the debates in the House but cannot participate. The Speaker maintains order, enforces the rules as necessitated, interprets Standing Order and the practices of the House, deals with points of order and give rulings when called upon to do so. Current Speaker of the House of Representatives is Mr. Wade Mark. Deputy Speaker is Dr. Fuad Khan.

PARLIAMENT The Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago consists of the President, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Parliament makes laws for the peace, order and good governance of Trinidad and Tobago through Bills passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate, that are assented to by the President.

For more information about the Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago visit the Parliament website.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL The Constitution provides for the office of the Attorney General, responsible for the administration of legal affairs in Trinidad and Tobago. Legal proceedings for and against the State are taken: 1. In the case of civil proceedings, in the name of the Attorney General; 2. In the case of criminal proceedings, in the name of the State. The Attorney General is the principal legal advisor to the Government. Apart from the Prime Minister, the Attorney General is the only member of the Cabinet specifically mentioned in the Constitution relating to the Executive. This may be because the Attorney General is responsible for the administration of legal affairs in Trinidad and Tobago and legal proceedings for and against the State. The Constitution also provides that in exercising his powers, the Attorney General shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority. The current Attorney General is Senator the Honourable Anand Ramlogan.

THE JUDICIARY The Chief Justice is the Head of the Judiciary, the third traditional branch of Government, which is responsible for administering justice. The Chief Justice is President of the Court of Appeal and is the Chairman of the Judicial and Legal Service

Commission. He is also ex-officio, a judge of the High Court and can therefore sit in that Court. The Constitution provides for the Chief Justice to be appointed by the President after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. Other Supreme Court Judges are appointed by the President acting in accordance with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission. The Supreme Court consists of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal which exercise all such jurisdiction and powers as are conferred on them respectively by the Supreme Court of the Judicature Act, Chapter 4:01 and the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Act, 1976. There are also Courts of Summary Jurisdiction and Petty Civil Courts. Current Chief Justice is The Honourable Mr. Ivor Archie. For more information about the Judiciary of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago visit the Judiciary website

THE HIGH COURT There is provision for eleven Puisne Judges of the High Court. The Chief Justice is ex officio a Judge of the High Court. The Puisne Judges have in all respects equal power, authority and jurisdiction. The High Court is a superior court of record and unless as otherwise provided by Parliament shall have all the powers of such a court including all power as is vested in the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago immediately before the

commencement of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago 1976. There is vested in the High Court all such original jurisdiction as is vested in and exercisable by the High Court of Justice in England under the provisions of the Supreme Court of Judicature (Consolidation) Act 1925(U.K.). APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT The Chief Justice is appointed by the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. The other judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President acting in accordance with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission. There is also an Industrial Court and a Tax Appeal Board which are both superior courts of record. Appeals from the Court and the Board lie with the Court of Appeal. There are no Administrative Courts in Trinidad and Tobago, but there is a provision for an ombudsman under section 91 of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Act, 1976.

COURT OF APPEAL There is provision for seven Justices of Appeal, who, with the Chief Justice as President, comprise the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal is a superior court of record and unless as otherwise provided by Parliament, has all the powers of such a court. In hearing appeals, the Court is comprised of three judges sitting together, except when the appeal is from a Summary Court or from the decision of a High Court in

Chambers. In such cases, two judges would comprise the Court. Appeals from the Court of Appeal may be made to the Privy Council under three circumstances: 1. as of right 2. with the leave of the Court of Appeal 3. with the special leave of the Privy Council.

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS The Constitution provides for a Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). It is a public one. The DPP has power, in any criminal cases in which he/she considers it proper to: institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court in respect of any offence against the law of Trinidad and Tobago take over and continue any such criminal proceedings that may have been instituted by any other person of authority; discontinue, at any stage before judgment is delivered, any such criminal proceedings instituted or undertaken by himself or any other person of authority. The current Director of Public Prosecutions is Mr. Geoffrey Henderson.

THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION The Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago states that there shall be a Leader of the Opposition. That person is appointed by the President who, in the President's judgement, is best able to command the support of the greatest number of members of the House of Representatives not in

support of the Government. The current Leader of the Opposition is Dr. Keith Rowley.

THE OMBUDSMAN The Constitution provides for an Ombudsman who is an officer of the Parliament and who is required to hold no other office of emolument nor engage in any occupation for reward than the duties of his office. The Ombudsman is appointed by the President after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and shall hold office for a term not exceeding five years and is eligible for reappointment. The principal function of the Ombudsman is to investigate complaints of administrative injustice in respect to decisions made or acts done or omitted by a Minister or department or authority of Government. In short, the Ombudsman can best be described as a "grievance person" to whom a citizen can make a complaint with a view to redressing the mistakes, delays, rigidity, carelessness and perhaps heartlessness of the government bureaucracy. However the role of the Ombudsman is an advisory one and the consequence of any investigation he makes can only lead to recommendations and the submission of reports by him to relevant persons, authorities or to Parliament. The Ombudsman is responsible only to Parliament to which he makes annual reports on the performance of his functions including statistics of the complaints received, and the results of his investigations. The office is non-political. The current Ombudsman is Ms. Lynette Anthea Stephenson, S.C.

THE TOBAGO HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY Under the Tobago House of Assembly Act 1980, the Tobago House of Assembly was established for the purpose of making better provisions for the administration of the island of Tobago and for matters connected therewith. This Act was replaced by the Tobago House of Assembly Act 1996 which has increased the administrative and decision-making capacity of the Assembly. The Assembly is responsible for the formulation and implementation of policy in respect of matters pertaining to Tobago and in respect of such responsibility, the Assembly shall give due consideration to national policy. In the discharge of its responsibility the Assembly may, subject to the Constitution enact "Assembly Laws" which shall be subject to negative resolution of Parliament. For the better performance of its functions, the Assembly may devise mechanisms to ensure protection and security of property under its control, enter into such contracts as it deems fit and obtain from international donors any grant, aid or technical assistance. The Assembly's areas of responsibilities includes Finance, that is, the raising and collection of revenue, Tourism, State Lands and all other matters with the exception of National Security, Foreign Affairs, Civil Aviation, Meteorology, Immigration, Central Statistics and Legal Affairs which are areas of responsibility of the central government. The Assembly consists of twelve Assemblymen elected at an election held in accordance with the provisions of the Representation of

the People Act and four councilors. A Chief Secretary and Deputy Chief Secretary are elected from among members of the assembly by a secret ballot. The Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly is ex-officio a Justice of the Peace and presides over all meetings of the Assembly at which he is present. In his absence the Deputy Chief Secretary presides. For more information about the Tobago House of Assembly visit the Tobago House of Assembly website

Governors of Trinidad and Tobago: 1593-1701

Don Antonio de Berro and Sir Walter Raleigh | Fernando de Berro to the Missions DON ANTONIO DE BERRIO AND SIR WALTER RALEIGH Antonio de Berro was almost ready to make his third expedition to search for El Dorado when entering the Serpents Mouth was the pirate and nobleman, Robert Dudley. Dudley was surprised that his friend Sir Walter Raleigh had not arrived yet. They had left Southampton together and had planned to meet at the Punta del Arenal of Columbus, which was otherwise known as Point Curiapan. Dudley, speaking by signs to the friendly tribe of the south, had gathered that no one in a big canoe had passed that way. No one with a big canoe and a white face. He was surprised but he was not unhappy, for he felt he could do a quick exploration to see if there was gold, and maybe if he got gold his friend would just hear of him! Dudley apparently scoured the south of the country from end to

end and there was no gold. Some native guides hastened him to a river and lifting his expectations they showed him golden objects glittering through the water, but Dudley recognized them at once. He wrote: About three leagues to the eastward of this place we found a mine of marcazites which glister like gold, but all is not gold that glistereth and so we found the same nothing worth. Tired of waiting Dudley was soon on his way. He lifted anchor and sailed from Trinidad on March 12, 1595, and Raleigh arrived at Point Curiapan on March 22 - just 10 days later. Raleigh heard about Dudley of course but as his own quest was El Dorado he must have felt relieved. Two years before (1593) he had sent Captain Jacob Whiddon to spy on de Berro, for he had heard of the expedition, but the Spaniards had waylaid and killed Whiddon and his men. Raleigh did not tarry at Point Curiapan but sailed up to Puerto de los Espaoles, and of the shoreline he said, I myself coasted it in my barge, close aboard the shore, the better to know the islande, while the ships kept the channel. On that occasion he saw and wrote of the Pitch Lake with great interest and he also saw the hill called Anaparima, but his greater interest was in seeing Antonio de Berro. When he arrived at Puerto de los Espaoles he sent a message calling de Berro to the port, but de Berro refused to come, whereupon Raleigh with his men, and joined by great numbers of Amerindians, marched upon San Jos de Orua. He wrote of what he did when he reached there: I set upon the body-guards in the evening and having put them to the sword I sent Captain Caulfield onwards with sixty soldiers and myself followed with forty more

and so toke their new city, which they called St Joseph, by break of day; they abode not any fight after a few shots and all being dismissed but only Berro and his companion, I brought them with me aboard, and at the instance of the Indians I set their new city of St Joseph on fire. He mentioned what had happened to Whiddons men, and he also wrote, referring to El Dorado: To depart 400 or 500 miles from my ships and leave a garrison at my back, interested in the same enterpriseI would have savoured very much of the ass. Raleigh went on to search for El Dorado and, naturally, he had no success. But as a result of their search he and de Berro founded the nucleus of several cities, such as San Flix and San Tom. On returning from his mission Raleigh released de Berro and departed. De Berro then organized another search for this legendary city. The expedition cost him dearly both in money and health, and in that year 1597, he was taken ill on the mainland. Before his faithful *maestro de campo, Domingo de Vera, could reach him, he died.

*maestro de campo - aide de camp

FERNANDO DE BERRIO TO THE MISSIONS: 1597-1687 After the death of Antonio de Berro y Orua in 1597 the next governor of Trinidad was another de Berro-Fernando, son of the former governor. Fernando, who, as a child went with his father on some of the expeditions, was appointed governor the very year of his fathers death. He was

responsible for one novelty during his term of office - some form of trade. But this was to be his undoing, for the Council of the Indies had forbidden Spanish colonies to trade with foreign countries and Fernando transgressed this rule. He had traded clandestinely with the Dutch of Tobago for the supply of tobacco as well as African slaves, and was caught in 1612. He was reported to the Council of the Indies and a residencia (an examination of his governorship) was held at San Jos de Orua. He was sacked, and replacing him was Sancho de Alquiza. But the intendant at Caracas, head of the audiencia which replaced Fernando, was not lucky in his choice of replacements, for Sancho remained only very briefly, followed by Mjica de Buitrn, Diego de Palomeque, Juan de Lezama, and Jeronimo de Grados. These five governors occupied just 12 years, and matters returned to normalcy only when Luis de Monsalve y Saavedra came in 1624 and served a term of six years. His successor, Cristval de Aranda, also served six years, but although the man who followed them served just four years - 1636 to 1640 - he was the one who left his mark, although in a negative way. For this Governor, Diego Lopez de Escobar, was bold enough to attack the Dutch who were entrenched in Tobago, but he had had to flee when the Dutch retaliated by sacking and burning down his own capital, San Jos de Orua, in 1639. However, Diego remained listed as governor until 1640 when San Jos was rebuilt and the new governor made his entry. The new governor, Martn de Mendoza de la Hoz y Berro, may

not have been the governor with the longest name but he spent a longer period in office than any other Spanish governor of Trinidad. He stayed here from 1640 to 1656 - sixteen years, a term not quite attained by Sir Ralph Woodford, who served from 1813 to 1828, and was the longest-serving British governor of Trinidad. The governors came and went but there was very little happening to change the face of the island. Apart from the score or so of thatched houses at San Jos de Orua it must have been almost exactly the same as when Christopher Columbus passed by in 1498. But within the following three decades there came a governor that was nothing less than a man of destiny. Although what he did made little impact on the period, its effect on Trinidad was to last for all times. He was Diego Surez Ponce de Leon, who was given two terms here: 1682 to 1684 and 1693 to 1696. During Diegos first term one of the first things he did was to write to the king of Spain declaring that the natives of Trinidad were heathens and asking the king to send missionaries to Trinidad to convert these natives to the Holy Roman Catholic faith. The king, then Philip V, who had just come to the throne, did not act with dispatch, but did not forget, and in fact it was five years later, in 1687, that about 16 Capuchin priests from Catalonia in Spain, arrived. They landed at the place later called little village of Naparima, and from there set out to convert the natives of Trinidad. But even before they set out-right there on that shore, in the foothills of Mount Naparima, the number of natives made them turn to building

their first mission church. Then they moved inland. Next, a look at the missions of these Capuchins.

Local Government
History of Local Government in Trinidad and Tobago | A List of Local Government Corporations | A List of Mayors of the City of Port of Spain HISTORY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT The earliest type of municipality in Trinidad was the Royal Cabildo, which was established in St. Joseph in 1768 by Spanish colonists. The Cabildo exercised wide executive powers, performing a wide range of functions. The Cabildo appointed chief judges on the island, supervised markets, scavenged and repaired streets, controlled the police, the Royal Goal, the admission of physicians and surgeons, and levied duties and taxes on grog shops. The Cabildo's operations were much broader in scope that the municipal corporation today. The taxpayers elected the members of the Cabildo annually. The last Spanish governor of Trinidad, Don Jose Maria Chacon, took office as Governor in 1783. He immediately set about restructuring the Cabildo by limiting its great power. Chacon ordered the Cabildo to be relocated from St. Joseph to Port of Spain in 1784. When Trinidad changed hands from Spanish to British rule in 1797, the Cabildo's powers were further limited as the new authorities attempted to change it into an English-type municipality. Ordinance No. 6 of 1840 transformed the Cabildo into the Town Council of Port of Spain. The governor served as the President of Town Council, with twelve members or Town Councilors, in what was a form of limited representative government. The Town Council, owing to the rapid development of Port of Spain, soon outlasted its usefulness. In 1853, Municipal Corporations Ordinance No. 10 of 1853, established the Borough Council of Port of Spain. Dr. Louis DeVerteuil became the first mayor. However, owing to repeated quarrels with the central government over money, the British government revoked borough status, effective 1st January 1899, leaving Port of Spain in the hands of commissioners. A Town Board took over from the commissioners from 1907 to 1914, when the battle to reinstate borough status ended with Ordinance No. 24 of 1914, conferring the loftier status of city on Port of Spain. For San Fernando, the abolition of the Cabildo in 1840 and the creation of a Town Council in Port of Spain, gave the people of San Fernando the

impetus to press for a similar authority. In 1846 San Fernando had a Town Council, with Dr. Robert Johnstone as its first president. San Fernando gained borough status in 1853 by the same ordinance which created the Port of Spain Borough Council. Dr. Johnstone was elected San Fernando's first mayor in elections on 3rd November of that same year. San Fernando became a city on 18th November 1989. Arima became a borough by Royal Charter in 1888. Queen Victoria granted the Royal Charter, making Arima the first - and only - Royal Borough in the Caribbean. British governor Sir William Robinson did the presentation. Apart from Port of Spain, San Fernando and Arima, only Point Fortin and Chaguanas have been elevated to borough status over the years: Point Fortin by Act No. 12 of 1980, and Chaguanas by Act No. 21 of 1990. Presently there are 14 regional corporations in Trinidad. The Tobago House of Assembly is responsible for all local government activities on the sister isle. Previously, local government was administered by a system of county council which came into effect in 1945. This system can be traced back to the recommendations of two commissions of inquiry early in the 20th century. British governor Sir Hugh Clifford chaired a committee to inquire into and report on the question of the extension of Local Government throughout Trinidad and Tobago. Reporting in 1906, one of the recommendations of the committee was the formation of a system of "district boards." Subsequently, the Royal Commission of 1838 also recommended the formation of county councils, as the "district boards" of the Clifford Report came to be known. On 28th June 1945, Act No. 18 of that year created county councils. The next year Ordinance No. 18 of 1946 superceded this act. Under these two ordinances, county councils had no executive power. they acted as advisors to the central colonial authorities in matters such as housing, land settlement, hospitals, school buildings, health, water, sanitation, roads, markets, pastures, abattoirs, cemeteries, police stations, public buildings, and social services. Members of these councils were elected officials. The county councils were given executive powers and became local authorities for areas comprising their electoral districts by Ordinance No. 39 of 1952. Among these powers was the authority to give financial and other assistance towards the establishment and encouragement of community, district, or village councils, and the erection of community centers and halls. Their responsibilities included local roads, cemeteries, recreation grounds and markets. Within each county council there were several electoral districts. Each of these electoral districts was represented on the county council by two aldermen and a councilor. A chairman presided over the county council. Act No. 21 of 1990 brought regional corporations into the local government landscape. Regional Corporations, with each regional corporation representing a specified region, replaced the county councils.

This Act was amended by Act. No. 28 of 1991, and further amended by Act No. 8 of 1992. Tobago was administered as a county of Trinidad and Tobago in 1945 when the county council system was first introduced. However, with the passage of Act No. 37 of 1980, the Tobago House of Assembly was revived. The Assembly is responsible for all local government activities on the island. Tobago is divided into seven parishes: St. George, St. Mary, St. Andrew, St. Patrick, St. David, St. Paul and St. John. Source:

Ministry of Public Administration Government Information Service

LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS

Arima Borough Corporation Chaguanas Borough Corporation Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation Diego Martin Regional Corporation Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation Penal/Debe Regional Corporation Point Fortin Borough Corporation Port of Spain City Corporation Princes Town Regional Corporation San Fernando City Corporation Sangre Grande Regional Corporation San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation Siparia Regional Corporation Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation

MAYORS OF THE CITY OF PORT OF SPAIN FROM 1914 1914 1917 Hon. Dr. E. Prada 1917 1919 Hon. F. E. Scott 1919 1921 Alderman Adam Smith 1920 1921 Councilor R. Rust 1921 1922 1948 1950 Alderman N. Tang 1950 1951 Councilor R. Hamel-Smith 1951 1953 Councilor Geo. Cabral 1953 1955 Councilor J. P. Hutchinson 1955 1956

Councilor A. H. McShine 1922 1924 Councilor G. Johnson 1924 1925 Councilor C. Henry-Pierre 1925 1926 Alderman F. Bass 1926 1927 Councilor G. Johnson 1928 1929 Councilor G. Johnson 1929 1932 Hon. A. A. Cipriani 1932 1933 Alderman H. A. De Freitas 1933 1936 Hon. A. A. Cipriani 1936 1937 Alderman A. Richards 1937 1938 Councilor G. McCarthy 1938 1940 Alderman A. A. Cipriani 1940 1941 Councilor A. Richards 1941 1943 Alderman T. Achong 1943 1944 Councilor H. O. B. Wooding 1944 1946 Councilor H. Hudson Phillips 1946 1947 Alderman V. R. Vidale 1947 1948

Councilor S. P. Mathura 1956 1957 Councilor L. G. Rostant 1957 1960 Councilor D. Mahabir 1960 1968 Councilor E. C. Taylor 1968 1971 Councilor J. H. Holder 1971 1974 Alderman F. Blackman 1974 1976 Councilor L. Shivapersad 1976 1979 Alderman M. McCollin 1980 1983 Councilor G. Neehall 1983 1987 Councilor S. Sarjeant 1987 1989 Alderman A. Williams 1991 1994 Alderman A. Williams 1994 1996 Ethelbert Paul 1996 2000 Alderman John Rahael 2000 - 2006 Murchison Brown 2006 - 2010 Murchison Brown 2010 Louis Lee Sing

Alderman G. Cabral