A Trini mix – CurryLau!
September 23, 2024
A century for Aubrey – continuing to enjoy this beautiful journey
September 23, 2024
- The first bicameral legislature in this part of the world actually met on July 11, 1768, in Tobago.
- The 1898 Order-in-Council declared Tobago a ward: an administrative district of the new colony of Trinidad and Tobago.
- The Legislative Council of Trinidad was transformed into the Legislative Council of Trinidad and Tobago.
- Before 1925 Trinidad and Tobago was governed by the pure Crown Colony system. The main institutions were the Legislative Council, which became our Parliament in 1961 and the Executive Council, which was made into the Cabinet in 1959.
- The first colony-wide election (under limited franchise) for seven seats on the Legislative Council was held in 1925.
- Men over 21 years and women over 30 years, who qualified under language and property criteria were allowed to vote. The voter had to show he/she understood spoken English.
- Only 6 per cent of the population was eligible to vote.
- The first elected representative of Tobago was James Biggart, a black pharmacist, who served on the Legislative Council from 1925 until his death in 1932. He won the agreement of the Anglican Church to establish Bishop’s High School in Tobago.
- In 1945, universal adult suffrage was introduced, meaning that every adult over 21 could vote for their representatives.
- The first Legislative Council election under Universal Adult Suffrage was held July 1, 1946.
- On September 22, 1961, the unicameral legislature of the colony was dissolved, 130 years after its initiation.
- Sir Edward Beetham KCMG CVO OBE was Governor of Trinidad and Tobago 1955–60, where he presided over the transition to elected internal self-government. Beetham was the last British colonial governor of British descent.
- Sir Solomon Hochoy was the last colonial governor of Trinidad and Tobago and the first Governor-General in 1962. He retired in 1972.
- The Governor-General, represented the Queen but now acted on the advice of the Prime Minister or the Queen, not independently.
- From 1962 until 1976, Trinidad and Tobago acknowledged the British monarch as the figurehead Head of State.
- Sir Ellis Clarke TC, GCMG became the next Governor-General.
- Sir Ellis Clarke TC, GCMG was one of the people who drafted the Independence constitution.
- Trinidad and Tobago became a Republic on August 1, 1976.
- September 24 was chosen as Republic Day because this is when the first Parliament met under the new Republican Constitution.
- Government House in Port of Spain was renamed the President’s House, with the last Governor-General, Sir Ellis Clarke, becoming the first President.
- The Republican Constitution provides for the Prime Minister to keep the President fully informed concerning the general conduct of the government of Trinidad and Tobago.
- The 1976 Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago extended the franchise to persons attaining the age of 18 years.
- 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 30. The Republic Day holiday was reinstated in 2002.
Related posts
December 4, 2025
