CO537-1651 — Page 39

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1. THE CONSTITUTION OF BARBADOS:-

1) The Legislature consists of

The Governor a nominated Legislative Council, and

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an elected House of Assembly.

2) The Executive consists of

The Governor, the Executive Co ncil (consisting of

the Colonial Secretary and Attorney-General (ex officto) and two nominated members); and the Executive Committee, (consisting of the Executive Council plus one memb Legislative Council and four members of the House of Assembly.

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The Executive Committee introduces all money votes, pre

the estimates and initiates all Government measures.

3) Suffrage. The income qualification for male and femal

voters is £20 a year. The number of registered electors in 1945 was 15,846 (out of a total of 40,000 - 50,000 now entitled to be registered). (Total population of bados

is 212,366.)

2. POLITICAL SITUATION.

There are now three political parties:

1) The Electors' Association (mostly whites and moderate

or conservative).

2) The Labour Progressive League (Labour), and

3) The West Indian National Congress (a rival labou

group, if anything more extreme left but prim concerned to oust the older labour group).

The seats in the House of Assembly are approximately equal divided 8, 8, and 8. At the next general elections in November, 1946, it is expected that the two labour group; will have a much greater majority. (Elections are bienn

The representatives of the House of Assembly on Execu Committee consist at present of two members of (1) and tw members of (2).

3. THE PRESENT CONSTITUTIONAL IMPASSE.

para. 2 of) 1st enc. to 6.

to

The Colony possesses representative institutions, but responsible government. The crown has a veto on legisla but the Governor has no reserve powers to enable him to p through a Bill which is not passed by the legislature. Secretary of State retains the appointment and control of public officers, except the Treasurer, who is nominated by House of Assembly.

The Colonial Secretary writes,

"The main defect.......is the complete divorce responsibility for the good government of t b which at present is shouldered wholly by the F from power which is monopolised by the Legisla Nearly all matters of public administration ar governed by an Act of Parliament and are there! under the control of the Legislature. The fi for ordinary administrative action is strictly The Executive has no power to legislato