TNAG-0832-FCO40-1040-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1979 — Page 30

!

5.

In paragraph 17 of his despatch of 9 July 1973 from the

Bahamas, Sir John Paul said:

"... it is very unwise, if not dangerous, to delegate too much

authority particularly with regard to the Public Service

and internal security to a local government or local

commission or institution unless and until it is clearly

and firmly established that the Government is to lead the

country into Independence within a reasonably short period

of time say, not more than a year."

This conclusion may well have been illumined by the maladministra-

tion and misfeasance of the Bahamas authorities.

Certainly the

But would it be prudent to dele-

situation is different in Belize where it can be said that the

government takes its job seriously, and that, even if corruption

among Ministers is Lot unknown, its top leaders are competent

and its Premier is dedicated.

gate powers more freely to a relatively "good" colonial government

than to governments which might be venal or inefficient?

Governments can change; 9ɔ can our own judgment of the quality

of a government and its leaders. The progressive canonisation

of Jomo Kenyatta is to some extent reflected in the career of

George Price and in the change which has taken place in British relations with him since the time, fifteen years ago, when,

expelled from the Executive and Legislative Councils, he was

prosecuted (unsuccessfully) for sedition. But things can go in

the opposite direction and it may not be too paranoid a dream to

imagine somebody like Mr Rogers, Minister of Home Affairs,

following in the footsteps of Duvalier.

6. In Belize we are, unfortunately for Britain, not within

sight of independence.

'it is hard to see how.

It might come within 12 months, although

More likely we have 3, 4 or more years

4.

CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL

/to wait.

Page 30Page 31