APPENDIX


THE HUMBLE MEMORIAL OF THE PEOPLE GF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
 TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE SECRETARY
 OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES




 We, the People of Trinidad and Tobago, standing on the threshold of a British
Caribbean Federation through which we aspire, in the shortest practicable time,
to Dominion Status and all the rights, privileges, responsibilities and obligations
pertaining thereto, find ourselves at the crossroads of our constitutional history.
Behind us lies the donkey track of colonialism which we have travelled for one hundred
and fifty years. Ahead of us lies the road of responsible government which we feel
ourselves mature and courageous enough to negotiate at this stage of our destiny.
 Basing ourselves on world experience, on the theory and practice of democracy
as it has been tested and not found wanting in the more developed countries, as well
as on current developments in communities no better than we are, such as Jamaica,
Puerto Rico and Surinam, we hold these truths to be self-evident:
 1. That the single chamber Legislature, first imposed on us in 1810, is colonial-
 ism, in conception, form and operation.
 2. That the presence of official and nominated members in the single chamber
 Legislature is indefensible in principle, is an ineffective check and balance
 in practice, tends to limit the responsibility of the elected members, and is
 an obstacle to the effective use of a device which, in a second chamber,
 can be suitably expanded and converted into a potent instrument of good
 government.
 3. That the ministerial system is distorted into a travesty by the present prac-
 tice whereby the Ministers are elected by the Legislature and can be re-
 moved only by a two-thirds vote, thus hindering the development of an
 effective party system.
 4. That any attempt to patch up the existing system by increasing the number
 of elected members and Ministers, within the framework of a unicameral
 Legislature in which nominated and official members sit, Will constitute
 an indefensible addition to the already fantastic cost of our Legislature.
 We, the People of Trinidad and Tobago, respectfully request, therefore, that
 our constitution be reformed to provide:
 1. Substitution for the single chamber Legislature of a bicameral Legislature
 comprising :
 (1) An elected lower house of 18, empowered to elect a Speaker who need
 not be one of its members.
 (2) A nominated second chamber of 16, to consist of
 (i) six representatives of special economic interests, viz: (a) oil;
 (b) sugar; (c) commerce; (d) cocoa; (e) shipping; (f) local indus-
 tries-these representatives to be selected by the interests themselves;


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