The economic basis of the emancipation movement in Britain is clearly discussed in the book. The problems created by the post-emancipation period are also briefly discussed. Enough is said to convey the picture of a society still predominantly Creole up to the period of indentured immigration. The labour shortage created by emancipation was the principal economic problem the plantation owners were faced with. The methods taken to overcome them were many. Coercion, bribes in the guise of land grants attached to the plantation, reducing wages and indentured immigration were all attempted. The ultimate solution was the one involving indentured immigration. In recent times mechanization is being advanced as the new solution to the old problem of labour and sugar cultivation. This is one more reason why in many ways the Guianese society is still in the emancipation era.

The era of indentured immigration is quite lucidly described by Dr. Smith. However, there are certain judgements that are not entirely accurate. To argue that the indentured immigrants lived under the same conditions as those from which the slaves were liberated is to totally ignore the revolution in economic circumstances created by the labour shortage. For example, the speed with which the Portuguese dominated the retail trade of the colony was possible only because emancipation created the need for retail activity. The success of the Portuguese of course depended heavily upon the imprecise valuation placed on their colour and hence status in the society.

To my mind the absorption of the various ethnic groups that came into the country after emancipation is the immediate short term social problem in Guiana. Theoretically there are five possibilities open to those ethnic groups outside the Creole system:

  • Attempting to destroy and replace the Creole system by one based on the values derived from the immigrant races.
  • Seeking a genuine integration of the existing Creole value system with those of the new immigrants.
  • Permitting the obliteration of their own values by the existing Creole system.
  • Total disintegration of the society as a viable political, economic or social unit.
  • Attempting to maintain and establish separatist groups.

The last section of this chapter is devoted to analysing constitutional developments. Dr. Smith notes the failure of constitutional developments to keep pace with the economic development of the country. The discontent of the new professional classes over their under representation was the locus for the movement towards constitutional reform, which came in 1891. The reform of 1891 highlighted two points about Guianese political history at this stage.

  • the emergence of a new political elite comprising the coloureds, negro professionals and Portuguese businessmen elected by an electorate mainly negro.
  • Great Britain gave up the pretence of protecting the mass of the population against the plantocracy.

These two points can only signify one thing, i.e. the heritage of power and organization was shifting back once more from the plantation (under serious attack by economic circumstances) to that of the central authorities vis-à-vis London. The events of 1928 formally established the obvious dominance of London. The dominance of London was naturally exercised in favour of the plantocracy.

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