WEST INDIES FEDERATION

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28551, 2 April 1958, Page 16

WEST INDIES FEDERATION

Little Excitement Over Election (From a Reuter Correspondent) PORT-OF-SPAIN (Trinidad). The first Federal General Election being held on March 25 in the 10 territories of the West Indies Federation is arousing little excitement in Trinidad. The Supervisor of Elections nas issued party symbols to five parties, but the contest will be largely conflped to two of them—the Federal Labour Party, and the Democratic Labour Party. The others are: The People's National Movement, which is affiliated to Federal Labour; the People’s Popular Party, a splinter group; and the Butler (Home Rule) Party, which was recently described in the Legislative Council as “a oneman affair.” The Federal Labour Party and the Democratic Labour Party are each expected to put up 10 candidates—one for each Trinidad constituency. The successful candidates will sit in the Federal House of Representatives, which is to be inaugurated in Port-of-Spain on April 22 by Princess Margaret, as the Queen's special representative. Jamaica will send 17 members to the Federal House, Barbados five, and each of the other islands two, except the tiny islet of Montserrat, which is to send only one. In all, the House will have 45 members. Not to Stand The lack of enthusiasm for the election in Trinidad has been ascribed in the press to the decision of several prominent political leaders not to stand for election. Mr Norman Manley, the Chief Minister of Jamaica, has disappointed many people here, as well as on his own island, by announcing that he will not stand for the office of Prime Minister of the Federation, but will stay on his own island. As Federal Prime Minister, he would have to spend most of his time at Port-of-Spain. He told a political rally in Jamaica recently that there was a conspiracy to wreck the Federation and take Jamaica out of it, and that he had to stay at home to defeat it. Mr Manley’s cousin. Sir Alexander Bustamante, the Opposition leader in the Jamaica House of Representatives, is also staying out of the election. Political circles in Port-of-Spain believe that each is afraid of the local political consequence for his own party should he leave Jamaica. That, they say, is the real reason why they are not contesting the election. Dr. Eric Williams, Trinidad’s Chief Minister and political leader of the People’s National Movement which controls the Government, is also keeping out of the election. His party is reported in the Trinidad press to have refused permission to any of its members in the Legislative Council to run for election, and even to party members of the Municipal Councils. Sir Grantley Adams, the Premier of Barbados, has been quoted here as saying that he, too, will not run, though some political circles believe that he may change his mind. Next to Mr Manley, he is favoured by many people for the post of first Prime Minister of the Federation. “Luke-warm Attitude” The effect on the public of the luke-warm attitude to the Federation displayed by so many leaders is deplored by the newspapers. In a leading article, “Disaster for Federation?" the left-wing weekly newspaper, “Clarion,” called this attitude "distinctly selfish and insular” and adds that the Federation is heading for disaster if the leaders stay at home and try to dominate the new West Indian nation from behind the scenes. The Democratic Labour Party is taking advantage of this situation to whip up interest in local issues such as the increased taxation recently imposed by the Government on rum and tobacco, as well as the new purchase tax on motor-cars and the increased licence fees payable by taxis as well as private cars. It hopes, by this means, to score a point against Government party candidates, representing the Federal Labour Party, and some people believe that it is likely, as a result, to capture a number of country seats in the Federal election. People outside Port-of-Spain and some other towns, as well as taxi drivers throughout the island, are said to be very annoyed over the new taxes. The Democratic Party is also circulating for signature a petition asking the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Mr Lennox Boyd, to oppose any handing over by the United States Government of the naval base at Chaguaramas for use as the federal West Indies capital. The Federal Party, on the other hand, supports the request to the Americans to give up Chaguaramas. The Democratic Party also claims that the Federal Party will impose further taxes if they are successful in the election. Sir Grantley Adams, a prominent Federal Party man, said, during a recent visit to Trinidad, that tne public must be prepared for more taxes, because the Federation could not exist on its present limited budget of about 10,600,000 West Indian dollars (about £2,000,000).