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| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Guyana |
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Legislature |
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General elections were held in British Guiana in 1906. [1]
British Guiana was the name of the British colony, part of the British West Indies (Caribbean), on the northern coast of South America, now known as the independent nation of Guyana.
The elections were held under the 1891 constitution, which provided for a 16-member Court of Policy, half of which was elected. The Court included the Governor, seven government officials (the Attorney General, the Government Secretary, the Immigration Agent General and the Receiver General, together with three other appointees). The eight elected members were elected from seven constituencies; [2] Demerara East, Demerara West, Essequebo North Western, Essequebo South Eastern, Berbice, City of Georgetown (2 members) and New Amsterdam. [3]
The Court of Policy was a legislative body in Dutch and British Guiana until 1928. For most of its existence it formed the Combined Court together with the six Financial Representatives.
Demerara is a historical region in the Guianas on the north coast of South America which is now part of the country of Guyana. It was a Dutch colony until 1815 and a county of British Guiana from 1838 to 1966. It was located about the lower courses of the Demerara River, and its main town was Georgetown.
Essequibo was a Dutch colony on the Essequibo River in the Guiana region on the north coast of South America from 1616 to 1814. The colony formed a part of the colonies that are known under the collective name of Dutch Guiana.
In addition, six "Financial Representatives" were also elected in six single member constituencies; Demerara, Essequebo North Western, Essequebo South Eastern, Berbice, Georgetown and New Amsterdam. [3] Together with the Court of Policy, the two groups formed the Combined Court. [2]
The Combined Court was the legislature of British Guiana until 1928. In its final form, it consisted of a sitting of the Court of Policy together with the elected Financial Representatives.
The franchise was restricted on the basis of a minimum income level, and women could not vote; [2] as a result, only 1.19% of the population were entitled to vote. [4]
Ten of the elected members were pro-reform candidates, including seven who were members of the People's Association. [5]
| Constituency | Elected member | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Court of Policy | |||
| Demerara East | Francis Dias | ||
| Demerara West | Andrew Benjamin Brown | ||
| Essequebo North Western | R G Duncan | ||
| Essequebo South Eastern | P N Browne | ||
| Berbice | J P Santos | ||
| City of Georgetown | George Garnett | ||
| B Howell Jones | |||
| New Amsterdam | C P Garcia | ||
| Financial Representatives | |||
| Demerara | J Wood Davis | ||
| Essequebo North Western | Alfred A. Thorne | ||
| Essequebo South Eastern | J S McArthur | ||
| Berbice | S E Wills | ||
| Georgetown | A P P Mackey | ||
| New Amsterdam | S E Wreford | ||
| Source: Bailey [6] | |||
The politics of Guyana takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Guyana is the head of government and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the President, advised by a cabinet. Legislative power is vested in both the President and the National Assembly of Guyana. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
Georgetown is a city and the capital of Guyana, located in Region 4, which is also known as the Demerara-Mahaica region. It is the country's largest urban centre. It is situated on the Atlantic Ocean coast at the mouth of the Demerara River and it was nicknamed 'Garden City of the Caribbean.'
The recorded history of Guyana can be dated back to 1466, when Guyana de Ojeda's first expedition arrived from Spain at the Essequibo River. The history of Guyana has been shaped by the participation of many national and ethnic groups, as well as the colonial policies of the Spanish, French, Dutch, and British. The African slave rebellions in 1763 and 1823 were seminal moments in the nation's history. Africans were enslaved and transported to Guyana as slaves; in contrast, East Indians came as indentured labourers. Guyana's recent history is characterized in particular by the struggle to free itself from colonial rule, and from the lingering effects of colonialism.
Dutch colonisation of the Guianas – the coastal region between the Orinoco and Amazon rivers in South America – began in the early 16th century. The Dutch originally claimed all of Guiana but – following attempts to sell it first to Bavaria and then to Hanau and the loss of sections to Portugal, Britain, and France – the section actually settled and controlled by the Netherlands became known as Dutch Guiana.
Elections in Guyana take place within the framework of a multi-party representative democracy and a presidential system. The National Assembly is directly elected, with the nominee of the party or alliance that receives the most votes becoming President.
Berbice is a region along the Berbice River in Guyana, which was between 1627 and 1815 a colony of the Netherlands. After having been ceded to the United Kingdom in the latter year, it was merged with Essequibo and Demerara to form the colony of British Guiana in 1831. In 1966, British Guiana gained independence as Guyana.
The Railways of Guyana comprised two public railways and several industrial railways, including the first in South America.
General elections were held in British Guiana on 15 October October 1926.
General elections were held in British Guiana on 19 October 1921.
General elections were held in British Guiana in 1916.
General elections were held in British Guiana in 1911.
General elections were held in British Guiana in 1901.
General elections were held in British Guiana in 1897.
General elections were held in British Guiana in 1892.
The College of Keizers was an electoral college in Dutch and British Guiana.
