§ Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds the Government of Trinidad and Tobago cancelled the celebrations for Cabinet Day and the inauguration of the Legislative Council on 26th June; and when these functions will take place.
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§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe decisions to cancel the celebrations and advise the Governor to postpone the opening of the new Session of the Legislative Council were taken by the Premier. Dr. Williams gave a full explanation of his reasons in a public speech on the 3rd July, the text of which I am sending to the hon. Member. The new Session of the Legislative Council was opened on the 10th July.
§ Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the decision to transfer the police in Trinidad and Tobago to the control of a Minister of the Government of that territory provides powers to prevent smuggling through the United States base at Chaguaramas and the Piarco airfield.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe transfer of control over the police to a Minister in no way affects the powers of the police either in the prevention of smuggling or in any other field.
§ Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the United States Government has now consented to the right of members of the police force of Trinidad and Tobago to arrest United States troops charged with smuggling, and the rights of the courts of the Colony to try them on such charges.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe provisions of the Leased Bases Agreement relating to arrest and jurisdiction have remained unchanged since 1950 and are set out in 19W Articles IV and VI of the Agreement as amended (Cmd. 6259 as modified by Cmd. 8076).
§ Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements have been made with the United States Government for the increasing use by their military aeroplanes of the airfield at Piarco, Trinidad; to what extent landing and parking fees and the cost of maintenance and repair are met; and how far the aeroplanes are required to observe the instructions of the Civil Aviation Department of Trinidad and Tobago.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydSince the deactivation of their air-base at Waller Field the United States have been permitted by informal arrangement to make occasional use of the civil airport at Piarco. Problems arising from its increased use, including the questions of fees, cost of upkeep and observance of civil regulations, are the subject of discussions between the United States Consul-General and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
§ Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies under what agreement the United States Government has established a tracking station at Tucker Valley in Trinidad.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Leased Bases Agreement of 1941. (Cmd. 6259.)
§ Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what agreement has been signed with the United States Government for the establishment of a research station at Loran in Tobago; and for what purposes this station will be used.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydNo agreement has been signed and there is no present plan to establish a station in Tobago. The name Loran relates not to a place but to the function of a station once proposed as a long-range aid to navigation.
§ Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what consultations are taking place with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, with a view to the revision of the Constitution in 1961 so as to provide for full internal self-government.
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§ Mr. Lennox-BoydA Select Committee of the Legislative Council has been appointed and is now considering future constitutional development in Trinidad and Tobago.
§ Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement regarding the provision which has been made or is being planned for establishing safety precautions for the population of Trinidad as a result of the use of radiation at the United States base at Chaguaramas in Trinidad.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydAt the request of the Trinidad Government, and with the co-operation of the American authorities, I hope to arrange for an expert from this country to visit the base at Chaguaramas to ascertain whether the operation of the missile tracking station there presents any hazard to the population of Trinidad and Tobago.
§ Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if it is now proposed to recommend for appointment a West Indian as Governor of Trinidad and Tobago when the period of office of the present Governor terminates.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIt is not customary to anticipate recommendations made to Her Majesty in matters of this sort.