The British govern the last Caribbean possessions…

The British govern the last Caribbean possessions ceded by the French—Trinidad and St. Lucia—in a radically different manner from the two patterns just discussed.

Employing a system known as crown colony government, the British rule directly through appointed officials rather than elected representatives.

Royal governors are vested with virtually autocratic powers.

At the same time, the British have retained the previous Spanish, French, and Dutch forms of government, gradually altering them through time.

No sustained attempt has been made to foster local government in these newer colonies, although the leading cities—Port-of-Spain in Trinidad and Castries in St. Lucia—have municipal councils.

Perhaps as a result, a strong grass-roots democracy fails to develop early in the latter territories.