Dr Rita Pemberton

The Act for the Abolition of Slavery made provision for a delayed freedom, through a system of apprenticeship which was to last four years for skilled workers and six for unskilled workers.

Justification for the variation of the terms of this provision lay in the prevalent notion that the Africans remained 'uncivilised' and should not be made completely free until they were sufficiently 'civilised.'

This civilising process included that they be taught how to manage their freedom, the virtues of hard work, and the necessity to earn a living and become fully responsible for supporting themselves and their families.

The variation in the length of the apprenticeship was based on the notion of white superiority, so that skilled enslaved African workers who worked in closer contact with their masters and related more to white society were classified as more 'civilised' than the unskilled workers who spent most of their time in the field.

This justification was a smokescreen to offer plantation owners a guaranteed supply of labour for an extended period.

The heaviest labour demands for the operations of the plantation were placed on the field workers who were responsible for planting, weeding and reaping the canes. These functions, which constituted the backbone of the industry, ensured there was a crop to be processed into sugar.

The greatest challenge Emancipation posed to the planters was the fear of the loss of their labour force, which would strangle the industry. Therefore, the planters, under duress, accepted Emancipation in phases, which allowed them the extra time with an assured labour force over which they were able to exert some control to maintain their operations.

The Tobago Act for the termination of apprenticeship stated that it was 'expedient to terminate the apprenticeship system on 1 August 1838 next' for all apprentices, who were 'absolutely freed…of the remaining term of their apprenticeship…and from all and every the obligations, pains and penalties imposed or incurred hereby.'

No explanation was provided of the circumstances which created the expediency, but there were important reasons why the period was amended to four years for all apprentices on the island.

The act detailed the terms under which the so-called liberation was granted. The freed people were to be provided with medical care if they were unable to work because of illness and were entitled to remain in the houses they occupied free of charge as long as they were prepared to perform their accustomed duties for wages.

These benefits would apply up to 1 October except in the cases of worker non-performance and insubordination, theft, trespass, drunkenness and riotous behaviour, as verified by two justices of the peace.

All commitments of the employer to infirm individuals would be terminated on August 1, 1839, and if such people had no supporting family members to care for them, the assistance of a justice of the peace should be sought.

The act was silent on the question of lon