RITA PEMBERTON

Among the many problems encountered in late 18th-century Tobago was unsatisfactory communication with the outside world.

This assumed prominence owing to the progressive decline of the sugar industry, which underscored the need for greater contact with the outside to facilitate alternative intra- and extra-regional trading.

In this regard, frequent mention is made of the Royal Mail and Steam Packet Company, which became the island’s most important trading line.

While its services were highly valued by the commercial sector, the company played an equally important role through its mail services, the sole means of mail communication.

The relationship of this company with Tobago reveals the precarious position of the island when its primary export crop declined, causing deprivation of essential services making it vulnerable to external forces, all of which affected the development of postal services.

During Tobago’s short history as a profitable sugar-plantation enterprise, contact with the outside world was through trading ships which did business with the island.

The situation changed dramatically during the French occupation between 1781 and 1793, when traditional connections were severed. When the French were driven out and British rule re-established, an attempt was made to correct the damage with the inauguration of Tobago’s first postal service, with a postmaster appointed on April 15, 1793, and a post office established in Scarborough. It was acknowledged that the island suffered great inconvenience because of the irregularity of the arrival of mail.

This did not bring immediate relief, and the Tobago Council raised the matter with the Governor of Barbados, to which Tobago was administratively connected, which resulted in the allocation of three sailing ships to the Tobago Post Office, to ply between Barbados and Tobago.

There were problems from the very start of this service, which was irregular, and mail often delayed. The problem was compounded by the continuation of British/ French antagonism and persistent French efforts to retake the island. Right down to the end of the 18th century and the early years of the 19th, the island was plagued by French privateers who lurked in the region, continuously attacking and raiding ships, with those to and from Tobago specially targeted. They imposed blockades on shipping, obstructed inter-island trade and caused extended delays.

To circumvent this, another arrangement was made: packets came from New York twice per month. However, this service was severely disrupted by six-week delays during the hurricane season.

In an effort to establish an organised system of mail, in 1840, the Tobago House of Assembly passed a law to facilitate contact between Tobago and the United Kingdom. The intention was to piggyback on a contract between the British government and the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company to establish a West India service.

From this time, the company carried passengers, mail and freight. While the service was welcomed, there