ABSTRACT
M.G. Smith’s definition of society as a territorially distinct unit with its own governmental institutions poses some analytical problems when one is dealing with a colonial society such as Guyana whose governmental institutions were not autonomous or independent, but in which the imperial government participated directly through their colonial officials, and exercised a superordinate power over the colonial government. The political constitution of Guyana was unique within the context of the British Caribbean. The prime assumption which dictated Colonial Office thinking on the colonial power structure was that the black and coloured majority were not sufficiently intelligent to exercise political power. Imperial trusteeship was thus considered necessary to protect those who had been deliberately excluded from the political process on the basis of race. The Colonial Office, however, exhibited genuine interest in not abandoning the ex-slaves, to the mercy of the uncontrolled power of the planters.
