Recommendation by Des Voeux of Mr Alphonse Cools for the vacant seat in the Legislative...

Recommendation by Des Voeux of Mr Alphonse Cools for the vacant seat in the Legislative Council of St. Lucia; recommendation by Mr. Dix that upon the resignation of Mr. Fleming, Mr. Cools should be appointed to the Executive Council. 'The only objection that can be urged against Mr. Cools is the fact that having been a member of the Executive and Legislative Councils, he was removed from them. The act which caused his removal was that of breaking open a lock up and causing the release of prisoners, he being at the time Mayor of Castries and believing that his authority as such had been infringed. The act was no doubt highly intemperate and improper, but it was, I have some reason to think, the incidental result of violent political feeling among the Coloured population, which was not altogether without just cause.' Des Voeux. 'He is of mixed European and African descent, and both as such and as a Roman Catholic, he represents classes which are very disproportionately represented in the Council.' Des Voeux. For circumstances into how Mr. Cools lost his seat in 1863, see St. Lucia No. 107, 1863 April 7. Also see 12992/1876.

George Dundas, Lieutenant Governor of Windward Islands, St. Lucia No. 67, Folios 514 - 522.