36 
Courts or Appeal. 
President of the Administration, lias a easting vote, every remaining 
member, one vote. Independently of tliis right of vote, the Governor, at 
every meeting, can exercise absolute veto over statutes and ordinances, 
though the same may have been passed by a majority of votes, and no 
ordinance has the force of law before it is ratified by him. The Queen 
can confirm or disallow every statute. 
124. The College of Financial Representatives which represents the 
people with regard to Finance, consists of six members who, like those of 
the Electors, are appointed from among the inhabitants for two years. 
125 The Government decides in all money arrangements: as soon as 
the budget is sketched for the current year, the nature of the taxes and 
other duties discussed and passed by a majority of votes, tbe estimates are 
handed over to the Financial Representatives who, in conjunction with 
the Government, still submit certain particular points to examination. 
Timing this discussion every person, member of the Government or 
Financial Representative, has an equal vote. As soon as the proposed 
Ways and Means are approved and passed, they have the force of law. 
120. The Supreme Civil Court of Justice in British Guiana consists 
of a Chief Justice, two Judges, a Secretary to the Chief Justice, a Reg- 
istrar and a Book-keeper bound-by-oath. All civil complaints and cases 
of debt are in the first instance brought by the so-called Chancellery be- 
fore one of the judges who reports his opinion to the assembled tribunal 
which then confirms or disallows this judicial decision. If the plaint 
concerns a matter of a value more than £500, an appeal from the decision 
of the Supreme Court is permissible to the Privy Council. 
127. The Dutch Statutes, especially the laws, orders and regulations 
of the States-General must be taken by the Judges as basis for their 
decisions. 
128. The Supreme Criminal Court of Justice consists of the three 
Judges of tbe Civil Court and three Assessors whose qualification is ac- 
curately defined. The names of all who are to be appointed assessors 
are placed by the Secretary of the Court in a box, and chosen by ballot: 
they can however be rejected by the accused. The assessors have equal 
powers with the judges and these six decide, by a majority of votes, on 
the guilt or innocence of the accused. The Chief Justice has the cast- 
ing vote. Sentence must be passed in open Court, and the verdict of each 
judge and assessor as to guilty or not guilty recorded. 
129. The lower Criminal Court in Georgetown is under the control 
of the Chief Sheriff of British Guiana; in Essequibo and Berbice, under 
the Sheriffs of these districts. The Sheriff, as President, and three Mag- 
istrates constitute a lower criminal court which has the power of deal- 
ing with smaller thefts and offences. In certain cases the Sheriff decides 
alone. Legally speaking, court has to be held three times a month in each 
district. 
130. As a result of the Slave Acts, to settle disputes between masters 
and servants, definite tribunals were set up under Special Magistrates 
appointed by the English Government, and are still retained. There are 
thirteen of these Magistrates and a travelling Officer, all of them backed 
by a number of constables to uphold them in carrying out the adminis- 
tration of justice. 
