Economy of Scotts Head Village

“Town Board” as it came to be known, continued in its original form until 1937 when it was reconstituted by an Act of Parliament and changed to the Roseau Town Council. With this Act the Council was made into a Body Corporate with a term of three years. It was granted a membership of eight; three nominated by the Administrator and five elected by the residents. Its Chairman was designated ‘ Mayor of Roseau’.

The Council is empowered to regulate activities in the town by making by-laws and enforcing them within the municipal area. It is also authorized to:-

levy house and land taxes;

borrow a limited amount of money;

contribute to educational and charitable ventures;

acquire land or buildings for public use;

establish and regulate markets;

alter or extend the water-works;

provide and maintain parks, garden and other places of recreation.

Although the Council has increased in size and the municipality expanded, its function has been affected by the establishment of utility service statutory bodies in the State. As a result, many of the services once provided by the Council are now distributed among those national specialized agencies.

The Portsmouth Town Council started with a Town Board like the Roseau City Council. The first Board was established either in the late 1800’s or early 1900’s. Information on the exact date is not available, but the earliest document attributed to the Board is a By-Law enacted in1916. Its constitution as a Council, however, was affected in 1954 with the enactment of the Portsmouth Town Council Act.

This Act was patterned after the Roseau Town Council Act of 1937. It provided for a three year term of office,