Colonial Secretary of the Gambia facts for kids

The Colonial Secretary of the Gambia was a very important job in the old government of the Gambia Colony and Protectorate. This person was often like the main helper or second-in-command to the governor, who was the leader of the colony. Colonial Secretaries sometimes even took over as the temporary leader of The Gambia during its time as a colony. The Colonial Secretary was in charge of managing all the daily workings and paperwork. This role was usually held by someone who had worked for a long time in the British government department that looked after colonies.

What the Colonial Secretary Did

In the British Empire, which was a huge group of countries ruled by Britain, the Colonial Secretary was the main manager for a colony. They were responsible for helping the Governor run things. This included dealing with different government offices and also with all the people living in the colony.

The Colonial Secretary was part of two important groups: the Executive Council and the Legislative Council. The Executive Council made big decisions, and the Legislative Council made laws.

Over time, the Colonial Secretary looked after many different things. These included:

• Collecting taxes on goods (called customs)
• Managing mail services (post offices)
• Looking after ships and ports
• Running prisons
• Dealing with the local people

The Colonial Secretary often communicated directly with England. The job could change a lot depending on who the Governor was. This was because the British government didn't want to define the role too strictly. They worried it might become unnecessary later on.

People Who Were Colonial Secretaries

Here is a list of the people who held the important job of Colonial Secretary in The Gambia: