Investigations by the Colonial Office confirmed Prescod's suspicions and the landowners were indeed buying up any small plots of land that did become available, even if this meant some small hardship for themselves. He was successful in getting a change in the law but the effect was minimal. In 1840 there were 1,153 voters; historian Hilary Beckles calculates there was still less than five per cent of the population voting after the bill was passed on 6 June 1840, with the number of eligible voters in 1849 showing only a moderate increase to 1,322.
The Colonial Office confirmed Prescod's suspicions about land ownership practices and found that landowners were buying up any available plots, even if it caused some hardship for themselves. He succeeded in changing the law but the effect was limited. By 1840, there were 1,153 voters; historian Hilary Beckles estimated that less than five percent of the population voted after the bill passed on June 6th, 1840. In 1849, the number of eligible voters only increased slightly to 1,322.