Juan Bosco Amores Carredano

Ordenanzas de gobierno local en la isla de Cuba

The local government it self, was as well, the object of renovation, within the plan of reforms that was put in to practice in Cuba by the governor count of Ricla (1763-65). A new authority was established, the «Capitanes de Partido», within the inner territories, where half of the population dwelled scattered. Ricla wrote an Instruccion for those «Capitanes», which has been unedited until now. Through the study of that Instruccion and its comparison with the one issued by the governor Jose de Ezpeleta on 1786, the characteristics and the utility of the new function are discussed. With the background of the documents of the «Archivo General de Indias» it is discussed the roll played by this new authority, inside the context of social and economic changes at the late XVIIIth century in Cuba. The «Capitanes de Partido» was an essential key within Cuba local government until half XIXth century.