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CHAPTER VI. 



GENERAL ADMISIST RATION GOVERNMENT CIVIL, JUDICIARY, ECCLESIASTICAL, AND 

 FINANCIAL DEPARTMENTS. 



UNDER the Spanish dominion, Trinidad was a dependency of 

 the " Capitania-General de Caracas," and was administered by a 

 governor, assisted by the " illustrious cabildo " a kind of muni- 

 cipal corporation, vested with extensive powers and enjoying great 

 privileges. 



This corporation was a self-elected body, exercising jurisdiction 

 partly general, partly municipal and judiciary. It consisted of 

 the governor, as president, and twelve members two of whom 

 were elected " alcaldes" of the first and second election, or 

 " alcaldes" in ordinary. It was lawful for the cabildo to levy 

 duties and impose taxes, but their municipal jurisdiction did not 

 extend beyond the limits of Port of Spain. The town had been 

 divided into four " barrios" or wards, and an "alcalde de barrio" 

 was appointed to each by the cabildo. Their functions were 

 similar to those of the commandants, which I will define hereafter. 

 The " alcaldes " in ordinary had special charge of the streets and 

 markets. The alcaldes in ordinary exercised their judicial powers 

 in criminal as well as in civil matters, assisted by a Spanish lawyer, 

 acting as assessor or adviser; and, for nearly eight years from 

 1808 to 1814 they held both the civil arid criminal sessions. 

 No case, however, involving forfeiture of life was ever decided by 

 these judges, after the island became a British possession. 



Don Jose Maria de Chacon the last governor under the 

 Spanish rule had divided the island into numerous small dis- 

 tricts called "quarters:" to each was appointed a "command- 

 ante " as chief and sole magistrate ; for he was, at the same time, 

 police magistrate, justice of the peace, and administrator of his dis- 

 trict, charged with the return of population and property, and the 

 collection of taxes. They held petty sessions, and had the power 

 of fining and condemning to prison ; they acted also as coroners. 

 All judicial summonses and citations were sent from the supreme 



