Cuba recalls constitution of its first revolutionary government

SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba, Jan 4 (ACN) The constitution 65 years ago of the first provisional revolutionary government of the Republic of Cuba was recalled with a political and cultural event held in this city.

At library of the University of Oriente, where the said government had its headquarters for 48 hours, Manuel Urrutia, its first president, made public the designation of Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz as Personal Delegate of the President of the Republic in the armed institutes and Commander in Chief of the Land, Sea and Air Forces.

On January 3 and 4, 1959, according to historian Manuel Pevida, the Provisional Revolutionary Government took major decisions, such as the appointment of several ministers, army chiefs and legal authorities, and made important announcements, including the dismissal of President Fulgencio Batista and his representatives and senators, the dissolution of the National Congress, the suspension of provincial governors and councilmen, the transfer of legislative functions to the Council of Ministers, the reaffirmation of the 1940 Constitution, and the designation of Santiago de Cuba as the provisional capital.

Professor Frank Josué Cabrales stressed the role that Universidad de Oriente’s leftist and progressive faculty and strong student body played during the revolutionary process, marked by their opposition to Batista’s government and their contribution to the underground struggle and the guerrilla warfare until the final victory.