A Cidade da Ribeira Grande, Cabo Verde: Urbanismo e Arquitetura (Séculos XV a XVIII).

A história de Cabo Verde começa com a chegada dos portugueses em 1460. O local selecionado para a primeira ocupação humana, num território anteriormente deserto, recai na zona denominada Ribeira Grande, ilha de Santiago, em consequência da sua ribeira, fonte de água e razão principal de escolha da fixação. É nesse espaço, limitado pelas montanhas acidentadas, pela ribeira e pela topografia irregular que uma pequena povoação nasceu. Nela foi implantada uma área urbana e arquitetónica, fruto de regras de construção do colonizador: Portugal. A génese urbana inicia-se ainda no século XVI, junto a uma baía, designada mais tarde por largo do Pelourinho, bastante orgânica e organizada a partir do porto, do Hospital e da Igreja da Misericórdia. Seguiu-se, ao longo de Quinhentos, o bairro de São Pedro, o maior de todos, também orgânico. O bairro de São Brás, espaço ocupado maioritariamente pelos jesuítas desenvolveu-se de forma paralela à costa. O último bairro intitulado São Sebastião, elevado a partir de meados do século XVI, já foi projetado respeitando os cânones do urbanismo moderno. A cidade conseguiu atrair, pressionada pelos religiosos, pelos monarcas e pelas populações locais, instituições religiosas, régias e privadas que apostaram em obras arquitetónicas marcantes na evolução da urbe, entre as quais a igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário, o convento e igreja de São Francisco, a Sé e o paço Episcopal, a fortaleza Real de São Filipe e o Pelourinho.

O serviço fiscal aduaneiro criminal e contraordenacional da GNR

At a time of global economic instability, to which Portugal is not oblivious, and aware that the main source of Portuguese State revenue relies on the collection of tribute, the National Republican Guard holds within its mission relevant assignments to the protection of the financial interests of the country, in particular, fiscal and customs. These assignments were inherited from the century - old institution Guarda Fiscal - with evidence given in this domain, which was integrated into the National Republican Guard in 1993, to adopt, a 1St model, that held a specialized unit – Brigada Fiscal, with surveillance and patrolling missions of costa and fiscal and customs supervision, throughout the national territory and maritime zone of respect. In 2009, the result of political decisions, reorganization the State's central administration, appears de 2Nd model, because the Brigada Fiscal assignments were divided by two specialized units - UAF with investigation skills, and UCC for patrolling and surveillance of the coast. Analyzed the legal spectrum of special legislation leading the criminal and transgression sector punitive (RGIT), in essence, is in the UAF that resides the role assignments from the scope of the investigation and supervision of goods in the national territory on a par with the tax authority. Tax inspection assignments, fiscal and customs of the National Republican Guard, are unmatched in the National Tribute System, constituting itself as a potentiality of this special body, in similarity of their counterparts - Spain and Italy; however, have some constraints, that urge to clarify and repair. Foreseeing the future, face the announced news of a new restructuring, on behalf of the interests of the country, and in order to raise the quality of performance of the tax inspection, fiscal and customs, the National Republican Guard shall maintain a model based on the experience already accumulated, obviously adapted to the new demands of a changing society. Despite the current model gain in efficiency, loses in effectiveness. However, the efficiency of a model, without the necessary resources, can never bring “the letter to Garcia” against any kind of infringements, criminal or transgressions. Unless better opinion, both tax structures of the National Republican Guard are valid as an instrument for the prevention and combat of these illegal types. Because they are strategic in pursuing the public interest, given the scarce resources of the country and be the National Republican Guard, the force with the means and know-how of this nature. The political power has the final word.