The Autonomy of Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast: A Historical Reflection with Focus on Corn Island and Mayor Hurley Morgan
The Autonomy of Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast stands as one of the most significant political and social milestones in the country’s modern history. It marked the formal recognition of the Caribbean region’s multi-ethnic, multilingual, and multicultural identity, an overdue step toward decentralisation, inclusion, and respect for local governance. At the heart of this transformative period were local leaders and community voices who sought to secure representation, dignity, and sustainable development for their people. Among them, Corn Island’s Mayor Hurley Morgan is remembered as one of the key figures and local fathers of the Autonomy movement in Nicaragua’s South Caribbean.
The idea of regional autonomy emerged from centuries of distinct historical development between Nicaragua’s Pacific and Caribbean regions. While the Pacific coast evolved under Spanish colonial influence beginning in the 1500s, the Caribbean coast, historically known as the Mosquito Coast and home to Miskito, Creole, Garifuna, Rama, Mayangna, and Ulwa communities, developed under British influence from the mid-1600s. For much of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the Mosquito Coast functioned as a British protectorate, maintaining close political and commercial ties with other Caribbean territories. This produced contrasting systems of governance, culture, and language that persisted long after formal colonisation ended.
In February 1894, the Mosquito Coast was militarily incorporated into the Nicaraguan state by General Rigoberto Cabezas, acting under the orders of President José Santos Zelaya. This event, known as the Reincorporation of the Mosquito Reserve, marked a new political reality for the coast—but also initiated decades of centralised governance that often disregarded local traditions and leadership structures. The resulting marginalisation limited coastal participation in national decision-making and deepened social and economic disparities.
Despite these challenges, the people of the Caribbean coast demonstrated resilience and a strong sense of identity. Several resistance movements arose in response to political and economic exclusion. One notable figure was General George Hodgson, born in San Andrés and based in Bluefields, who led movements defending the rights of Afro-descendant and Indigenous communities in the early twentieth century. Inspired by Hodgson and other courageous coastal leaders, subsequent generations continued to advocate for cultural recognition, equitable development, and greater local autonomy.
Why the Autonomy Law Was Created
By the early 1980s, Nicaragua was undergoing major political and social transformation following the 1979 Sandinista Revolution. While the new government initially aimed to unify the country under a single national project, the diverse communities along the Caribbean coast expressed concerns that state policies did not adequately reflect their cultural realities or governance traditions. These tensions led to extensive dialogue between regional leaders, community representatives, and the central government. The result of these discussions was a new legal framework designed to institutionalise regional self-governance within the national structure.
The Law of Autonomy for the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua, officially known as Law No. 28, was passed by the National Assembly in 1987. Its creation was driven by the need to recognise the multi-ethnic composition of the Nicaraguan nation; guarantee the cultural, linguistic, and territorial rights of Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples; promote decentralisation and empower local governments to participate directly in development planning and implementation; strengthen democratic participation through the establishment of regional councils and governments and promote the preservation of local languages, environmental protection, and cultural traditions.
In essence, the Autonomy Law was not only a response to historical inequalities but also an effort to build a national model that celebrated diversity within unity.
What the Law Encompasses
Law No. 28 created two autonomous regions: the North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region (RACCN) and the South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region (RACCS). Each region has its own Regional Council, Coordinator, and Governor, as well as local, territorial, and communal governments under their jurisdiction.
These regional institutions were granted powers to manage areas such as education, health, culture, natural resource administration, and local development, while maintaining coordination with the central government in Managua.
The law also guarantees: the right to bilingual and intercultural education, the preservation of traditional forms of local authority and respect for customary land ownership and collective property.
By doing so, Law 28 established one of the most advanced frameworks for Indigenous and Afro-descendant self-governance in Central America.
Corn Island and the Leadership of Hurley Morgan
From around the Caribbean of Nicaragua there were several people envolve in the autonomy process of the region, one of whom was Mr Hurley Morgan, fomer mayor of Corn Island and one of the Fathers of the Autonomy.
During the years leading up to and following the approval of the Autonomy Law, Mr Hurley Morgan, who served as Mayor of Corn Island from 1980 to 1988, was one of the individuals who played a significant role in building and promoting the autonomy project. His leadership coincided with a crucial period of regional dialogue, negotiation, and political reorganisation across Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast.
Mayor Morgan advocated for the inclusion of Corn Island and other communities within the broader autonomy framework, ensuring their voices were heard. He participated in the national consultation process, led it locally, attended meetings in Bluefields and Managua and sat down with other key figures and auhoroties who made this law possible. His participation reflected a strong commitment to unity, regional and local development, and the preservation of the islands’ identity.
Through his leadership, Corn Island emerged as both a participant and a symbol of the autonomy process. Mayor Morgan’s dedication to self-determination and community advancement earned him recognition as one of the fathers of the Autonomy of Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast, and notably, the only person from the Corn Islands to hold this distinction.
His tenure represented more than administrative service; it embodied the principle of local empowerment that the Autonomy Law sought to institutionalise. Under his term, Corn Island began shaping its municipal structure in accordance with new national and regional legal frameworks, paving the way for future local governance within the autonomous system.
Legacy and Continuing Relevance
Nearly four decades after the passage of Law 28, the spirit of autonomy remains a vital component of Nicaraguan democracy. While challenges persist, ranging from resource management and environmental protection to infrastructure and educational access, the foundation established in 1987 continues to guide the aspirations of the Caribbean coastal communities.
For Corn Island and the wider Caribbean region, autonomy is more than a legal construct; it represents an enduring expression of identity, resilience, and the right to self-determination. The legacy of leaders such as Hurley Morgan serves as a reminder that progress and inclusion are achieved through participation, vision, and an unwavering commitment to community values.
