THIS CONCERT OF EFFORTS TO WEAKEN THE INSTITUTION THAT IS THE PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC IS NOT INNOCENT!
It is unacceptable that, given the current situation in Cape Verde, the issue that should dominate the National Agenda is the IGF's recommendation to order the reinstatement of the amounts earned by the First Lady over the last two years!
See:
There is widespread dissatisfaction in almost all Professional Classes, which, with greater or lesser frequency, has resulted in demonstrations and strikes!
We are witnessing a mass exodus of Cape Verdeans from the country, as they do not believe that their lives will improve and are looking for other opportunities in other places!
Unemployment, poverty and inequality are increasing visibly.
Furthermore, as the country is due to hold local elections this year, we are all left to witness the complete disregard of the Government, which insists on not setting a date, aware of the difficulties that its (bad) governance has caused, and which, therefore, intends to delay, without “any hesitation” (and to gain time), this setting!
However, the most important issue on the National Agenda is the decision to replace the salaries earned, for two years, by the First Lady of the Country???
It is not reasonable, nor acceptable!
In this regard, there are some questions in this Dossier that should be asked by Cape Verdeans:
Who authorized the payment?
Who supervised this payment?
How was the payment made?
And why was it paid?
It couldn't have been just the Presidency of the Republic!!!
And if it wasn't (as it wasn't!) with what objective did EVERYONE who had any competence in the matter remain silent for two years?
The Country has Bodies and Entities responsible for Budget Management, and whose powers are established by Law!
Therefore, none of these Entities can now simply “shake the water off their coat” and place all the responsibility on the Presidency of the Republic because it suits them!
Furthermore, for many years now, the country has had SIGOF - Integrated Budget and Financial Management System - which is a central system for the entire Public Administration, being the instrument for preparing, executing and monitoring the State Budget, at all levels.
For this very reason, this path sought by some is not ethical, lacks morality, and, above all, has no legal basis or legal support!
The first TRUTH, which has been conveniently omitted, is that it was the current President of the Republic, Dr. José Maria Neves, who requested that the Presidency's Budget be included in SIGOF, and be subject to the scrutiny of all competent entities in the matter.
No other President has had this initiative!
And, if Dr. José Maria Neves had this initiative, it does not seem to me that he was motivated by any other reason than TRANSPARENCY in the management of public resources!
The second TRUTH that needs to be clarified is that all the elements relating to this matter were duly reported to the Prime Minister, and the resources required to process the payments were agreed with the Minister of Finance and included in the State Budget proposal, approved by Parliament. Over the two years, the Finance Department made tax deductions and contributions to the INPS.
For this very reason, the Prime Minister cannot remain silent, allowing this issue to be dealt with by the Leaders of his Party, with concerted “writings”, which ultimately aim to divert the focus from the real problems of the Country, and, at the same time, weaken the Highest Magistrate of the Nation, who has been erected by the majority as a target to be shot down.
Knowing, from the beginning, the Presidency's intentions, why didn't the Prime Minister or the Ministry of Finance or any other control entity raise the issue of possible irregularities in the expenditure entered in the State Budget?!
The third TRUTH, which must be clarified, has to do with the Court of Auditors, whose Organic Law provides for the power to carry out concurrent oversight, and which, for this very reason, must explain to the Country why, in two years, it did not perform its role, and did not carry out this same concurrent oversight - under the terms of the Law that Regulates the Organization, Composition, Competence, Process and Functioning of the Court of Auditors, approved in Parliament - with regard to the Budget of the Presidency of the Republic.
In fact, since 2019, the Court of Auditors has had full access to SIGOF for concomitant inspection.
“And full access to the Integrated Budget and Financial Management System (SIGOF), for concurrent monitoring, was duly assigned and ensured to the Court of Auditors (TC), namely to all judges and technicians of that institution”, as was publicly announced on April 24, 2019!
Why did you not act in time, having waited two years, and only after the public and express request of the President of the Republic, in December 2023?
The fourth TRUTH concerns the General Inspectorate of Finance – IGF, which, having exercised its role of “auditing” the accounts – in a rather opportunistic and reductive way, in my opinion – was only able to see that the payment made has no legal basis, to attribute blame to the Presidency of the Republic, and, in this “analysis”, was unable to attribute responsibility to any other Entity, despite knowing how SIGOF is structured!
In fact, and in the exercise of their functions, the Finance Inspectorate (PIF) Staff must base their conduct on the adequacy of procedures to the objectives of the action (see article 3 of Decree-Law 23/2016, of 6 April).
And they must also “Carry out with scrupulousness, correctness and diligence the actions and tasks with which they are entrusted” and “Ensure compliance with the laws relating to financial administration, taking the measures that are within the limits of their competence, for the exact compliance thereof” (see Decree-Law no. 23/2016, of 6 April, which establishes the principles, rules and criteria for the action, organisation, structuring and professional development of the Finance Inspectorate Staff, referred to as PIF, namely in its article 5).
It is now public knowledge that the General Inspectorate of Finance recommended the reinstatement of the salaries earned over two years by the First Lady, as, according to reports, “it is irregular and has no support in current legislation”.
However, for this IGF recommendation to be taken seriously, it is up to the Government, which ultimately manages the Budget, to answer the following questions:
Who authorized the payment of these salaries for two years?
Who monitored this same payment for two years?
How was it done?
And why was it paid?
From then on, we will be able to address this issue with the depth and seriousness that the matter requires, and that the country deserves… and not opportunistically, as it seems to be intended!
THIS CONCERTED CONCENTRATION OF EFFORTS TO WEAKEN THE INSTITUTION THAT IS THE PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC IS NOT INNOCENT!
