Brava: PAICV accuses Government of “lack of ambition and commitment” towards the development of the island

PAICV today accused the Government of “lack of ambition and commitment” towards the development of Ilha Brava, of “unfulfilled promises”, and urged the executive to rethink the type of investment in Fajã d'Água.

In a press conference promoted by the deputy and member of the National Council of the African Independence Party of Cape Verde (PAICV, opposition), Clóvis Silva, considered that one cannot talk about the tourist development of an island, when “there is not enough water, nor for domestic consumption”.

“Maritime transport is still too precarious, and could stop again at any time, because our connection is always dependent on a single ship and we have reached the point where we only have trips to Brava three days a week, Monday, Thursday and Saturday. This is our reality”, denounced the parliamentarian.

He said that he is unaware of any information about the studies for the airport promised to Brava, stressing that the supply of electricity is precarious, with food products on the island “very expensive”, with traders having “huge losses” with “deficit” transport and irregular”.

“Tour operators do not make a profit, they have accumulated bank debts since covid19, the Government has never offered help of any kind so that they could persist in this difficult time for everyone and I am speaking specifically of Brava”, criticized Clóvis Silva.

With regard to the investments that the Minister of Transport, Carlos Santos, announced in the amount of 40 billion escudos for the development of the tourist town of Fajã d'Água, Clóvis Silva stated that the Government “missed an excellent opportunity to bring hope”, claiming that the ruler, however, left the island leaving “a hand full of promises and more promises”.

He questioned whether it was not urgent to guarantee safe access to the community by building a road at the level of ambition that should be had for Brava, having, on the other hand, denounced that, if the Health Center is to be functional, for the achievement of minimums.

“The candles are not paid to the nurses, the salaries are not processed for the hired staff, cleaning material cannot be purchased, nor is the food for the hospitalized patients being prepared, all because without an administrator the health center will be inefficient” , criticized.

“However, we live on an island where everything is more expensive, the population is visibly decreasing, with inactive young people, stagnant trade. However, higher income taxes are paid on Brava than on any other island, which demonstrates that the State itself, through the Ministry of Finance, is stifling commercial activity on Brava”, he denounced.

Considering that Brava needs a Government “more sensitive than one that is committed to its development”, Clóvis Silva said that the island is experiencing difficult days and urged the Government to “stop draining resources from traders by charging taxes in unreasonable amounts ”, sometimes reaching thousands of collection tales on the estimated income.