Brava: Whale community calls for “greater and better” attention from central and local entities

The community of Baleia, on Ilha Brava, is asking for greater and better attention from central and local entities, in order to “reverse the situation of abandonment” that, according to what they say, the locality is.

Inforpress went to this community, which is three kilometers from Mato Grande, the location with the closest car connection to this area.

Speaking to the press, Irma Gomes, a native of Baleia and an emigrant in the United States for 15 years, demonstrated her “dissatisfaction” with what she has been witnessing and living in this area since she was on the island and even now that she only comes on vacation, “for the love of the earth”.

According to the same source, he always lived in this area until, 15 years ago, he decided to emigrate and look for new directions, but whenever he has the opportunity, he returns to Baleia, as this is his right home.

However, it has always been facing difficulties that are still the same today, although with some aggravations given the situation that is experienced today everywhere.

“Problems with water, public lighting, lack of roads, lack of mobile network, lack of public employment, lack of attention”, he listed these points, questioning the reason for this “lack of consideration” on the part of the Government and the City Council of Brava , remembering that all are human beings and deserve dignified and equal treatment.

Irma Gomes lamented the situation of the lack of roads, noting that she has a sick son and several times, she crossed this road late at night with him in her arms, without the slightest conditions, fearing that something more serious would happen until she reached the town of Mato Grande and get a car to take him to the hospital and 38 years later they are still in the same situation.

Cláudia Costa was born, raised and even has children over 18 years old and, even so, recalled promises made by politicians regarding the road situation, starting with José Maria Neves, describing that the only time he went to the locality he promised to build the road, but he “won the legislative elections, left the throne and Baleia continued in the same way”.

The mayor of Brava, Francisco Tavares, according to this resident, committed to paving the side road, as well as building a square in the area, interventions to improve public lighting and the mobile network, rehabilitation and improvements at the community center, but so far nothing like that has been done.

“There is no work in the area, the city council opens a work front two months a year, the other months we have to manage”, he said, stressing that in the area people live from fishing, despite being far from the sea, but also from agriculture. dryland and cattle raising, which depends a lot on the rainfall situation and there are some families who are lucky to have emigrant relatives who support them with something.

On the issue of water, he emphasized that sometimes more than a month goes by without seeing a drop of water in the taps and what saves them is a lady who has a cistern and who shares the little water she stores with everyone in the area.

"We don't need unfounded promises, because we are poor people, but not crazy", he defended, noting that they need "a new vision" on the part of the Government and the city council, not from the era of electoral campaigns that only make promises that do not comply.

Another resident who also regrets this situation is Eugénia Pires, who considered that the lack of water in this locality is already a “critical and commonplace” situation, because, however much they complain, the water does not reach the locality and this is becoming unsustainable because in the In the area there are also children and animals, and there is no way to buy water carts to supply yourself because there is no road.

For the residents, they are only in that area out of “stubbornness” and in the hope that one day this situation can improve, although with each passing day it is only getting more difficult.