PR visits USA: Meetings with authorities and Cape Verdean community at the center of José Maria Neves’ attention

The Head of State of Cape Verde travels to the United States of America, where he will hold, between March 31 and April 5, "his first Presidency in the Diaspora". José Maria Neves will carry out an intense agenda in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, which will include meetings with local authorities, businessmen and associative movements, in addition to awarding important figures from our country's diaspora and participating in academic and political debates.

According to the Head of State, the choice of the oldest and most numerous Cape Verdean community abroad, to start fulfilling this important commitment of the presidential mandate, reflects a fair tribute to all our emigration that, since the beginning of the 18th century and consenting to enormous sacrifices and unwavering efforts, it laid the true foundations for the extraordinary and exemplary relationship that links the American and Cape Verdean nations.

“ With the contribution, of course, of the whaling ships that, as part of the whaling route, docked on the islands for supplies, but also for recruiting sailors, the truth is that from very early on the 'camin di mar' to the other side of the Atlantic opened up to Cape Verdeans. Thus, the first signs of arrival and establishment of people from our islands in vast New England are very old. From the war for Independence and for freedom and the affirmation of the United States of America as the Union that it is today, passing through the involvement in the struggles for the affirmation of political, civil and, in particular, trade union rights, in that country, until arriving at the undeniable contributions to the enrichment of the great American Nation in different domains, from the spiritual and cultural to sports, to economics, among others, the integration and participation of the different generations of Cape Verdeans in American society are notorious, which is a striking example of how much this society is, in fact, a meeting of Nations and Cultures ”, reads the note sent to Asemanaonline.

For the same source, over the years, the milestones of integration of Cape Verdeans in American society go beyond the borders of that great country and reach the islands in the most diverse ways, constituting relevant contributions to the progress of the Cape Verdean Nation. verdiana. He emphasizes that the challenge of today is precisely that of building new ways that allow these contributions to be translated into remittances of ideas, knowledge, technologies, stimulating gains in quality and ambition in the islands.

“Precisely in that city, with a captive place in the imagination and tenderness of Cape Verdeans that is New Bedford, the President of the Republic will have a large meeting with members of our community spread across the United States, an occasion for interaction and recognition of this entire journey. of Cape Verdean emigration in the United States. In particular, and at this high point of his visit, the President of the Republic will honor personalities, institutions and organizations representing the vast community and its various intervention fronts, namely sport, education, health, social solidarity. This great meeting will take place at the prestigious and emblematic Museu da Baleia, an institution that will also be distinguished for its pioneering and fruitful work in recording, studying and disseminating this important period in the history of mankind, which is whaling and its role in shaping movements migration, especially that of Cape Verdeans who, moreover, would become the first in Africa to emigrate to the United States as free men and women ”, adds the document we have been quoting.

Meetings with authorities, associative movements and participation in debates

In addition to contacts with the highest authorities, namely Governors and Mayors, José Maria Neves will have important meetings with young leaders and associative movements in the Massachusetts region, secondary school students and businessmen of Cape Verdean descent.

“The President of the Republic will, on the other hand, carry out an important journey with university and high school teachers, Deans, managers in the area of Education, in addition to entrepreneurs of Cape Verdean origin or descent, at Bridgewater State University (BSU) ”, reads up on the note.

According to the same source, at another cutting-edge higher education institution, MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology, President José Maria Neves will be the special guest of a debate, within the scope of the MIT program for Africa and the True Africa University (TAU) , on the topic of e-Governance.

Before returning to Cape Verde, the Head of State will be, according to the Head of State, a guest speaker, on April 4, at the University of Massachusetts (UMass-Boston), in the ceremonies that mark the 25th Anniversary of the Academic Studies Program , valuing and publicizing the exemplary careers and contributions of Martin Luther King and Amílcar Cabral.