Public demands innovations for coastal connections in Cape Verde
Title: Islanders' Outcry: Unsatisfactory Inter-Island Transportation in Cabo Verde
Feeling fed up, Eugenia Duarte, a resident of Brava, vocalized her discontent during a recent protest, "Bloody hell, the lack of inter-island transportation is a bloomin' travesty! It's been ongoing, and no one seems to be doing anything about it."
This Monday, residents of Brava gathered, demanding better transportation between the islands. Their signs read, "We pay taxes, we want our boats!"
Eugenia passionately expressed, "With everything moving forward, Brava remains stuck. Three trips a week would be plenty. How can we claim to be an independent nation if we're living like this? We've had enough. We'll hit the streets every day if we have to."
The insufficient connections have impeded mobility and access to vital goods and services. Autilio Silva lamented, "Things have progressed, except for Brava." Likewise, João Pereira emphasized the need for the government to ensure Brava is treated as part of the country, saying, "Sick people need to see doctors on other islands, and people with commitments elsewhere need reliable transportation. It's our guaranteed right."
Maio's mayor, Rely Brito, criticized the government for lacking a substantial transportation policy, stating, "This unstable transport situation cripples our economic and social development. We, the people of Maio, can't accept this any longer. The government and other power structures need to take action."
Recent weeks have experienced instability in connections with Santiago, marked by frequent cancellations and delays. Brito asserted, "Millions of us depend on transportation for medical care, family reunions, merchandise, business, and even the tourism that fuels our economy. When boats are absent, the shelves empty, prices soar, and customers disappear."
Brito proposed solutions such as a reliable timetable, transparent information, support for merchants and tourism professionals, and a local committee to monitor transportation. A protest is planned for November 28, led by the businessmen of Maio.
Primarius Ulisses Correia e Silva, the Prime Minister, acknowledged the hardships in inter-island connections during a presentation of a project for the new maritime terminal of the Port of Praia. He admitted, "We've yet to solve the disruptions. When there's chaos, islands like Brava and Maio suffer. We can't continue like this."
The government is committed to overcoming the technical and operational obstacles that stagnate inter-island transportation. Recently, two ships of CV Interilhas, the public maritime transport service concessionaire, have experienced accidents, reducing their number. The government is currently addressing these setbacks to ensure a stable inter-island service.
Insight: While challenges persist in Cabo Verde's maritime and air transport sectors, there are ongoing efforts to improve inter-island connectivity, with emphasis on modernizing the airline service and enhancing the frequency of flights [1][3][4][5]. However, immediate implementation of these improvements is crucial for addressing the present challenges [2].
The government is urged to expedite the enhancement of the public maritime transport service, CV Interilhas, as accidents have reduced the number of ships, exacerbating the issue of inter-island transportation. Moreover, the government and finance industry should collaborate to support the transport sector, ensuring reliable connections between islands, which is crucial for the movement of goods, services, and people, including tourists and patients in need of medical care.
