Cabo Verde's Minister of Transport, João do Carmo Brito, announced that the "Dja Braba" ship will begin operations this year with five weekly trips between Brava and Fogo islands. The announcement was made in response to a query from Ivone Cardoso, a member of the opposition MpD party, who expressed concerns over the delay in the ship's operations and the lack of concrete information on its entry into service.
According to Minister Brito, the current government took over the commitments made by the previous administration to acquire the "Dja Braba" and "Eugénio Tavares" ships, but no contracts had been signed at the time. The minister stated that the "Dja Braba" ship has been fully paid for, but it required technical inspections and repair work at a naval shipyard before it could start operating.
During the inspections, several irregularities and necessary corrections were identified, including the absence of safety equipment, lack of air conditioning, and technical issues with the propellers and ship structure. Minister Brito informed that safety equipment has been acquired and installed, and technical measurements and maintenance work have been carried out on the ship's propellers and hull.
The MpD party's Ivone Cardoso disputed some of the minister's claims, arguing that the "Dja Braba" ship was designed to meet the mobility needs of Brava's population. Cardoso stated that the ship has a capacity for 85 passengers and 25 tons of cargo, making it suitable for reinforcing the connection between the two islands and reducing the isolation of Brava's population.
Deputy Celso Ribeiro of the MpD party also challenged the minister's statements, requesting that he provide the truth about the ship's acquisition process, particularly regarding the alleged lack of a contract when the ship arrived in Cabo Verde. Ribeiro claimed that the first payment of 24 million escudos was made on April 30, and the second payment of nearly 9 million escudos was made on May 11.
The "Dja Braba" ship's entry into service is expected to improve the maritime connection between Brava and Fogo islands, which will benefit the local population. The government's assurance that the ship will begin operations this year with five weekly trips is a positive development for the islanders.
The acquisition and refurbishment of the "Dja Braba" ship have been contentious issues, with opposition parties questioning the government's handling of the process. The minister's announcement aims to alleviate concerns and provide a much-needed maritime link between the two islands.
Key points
- The "Dja Braba" ship will start operating with five weekly trips between Brava and Fogo islands.
- The ship's operations were delayed due to technical inspections and repair work.
- The acquisition process of the ship has been disputed by opposition parties.
