The president of Cabo Verde's opposition party MpD, Paulo Veiga, has expressed concerns over the first 100 days of the PAICV government led by Francisco Carvalho. Veiga accused the government of lacking planning and failing to address pressing issues affecting Cabo Verdean families. He made these statements during a press conference, highlighting several key areas of concern.
One of the main issues Veiga focused on was the energy crisis on the island of Fogo, where several localities experienced power outages lasting over 24 hours for almost two weeks. He attributed the crisis to a lack of planning for the maintenance of the central power plant, which was announced on September 18. According to Veiga, no alternative plan was provided, and the population was not informed for ten days.
Veiga also criticized the government's handling of fuel price increases, citing data from the regulatory entity. Since June, gasoline has increased by 21%, diesel by 39%, diesel for fishing by 61%, and fuel for electricity production by 78%. He argued that the government's decision not to extend the fuel price containment mechanism implemented by the previous government was contradictory.
The MpD president also expressed concerns about the situation in agriculture and fisheries. He described the agricultural campaign as particularly difficult due to lack of rain and the late arrival of precipitation, exacerbated by the effects of Tropical Storm Gonzalo. In Brava, farmers are already considering the year lost. Regarding fisheries, Veiga pointed to the lack of a known decision on the fuel subsidy announced by the minister responsible for the sector on September 14.
Veiga also criticized the absence of the head of government at the first social concertation meeting and the budget arbitration meeting with parties on September 29. He argued that Francisco Carvalho, as the minister responsible for finance, should be present in these moments of dialogue. Additionally, Veiga pointed to the cuts planned in the State Budget guidelines for 2027, which reduce the energy sustainability program by 56% and agricultural funding by 29%.
The MpD president presented four proposals to the government, including the obligation to have contingency plans before any maintenance in power plants, extending the fuel price containment mechanism to other fuels, direct compensation to farmers who lost crops, and the creation of a fuel check for taxi drivers and public transport professionals. He proposed a monthly support of 8,000 escudos per vehicle for taxi drivers and public transport professionals until September 30.
In conclusion, Veiga's criticism of the PAICV government's first 100 days in office highlights the challenges facing the administration. The government's response to these criticisms and the implementation of Veiga's proposals will be crucial in addressing the pressing issues affecting Cabo Verdean families. The situation will likely continue to unfold in the coming weeks and months.
Key points
- The MpD party has criticized the PAICV government's first 100 days in office, citing a lack of planning and failure to address pressing issues.
- The government faces challenges in addressing energy crises, fuel price increases, and difficulties in agriculture and fisheries.
- The MpD president presented four proposals to the government to address these challenges.
