Africa-Press – Cape verde. The City Council of Praia said this morning that the strike by the Municipal Guards, which began today, is an “ignoble act of blackmail” that “does not rhyme with public service”. The municipality also says that it is in possession of an opinion that indicates that participation in fines is an illegal requirement”.
“The strike by the Municipal Guards, scheduled for the 23rd, 24th and 25th of January, is an ignoble act of blackmail by a corporation whose mission is to ensure the supervision of economic, commercial and urban activities, to maintain order and convenience in the different neighborhoods of the city. city of Praia, insofar as it is demanding promotion and progression frozen for several years, participation in fines, and also uniforms, with a deadline set for next March ”, justifies the Chamber.
The city council recalls that, at the concertation meeting, it proposed to the corporation that the issue of promotions and progressions be resolved with the conversion of Municipal Guards into Municipal Police.
“This is a process that involves the executive branch, as it is necessary to approve a diploma that, in turn, will set a period of at least one year for the creation and installation of the Municipal Police body”, they justify. .
In this regard, the Chamber recalls that the Municipal Guards “heard” the Minister of Internal Administration, Paulo Rocha, on the occasion of the celebrations of the 14th anniversary of its creation, on December 4, 2022, “informing that the Government will proceed with the approval of the referred decree-law, as soon as possible, being certain that in the absence of this instrument, the Municipalities will not be able to proceed with the creation of the Municipal Police”.
Illegal participation in fines?
The problem of promotions and progressions, argues the municipality, “is not just a problem for City Councils” in Cape Verde.
“The Government itself, through the laws of the State budgets, has been freezing promotions and progressions for several consecutive years, mainly because of the financial restrictions of the public treasury”.
Participation in fines is something that, according to the city council, is still on the table, as, as he states, “it is a measure of dubious legality”.
“Even the City Council is in possession of an opinion indicating that it is an illegal requirement”.
Risk subsidy and new vehicle
Despite the “major obstacles” it has been facing since taking office in November 2020, the Chamber recalls that it has already instituted the risk subsidy, “a measure that testifies to the recognition and value it attributes to services provided by the Municipal Guards, in addition to having acquired a zero kilometer vehicle for the corporation in recent months, when it is known that not even the President’s office has a new vehicle at its service”.
The City Council ends by saying that it is making “every effort to fulfill its obligations” and asks the Municipal Guards to “also do the same”.
Blackmail does not rhyme with public service. Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, cannot stop, and the Municipal Guards have an important role in this process.
Remember that the strike started this morning at 7:30 am and will last until 7:30 am on the 26th of January.
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