Africa-Press – Cape verde. The President of the Republic (PR) today urged compliance with the Municipal Master Plans (PDM), which must be valid in all municipalities, and emphasized that any deviations be firmly sanctioned.
José Maria Neves made this statement in a message to the President of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Municipalities of Cape Verde (ANMCV), Fábio Vieira, 30 days after Storm Erin passed through the Barlavento Islands, with the greatest impact on São Vicente.
The Head of State recalled that, more than a formal document, the PDM is the compass of territorial development that establishes land use rules, organizes urban and rural spaces, protects sensitive areas, prevents risks, and guides urban expansion.
He lamented that in most cases, this planning instrument has expired, and in others, it has not even been approved.
Regarding land management, the President emphasized that land management cannot be held hostage by short-term interests, otherwise we risk compromising the safety, sustainability, and dignity of future generations.
“Every decision regarding its use must be made responsibly, transparently, and with a forward-looking vision, in strict compliance with the law and the collective interest,” he emphasized.
He also recalled that land managers may be held legally liable in the event of illegalities or irregularities committed in the performance of their duties.
The Supreme Magistrate of the Nation called for collective responsibility.
“The moment we are living in is simultaneously one of pain and learning. The tragedy in São Vicente reminds us of the urgency of placing prevention at the center of public action and investing in resilience measures,”
He added that the current situation requires strengthening the technical and institutional capacities of municipalities, improving cooperation between different levels of government, mobilizing resources for climate change adaptation, and raising awareness among citizens about the importance of protecting the territory.
José Maria Neves took the opportunity to convey his deepest solidarity to the grieving families, the directly affected communities, and especially the people of São Vicente, emphasizing that “the suffering that São Vicente has been experiencing for precisely a month now is also the suffering of all of Cape Verde.”
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