Africa-Press – Cape verde. Despite the crisis, cost containment and several other problems that affect Cape Verde and the world, there are those who try to take a few days to rest, be with their family and catch up on reading. NAÇÃO listened to several public figures – from politicians to artists, including business people – about their vacations and readings. Of course, tastes are very diverse. From novels to essays, through the so-called technical and self-esteem books, there is almost everything.
José Maria Neves – President of the Republic
José Maria Neves says he was counting on a “deserved rest” this summer, but he has already seen that it will be difficult. It’s just that, as he confided to A NAÇÃO, last year he didn’t take a vacation and, after the election campaign, he immediately took office as the new head of state. “I haven’t rested since then,” he says.
Hard times
The idea this year, he says, was to take advantage of fifteen days in August, between “beaches and mountains” and hiking, to be “relaxed” with people. But, due to last-minute commitments (such as representing the country at the funeral of the former head of state of Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos), he was only able to go, for now, to spend a few days on the island of Maio.
“Right now, it’s almost an obligation to take a vacation here. Being on the islands with people and seeing how they are doing, and enjoying and resting at the same time,” he told A NAÇÃO.
“Every day I receive messages from people, here and in the diaspora, showing their difficulties. There has been deep social devastation, with the pandemic and the drought, and people are in an extremely difficult situation. They lost income, many lost jobs and inequality and poverty increased”.
And, as September is almost at the door, JMN’s idea, when he returns from Angola, is to try to enjoy the rest of the days in Santiago, his home island.
disconnect and read
But the idea is to also disconnect “a little”, from social networks, and rest “with family”, “unwind” and enjoy reading.
“Even working, I read a lot, more literature and political philosophy. During the year I always have two or three books on my bedside. Now, during the holidays, I will take the opportunity to read some novels”.
One of the novels he hopes to read is that of the 2021 Nobel Prize for Literature, Abdulrazak Gurnah, “Paradise”, which takes place in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
“I haven’t read any of his novels yet and I’m curious… And I’m also going to take home the 2015 Nobel Prize in Literature, Gunter Grass, ‘The Rat’. This book caught my attention because rats were at the origin of pandemics and because it refers to the last days of humanity”.
Then there are other works of “faster reading”, such as Tales from St. Petersburg, by Russian Nikolai Gógol, among others.
And to face the new reality points another book, in this case a political essay.
“I am reading A Theory of Complex Democracy, by Daniel Innerarity, he uses precisely that expression that times are gassy, extremely complex and difficult and disruptive”, he explains.
“In a small country like Cape Verde, things are even more complex. We have huge problems of resources, many of the institutions are not yet consolidated, our democracy, our Rule of Law are young and there is still not a very strong civic conscience and critical spirit. Civil society is overly dependent on the state, the market is too small. There are strong restrictions on free and autonomous media, on the holding of frank and open debates, the intellectual field is still shy and all this constitutes constraints that condition the political action and the action of any President of the Republic”, he concludes.
Autelino Correia – President of the National Assembly
Austelino Correia, President of the National Assembly, hopes to divide the holidays between rest and work inherent to his duties. Holidays, he says, are “always well deserved for everyone”, regardless of the situation we are experiencing, even though times of crisis are more demanding.
In your case, in principle, you will be visiting the country, but, as you explain, there may be some travel abroad, “but not for vacations”.
Always present
Furthermore, the PAN agenda is, “by constitutional imposition”, conditioned by the agenda of other sovereign bodies.
“See, for example, the provisions of article 131 of our Magna Carta. Furthermore, in August, the deputies, including the members of the Board of the National Assembly, will be on vacation, so the President is almost obliged to be present, even if not at the usual place of work”.
Even so, on vacation or not, “as in every day of my life, I am a people man. It fascinates me to be with people, I value friendships and ‘body-to-body’ contacts, because, after all, our life in the world is essentially made up of relationships with people”.
Among other things, during the holidays, the PAN says that it takes advantage of this moment of political and work truce, “to visit localities and islands, seeking to know better the wonders, potential and local and regional vocations”.
Reflection and reading
Another priority, he reveals, is to take advantage of part of the holidays to reflect on “professional, political, spiritual life”, but also to read.
“Right now, I’m about to complete the second reading of the book ‘Captivate’, by Vanessa Edwards. They will follow Dalio’s ‘Principles for Dealing with the New World Order’ and Owen Matthews’ ‘The Red Traitor’. I will also be revisiting some of Dr. Mario Silva”.
In your case, disconnecting from social networks will not be easy. “I can not. These days, and particularly in a context of crisis, we are almost obliged to be permanently connected in order to be able to follow the development of the situation in the sense of being always well informed and being able to adjust our actions to the demands of the new times”, he confesses.
new parliamentary year
In September, as the parliamentary year resumes, “a lot of work is expected, obviously”. “In addition to the usual agenda of the President and Parliament, we will start the new parliamentary year, having the debate on the situation of justice at the end of October, which requires a lot of involvement from Parliament and an exquisite prior work”.
The debate and approval of the State Budget for 2023, “a matter that requires thorough preparation of the deputies and a lot of attention from the President of the National Assembly”, will be other challenges.
The Parliamentary House is still preparing the 30th anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic. According to the PAN, a set of activities alluding to the ephemeris is already planned.
“We will be insisting, in the positive sense of the term, on pending issues, particularly those that have to do with the so-called ‘organs external to Parliament and the reform of Parliament’, he adds.
Opening for understandings
On the agenda is still the issue of constitutional revision and the Electoral Code, the latter being, as he explains, conditioned by time limitations.
“I believe that after the holidays, all parliamentary subjects will start the new parliamentary year in a very good mood and, consequently, with political will and open-mindedness to understand each other on these and other matters of relevant importance for the life of our country. I trust all parliamentary subjects and I believe that the new parliamentary year will be auspicious”, he concludes.
Olavo Correia – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Holidays, for now, are not on the agenda of the deputy prime minister and finance minister, Olavo Correia. Rest, he says, should only come towards the end of the year. Now, it’s time for a lot of work.
“Fortunately or unfortunately, August, September and October are extremely demanding months for finance ministers around the world, and particularly for finance ministers from Small Island Developing States”, he began by clarifying to A NAÇÃO.
In Cape Verde, he explains, the Strategic Plan for Sustainable Development II is being finalized and it is necessary to deliver the proposal for the State Budget (OE) on 1 October to Parliament. In addition, “it is imperative to close the financial coverage for the emergency plan in the amount of eight billion escudos”.
These are the “three urgencies and priorities” that prevent Olavo Correia from taking a vacation and that, as he puts it, “now demand our focus and consume all available time”.
The holidays, therefore, have to “wait for the best moment”, more towards “the end of the year”.
Azores and Cape Verde
When the time comes for a vacation, Correia confesses that he wants to return to the Azores and take the opportunity to get to know Cape Verde better.
“We have beautiful and unique islands. And lovely people. I really like Cape Verde”, he emphasizes, adding that, in terms of leisure, between sun and sea and mountains, he likes a little bit of everything, that is, “everything that smells like Cape Verde, I like”.
Olavo Correia is a well-known fan of hiking and biking, which he tries to combine with work. The number two in the Government also confesses that he likes to do “different things”, on vacation and “to know other worlds, touch new charms, embrace new friendships and also take care of the family base”.
Reading is also part of the plans and day-to-day.
“I will read and study well the book ‘How to Live Calmly and Fully in a Fast-paced World. What we only see when we slow down’, a beautiful book by Haemin Sunim. I’m also reading everything that comes my way about ‘Digital Nations’ because I think Cape Verde will have a better future as a digital nation. And, to take care of the soul, I want to finish reading ‘Fratelli tutti’, an encyclical by Pope Francis”.
Resilience
As for disconnecting from social networks, Olavo Correia admits to being complicated. “It is difficult to disconnect what is connected. But I must reduce the intensity when it is time for the holidays.”
For those who went on vacation and returned in September, the official advises everyone to have a good dose of realism.
“Not counting on a calmer world, let alone waiting for the problems to end. We are the ones who have to be stronger in order to overcome the challenges, whatever they may be. All come back stronger and more resilient!”, he appeals.
Filomena Delgado – General Secretary of the Movement for Democracy (MpD)
For some years now, the word vacation, at least in the universal concept we know, has not been part of the routines of Filomena Delgado, secretary general of the Movement for Democracy (MpD), spokesperson for this political force on issues that arise outside the Parliament or the Government.
It is because, for political reasons, but also for family reasons, Filomena Delgado has not been able to take a vacation. “My mother is 99 years old and that limits me a little when traveling on vacation. At the moment, any trip you make has to be for a very short time”.
That’s why, he says, “this year it will be the same”, so he doesn’t have scheduled holidays outside Praia.
readings
When in the past she had more time available and took vacations, Filomena Delgado recalls that she liked activities linked to “sun and beach”, such as “trips to Tarrafal de Santiago”, revisiting reading and privileging walks with friends. Former high school teacher, later Minister of Education, reading was something that was part of her daily life more constantly.
At the moment, he is reading “10 reasons to have hope for the future”, a book that he was offered, and that he had at home for some time, and that he has now started to read, and that he saw that he “is interested”. As he says, it is a work with several chapters and talks about various aspects, such as sanitation, life expectancy and poverty.
“It is a book that enriches us a lot and helps us to see some themes. If I were teaching at the moment, which I am no longer, it is a book from which I could get information for classes on different topics”, he reveals.
On the waiting list for reading are other works such as “A Democracia Nacional Revolucionario”, by José Tomaz Veiga, and “Cape Verde, A body that refuses to die”, by José Vicente Lopes, so that, “as time appears”, if he can dedicate “a little more to reading”, something he likes a lot and has been practicing “since high school”.
updated
Even during the holidays, she argues that people should be up to date and that the “news” is something that she personally does not dispense with, as is reading the newspapers.
“I read newspapers online, but I still like the newspaper in paper format to read, because, as we have time, we read and, sometimes, I also tend to watch television and have a the newspaper at hand, to read”.
As the work doesn’t stop, Filomena Delgado says that, at the moment, there is already a commission working on the opening of the political year, and that there is still work regarding the municipal commissions of the MpD, which have already started to take office, and others still to do elections, as in the case of France, where elections are scheduled for September. This, in addition to the fact that 2023 is approaching an intense year of political party disputes due to the upcoming municipal elections.
Aristides Lima – Judge of the Constitutional Court
Aristides Lima, former president of the National Assembly and current Judge of the Constitutional Court, admits that the situation is not for holidays and that the country’s socio-economic situation “is very serious and demanding for everyone”, but recalls that holidays are important and a right.
“For energy recovery, personality development, doing what you love, and also being with family and friends. In addition, they constitute a right of working people”, she defends.
In his specific case and with the judicial vacation, he says that “most likely” he will stay in the country.
“Mountain landscapes have their value. Just think of the beautiful landscapes of São Nicolau, Fogo, Santo Antão or Santiago and Brava. But personally, my passion is the sea: swimming and paddling above all,” he says.
As he recalls, he was born in a country “blessed by the sea”, and in Boa Vista, which has the “most beautiful beaches in the world”, which is joined by a “enchanting and unparalleled” bay. “Unfortunately”, he adds, the Bay of Sal-Rei “is still not being explored as it should be in terms of water sports, namely sailing and rowing”.
Regain energy and read
Vacations serve, as he defends, to recover “energy”, but also to do what you cannot do “in the whirlwind” of working days.
“They are a time for reading and reflection, but also for writing something that was left hanging over the year, or even for moving the body a little more with exercises”.
As for readings, he admits that there is “always something” to read.
“I am going to finish a book that was offered to me by a French philosopher, Alain Finkielkraut. It is entitled ‘Ich schweige nicht’ (I do not shut up) and corresponds to the original French ‘À la première personne’ (In the first person). I still have to read, among others, the recent novel by Cape Verdean writer Maria Helena Sato, based in Brazil, ‘The African Doctor’”.
As for disconnecting from social networks, Aristides Lima is of the opinion that “it is always necessary to manage information”, above all, “escape from the narcissism and egocentrism of ostentation that rages on social networks”. In September, he has no doubt that he expects “a lot of work, for sure”, at the Constitutional Court and “many challenges”.
Zaida Freitas – President of CNDHC
As much as the situation is “not at all favourable”, Zaida Freitas, president of the National Commission for Human Rights and Citizenship of Cape Verde (CNDHC), argues that vacations are always important. “So that we can replenish our energies and renew our strength to face the challenges”.
In addition, he recalls, “the right to rest and leisure is a human right, provided for in article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights” and which, as such, must be “respected”.
Asked if it was a very difficult year in terms of human rights, she says yes. “World crises have had a negative impact on our country. Social inequalities have increased, we currently have many families living in a precarious situation, cases of GBV and sexual violence against children are worrying, especially urban insecurity, has been a major concern”, he lists.
Sao Vicente and Santo Antao
In your case, you will spend a few days on vacation on your home island, São Vicente, together with your family, between the sea and the mountains. “Going to Laginha will always be my priority, but I will go to Santo Antão to talk to the mountains”. But he also hopes to “take up riding again, a sport that I really enjoy, but that I can only do in São Vicente”.
Books are, “without a doubt”, part of your holiday luggage. “I will carry in my suitcase the book ‘Sapiens, a brief history of humanity’, which I have not yet been able to finish reading”. As for social networks, he understands the need to “disconnect QB”, but defends that “we cannot be disconnected” from the world. “And social networks, if used well, can be very useful.”
activity plan
Returning in September, the certainty of a lot of work ahead. “A plan of activities awaits me, with important actions to be implemented. September is the month in which the National Human Rights Day is celebrated, we will have the visit of the UN High Commissioner, to prepare the new cycle of evaluation of the country, within the scope of the universal periodic review”.
Furthermore, the CNDHC expects to conclude, in September, the project for the integration of human rights in the strategic plan for sustainable development and in the sectoral plans. “We will have the plenary session of the commissioners and in partnership with the association Ponte we will carry out actions to promote mental health and human rights, with a focus on suicide prevention”, he concludes.
José Carlos Delgado – Ombudsman
José Carlos Delgado, Ombudsman, has been working in the middle of August. As he explained to A NAÇÃO, for personal reasons, he had to go to Lisbon in June, where he took the opportunity to spend a few days on vacation, with his wife and two granddaughters.
“It was less than three weeks and, at that time, I took the opportunity to take care of my personal matters and spend a little time with my family. In my free time, when I’m in Portugal, I take the opportunity to do what I really like, and what I lack in Cape Verde, which is reading newspapers”.
As he explains, he is “addicted” to communication, radio and information. “There is this little bug that persecutes all those who like communication and information, in general. So I took the opportunity to read many newspapers, every day, with special emphasis on the Expresso, which is sacred, and the daily newspapers of Portugal”.
Reread Chiquinho
At that time, he recalls, he took the opportunity to reread a book that was “expensive” to him and that had a lot to do with his home island, São Nicolau. We are talking about “Chiquinho” and a special edition. “A very old copy, which belonged to my father”, he recalls.
“I reread Chiquinho because, deep down, it translates the Cape Verdean drama, in general. I think we are going through difficult times and I wanted to reread it again; reread Baltasar Lopes, who was my teacher, therefore, who I knew personally, and who lived on the same street as him”, he explains, about his choice. “It reminds me of practically all the adventures that Chiquinho describes, and all the places in São Nicolau, that I know”, he reveals with nostalgia.
August to schedule activities
Contrary to what is usually said, that August is a “complicated” month to work, the Ombudsman is working normally. “Because we call the locals and say: ‘he’s on vacation, he’s away, he’s not…’, so as I used the vacation in June, in August I’m working hard to schedule the activities scheduled until the end of the year” .
“I’m going to visit the northern islands, which still need to be visited, starting with Sal, São Nicolau, then São Vicente and Santo Antão”, he reveals.
As he explains, they are visits for meetings with local authorities, decentralized services of the State, and, for example, in Sal and São Vicente he will visit the jails. “They will try to give some lectures, as I have been doing in other islands”.
The program included, among others, visits to some municipalities in Santiago, which are yet to be visited within the scope of its program, such as Santa Catarina, São Salvador do Mundo and São Lourenço dos Órgãos.
Visits to socio-educational centers for children in conflict with the law, promotion of labor rights and visits to hospitals in Santiago are also part of its plan.
Paulino Dias – Entrepreneur
Naturally, business vacations end up being conditioned by work. This is the case of Paulino Dias, who manages PD Consult, a study and consultancy firm.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to go on vacation yet. This year we are experiencing a sharp growth in demand for our company’s services, work has increased, I still haven’t been able to take a few days off”, she confesses.
But as soon as he can, he says, he plans to spend a few days in Santo Antão and, perhaps, “re-visit” the island of Fogo with his family. For vacations, she confesses, she prefers the mountains, if he weren’t a son of Santo Antão.
“As I go to the beach a lot on a daily basis, on vacation I go to the mountains. To, in a way, find myself and my roots. Mountains give me immense peace, tranquility, a sense of balance. Precisely what I look for during the holidays.”
On vacation, he prefers walking, reading and interacting with other people, along with the “dolce far niente” (letting go, doing nothing).
“When I go to Santo Antão, I like not to make plans: to go on walks, aimlessly, without a clock, without drawn lines. I adore. Holidays are, for me, mainly to be with family and friends, rest, recover energy, seek inspiration”.
Queued readings
As for readings, due to the workload, he hasn’t had much time to read lately.
“I have in line (for some time now) the book ‘The Origin of Wealth: Evolution, Complexity, and the Radical Remaking of Economics’, by Eric Beinhocker. But first, I am finishing reading ‘Restorative Justice – A Contribution to the Reform of the Penal System’, by jurist Emanuel Sousa”.
It’s been hard to disconnect since becoming an entrepreneur.
“I confess that for years, since I started my own company, I don’t know what it’s like to go on vacation completely, completely disconnected from work. We have a fantastic team that helps me to reduce my workload during the holidays, but there is always something to get done, an issue to be resolved”.
If you manage to take a few days, as a prospect, when you return in September, “probably more work” awaits you.
Cremilda Medina – Singer (currently residing in Portugal)
Unlike politicians and other leaders in which August is the month of traditional holidays, for artists it is being marked by the full resumption of shows and festivals, inside and outside the country, after almost two years stopped due to the restrictions of the covid -19.
“For the moment, luckily, things have been going well, with concerts in Cape Verde and Portugal and participation in shows in France and Holland”, reveals to A NAÇÃO, Cremilda Medina, who now lives in Portugal. Even so, “whenever” she can, our interviewee says she likes to take time off for herself and her family.
“As is the case with the last concert in Cape Verde, at the Baía das Gatas Festival, where I took the opportunity to spend a few more days with my family”, he explains.
regularly disconnects
Cremilda says that she privileges “rest” on vacation, when she can, and confesses that she prefers the sun and the sea. Eleven Minutes” by writer Paulo Coelho.
Unlike the others, he states that he manages to disconnect from social networks and that he does so “on a regular basis”, regardless of whether he is on vacation or not.
For September, he continues with a schedule of shows, especially another session of Fado and Morna, on the 18th, at the Amália Rodrigues Foundation Garden, in Lisbon, while he waits for some confirmations of other concerts.
“I will also follow up on my next album, which everything indicates will be released later this year”, he concludes.
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