Africa-Press – Cape verde. The MpD Parliamentary Group today called for a responsible and realistic debate in the next State of the Nation, scheduled for this Thursday, July 31st. According to the leader of the group, Celso Ribeiro, “it’s time to stop dragging Cape Verde down” and recognize the progress the country has made in recent years, despite the challenges it faces.
Speaking to the press at the end of the parliamentary session preceding the last debate of the legislative year, the leader of the group, Celso Ribeiro, criticized the opposition’s rhetoric and called for more honest recognition of the country’s progress.
“Therefore, I think we need to stop this ‘tear it down’ rhetoric, that nothing is happening, because, frankly, as Frei Tomás said, it’s often better to look at what he says and not what he does. Because those who have done very little are now trying to undermine the gains,” he stated.
He argued that Cape Verde is a better country today than it was in 2015. And, since the opposition has the right to monitor progress, it cannot ignore or attempt to erase the progress made. “Enough of dragging Cape Verde down,” he urged.
Celso Ribeiro stated that Cape Verde is currently experiencing its best moment ever, with the World Bank’s recent reclassification of the country as an upper-middle-income nation, a milestone that should be celebrated by all Cape Verdeans, regardless of their political affiliation.
Acknowledging the difficulties imposed by the pandemic, the parliamentary leader stated that the country has resisted, grown, and continues to build a solid foundation for the future.
On the social front, he highlighted the strengthening of protection policies, which currently cover thousands of families with the Social Inclusion Income, measures to guarantee universal school meals, as well as the increase in the number of beneficiaries of the Single Social Registry.
Regarding youth, he highlighted the internship, vocational training, and youth entrepreneurship programs, which he considered “crucial for meeting the needs of the new generation and combating youth unemployment.”
Regarding housing, he mentioned the resumption of the “Casa para Todos” program and the implementation of the Rehabilitation, Requalification, and Accessibility Program (PRRA), which has already improved the lives of many families in urban and rural areas. Last week alone, approximately 300 homes were inaugurated in São Vicente. Previously, 400 were built under the PRA project.
In agriculture, he highlighted the investments made in water mobilization, irrigation systems, financing for the agricultural campaign, and direct support to farmers, including increasing the number of machinery and technical assistance.
“There are also gains in security, with more resources, more agents, and more targeted actions. And in public services, where we are improving the quality of service, digitalization, and administrative efficiency,” he emphasized.
The MpD leader in Parliament also lamented the attempt to downplay the positive governance data: “It takes political maturity to recognize that, even in a difficult global context, Cape Verde has not stood still. There is investment, there is stability, there is trust in the institutions.”
Celso Ribeiro highlighted that the country is growing at 7% per year, and that the minimum wage was increased by approximately 45%, from 11,000 to 19,000 escudos, with 17,000 in the private sector and 19,000 in the public sector.
The MpD caucus emphasizes that the State of the Nation debate is a time to responsibly evaluate the country’s progress, not to fuel rhetoric that, as they stated, “only serves to sow frustration.”
For More News And Analysis About Cape verde Follow Africa-Press
