Africa-Press – Cape verde. Businesspeople on the island are considering organizing a demonstration on June 28 to demand more predictability and regularity in transportation, highlighting the losses caused by successive flight cancellations and uncertainty in maritime transportation.
The instability in the sector worries economic operators, who report significant losses in business and a climate of general demotivation among investors and local workers.
One of the cases is that of businessman Cláudio Buetto, owner of a hotel with capacity for 90 guests, which has been closed for nine months.
“Visitors no longer trust transportation to the island. Many are afraid of getting stuck here and even miss international flights. Some people buy two return tickets, one by plane and one by boat, out of sheer insecurity,” he said, noting that his business could employ around 20 people.
Businesswoman Alessandra Vettorazzo, who runs a small tourist establishment, has also faced difficulties. The business only operates part-time and uncertainty about transport has already led to the suspension of several bookings.
“This weekend alone I had five cancellations. This has been happening frequently. If the situation continues like this, the only solution will be to close the business,” he lamented.
According to businesspeople, the impacts are not restricted to the hotel industry. Restaurants, businesses and even the population itself are feeling the effects of the economic shutdown.
The president of the Maio Businessmen and Entrepreneurs Association, Elisângela da Silva, believes that the problem is seriously compromising the island’s development. Therefore, he proposes a public demonstration to put pressure on the authorities.
“We want the people of May to take to the streets in a cry for economic help. Our island is at a standstill. There are operators who have already closed their doors and others are considering doing so. This increases unemployment and puts the livelihood of many families at risk,” he warned.
The official also asked for the population to mobilize, highlighting that “remaining idly by means of being complicit in the situation”.
Maritime transport to the island of Maio has been affected since the breakdown of the ships Kriola and Liberdadi, and air connections have been marked by successive cancellations.
For More News And Analysis About Cape verde Follow Africa-Press
