Africa-Press – Cape verde. The MpD (Democratic Movement for Democracy) stated today that the ruling ordering the Praia City Council to pay 480,000 contos to the Tennis Club is a judicial decision that reveals years of “mismanagement” by the current leadership.
These statements were made by Esmael Teixeira, elected municipal council member and spokesperson for the MpD (Movement for Democracy) caucus in the Praia Municipal Assembly, at a press conference held in Praia.
For the party, this ruling has “direct and serious” consequences for municipal coffers, with repercussions for taxpayers.
“The loss is not just financial. Praia has lost an important sports facility, the Tennis Club, which over the years has promoted sports, youth, and healthy coexistence between generations. It is part of the city’s living memory. Destroying or derailing this space is an attack on sports, quality of life, and even the culture and history of our capital,” he declared.
Esmael Teixeira considered this ruling a reflection of years of “unilateral decisions, lack of dialogue, and political arrogance” by the current municipal administration, which “had every opportunity to avoid this outcome.”
According to the party, hundreds of citizens raised their concerns and sought dialogue, and the Tennis Club itself showed openness to negotiation, partially ceding its rights.
He noted that the resolution authorizing the sale of the land was submitted to the City Council in 2021, after the 2020 municipal elections, and that it was the current administration that promoted its publication in the Official Gazette, and the city received 232,000 contos.
“There are those who thrive on conflict and see it as a form of political affirmation. There are those who view the law as an obstacle. Unfortunately, this arrogant attitude has prevailed,” he accused.
The municipal elected official also denounced alleged “opaque and shady” management practices, citing “transfers of thousands of contos to friendly associations, funds channeled to offshore accounts without public justification, land sold without City Council authorization, vehicles sold in questionable ways, illegal salaries, hiring without public tender, and budgets approved outside the rules.”
“There is no transparency in this council. This is probably the most opaque administration in the city’s history,” he said, arguing that Praia residents deserve clear answers and that, in addition to a court ruling, there must be political accountability.
“Those who mismanaged and placed personal and partisan interests above the public interest must answer before the courts and the citizens,” he added.
Esmael Teixeira reiterated that the mayor of Praia was the one who “signed the public deed and the municipal resolution” that authorized the sale of the Tennis Club land, approved by the City Council without dissenting votes or abstentions and published in the Official Gazette on April 27, 2021.
“He’s trying to convince Praia residents that he didn’t sign it, but he did,” he assured.
The spokesperson admitted that the case could still go to the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, or even the Constitutional Court, but considered that citizens “are already fully informed about this case.”
He also warned that this may not be the only case with “serious financial consequences” for the municipality.
“Praia residents can no longer be surprised by bombs of this magnitude. It is urgent to return to Praia City a serious, transparent administration committed to the common good,” the representative emphasized.
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