Africa-Press – Cape verde. Luís Carlos Silva gave this guarantee during the press conference to react to the statements made by the Cape Verde African Independence Party (PAICV, opposition), this Wednesday, that the State Budget for next year, presented by the Government is wasteful, intransparent and leaves out the majority of Cape Verdeans.
He criticized PAICV’s stance, which, in his view, is trapped in a cycle of unfounded criticism, without presenting constructive analysis, much less alternative policies, stressing that, instead of contributing positively, the largest opposition party chooses to “perpetuate an outdated rhetoric which has not brought results in the past and does not offer viable solutions in the present ”.
“ I would like to start by noting that PAICV’s approach to the budget continues to be the same. It’s been seven years and 10 budgets, an electoral defeat, and the PAICV continues to follow the same path , ” he stated.
He guaranteed that the document presented by the executive is an instrument that directly addresses the real challenges we face in Cape Verde and is based on a solid strategy, which aims to consolidate economic recovery, accelerate the country’s development and continue to rebuild Cape Verde’s purchasing power. -Verdians after a period of crisis.
Luís Carlos Silva highlighted that this is a budget with clear goals and concrete numbers, which aims for GDP growth of 4.7 percent (%), a fact corroborated by the IMF, whose goal is to reduce the deficit by 3.5%, in 2023, to 2.9%.
He also pointed out that it establishes a commitment to reduce public debt to 110% of GDP, remembering that, in 2021, this debt was 146% and that OE2024 aims to bring inflation to levels closer to normality, decreasing from 5.4%, in 2023, to 2.8%.
“Here, it is important to highlight the specific commitments in relation to the “Income and Price Policy”. For 2024, the plan is to expand the social safety net, increasing the number of social pension beneficiaries and raising the minimum wage in the public sector to 15 thousand escudos and in the private sector to 14 thousand escudos”, he indicated .
Additionally, continued the secretary general, indirect income transfer policies are maintained, such as free education up to the 12th year, which represents an investment of 366 thousand contos, the exemption from moderating fees for levels 1 and 2 of the registry, participation in professional training, higher education and the respective internships, in addition to the social tariff for water and energy.
As for the Social Inclusion Income, as indicated, it will increase from 2,166 beneficiaries to 9,229 beneficiaries, thanks to the contribution of Fundo Mais, a policy measure designed and implemented by this Government.
“We cannot forget the continued commitment to investment in key sectors that have constrained the development process, we are particularly talking about transport. The budget allocates more than four million contos to improve roads and accessibility in our country. But that’s not all”, he asserted, recognizing that the transport sector is fundamental to the development of Cape Verde.
He added that in maritime transport, an investment of two million contos is planned to increase the quality of services provided, while in the international air sector, an investment of one million contos is planned.
The secretary general of the MpD added, on the other hand, that OE2024 has reflected the investment in the sectors of the digital economy with a 143% increase in the budget, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Energy with an increase of 18%, Infrastructure and Spatial Planning with a 31% increase and the Ministry of Tourism and Transport with a 38% increase.
“Contrary to what PAICV says, OE2024 is inclusive, focused on Cape Verde’s real problems and aims to consolidate the recovery and launch a process of protecting and restoring Cape Verdeans’ purchasing power. It is a budget that grows by 10%, meaning that we have 10% more capacity for social intervention, 10% more capacity for public investment, 10% more strength to protect people if necessary and 10% greater capacity to launch a better future for Cape Verdeans”, he declared.
Luís Carlos Silva concluded that the aforementioned budget is based on action, not empty words and that the Government is committed to facing Cape Verde’s real challenges and building a better future for Cape Verdeans.
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