Africa-Press – Cape verde. The delegate of the Cape Verde Women’s Organization (OMCV), in São Vicente, considered that the island’s development is not keeping up with its growth in social terms, especially in the peripheral areas of the city.
Fátima Balbina Lima took the portrait in an interview with Inforpress regarding the celebration of another Municipality Day, marked on Monday, 22nd.
“We have unbridled growth, with many people from other islands moving to São Vicente in search of better conditions for survival or habitability (…). But, I believe that development is not keeping up with the island’s growth”, advocated the person in charge, speaking of her experience on the ground, in which she has seen “an increasingly fragile, more vulnerable layer living in precarious housing”.
Furthermore, the same source continues, there is a degradation of peripheral areas, with disorganized houses built clandestinely, on the initiative of the population itself.
Therefore, Fátima Balbina believes that growth is concentrated more in the center, with peripheral areas experiencing “a lot of unemployment, lack of housing or overcrowded housing and marginalized children”.
“We feel that there is a need for a new turn for development to accompany the growth of São Vicente”, he expressed, with the idea that the responsibility lies with everyone, but especially with public decision-makers, such as the city council, who must involve businesspeople and other personalities who “can help build a São Vicente that meets the desires of its population”.
Not only criticizing, but presenting suggestions for a solution, Fátima Balbina Lima asked, for example, that the different studies presented in forums already carried out be used.
In this sense, one of the priorities was to work on urbanization plans for neighborhoods created spontaneously and to allocate plots of land to families to guarantee stability.
On the other hand, he suggested, it is necessary to apply measures to encourage the development of industry and commerce and consequently increase employment, taking advantage of the industrial zone.
This is because, according to the same source, solving the problems “is not part of the current policy of creating small entrepreneurs”.
“São Vicente is more beautiful, in the center you can see that it is more beautiful and more infrastructure has been created, but that’s all,” he reiterated.
Regarding the issue of excluded children without guaranteed fundamental rights, Fátima Balbina requested the creation of reception centers to assist with studies and multi-use centers for children to have access to new technologies, especially in peripheral areas.
“We feel that a lot still needs to be done for Santo São Vicente to be satisfied with its island”, he highlighted, calling for equitable development so that the municipality is ready to welcome children and visitors.
São Vicente Municipality Day is celebrated on Monday, 22nd, with activities such as the raising of the flag, at 08:00, in front of the Town Hall and a formal session, in the afternoon, in the Main Hall of the municipal council.
The program also included, on Saturday, the 20th, a conference promoted by the city council, in allusion to National Heroes Day, which had as speaker the former combatant and leader of the country, Silvino da Luz. Also on the agenda was a cultural aspect with a show by Mirri Lobo, in Praça Dom Luís.
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