Cape Verdean envoy calls for ‘urgent action’ to improve air connectivity between islands

The President of Cape Verde said this Monday that the air transport situation in Cape Verde is “chaotic”, causing “immense harm” to the country, and asked the authorities to take “urgent measures”.

“Transport situation [aéreos] in Cape Verde it is chaotic and has caused great harm to the country. I consider it extremely important that the competent authorities give satisfaction, taking into account the seriousness that threatens not only the national economy, but also national security itself,” said José Maria Neves.

The head of state considers it necessary to “clearly” show the “final and sustainable solution” to society, citizens and companies.

“I am extremely concerned about what has happened in recent days and it is time to end this chaos, otherwise we will cause irreparable harm to the country. We cannot continue in this situation where there is no communication between the islands, putting the country’s cohesion at risk, the mobility of people and the productivity of companies,” he lamented.

The President of the Republic emphasized that due to the lack of communication between the islands, “problems arose” with holding football matches of the Cape Verde Cup and other “important achievements” were under threat.

“The government must act and tell the people of Cape Verde what it is going to do, providing guarantees and restoring the hope of the country,” he stressed.

A few minutes earlier, at a press conference, the president of the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV, opposition), Rui Semedo, said that “the government appeared at the moments of the arrival of the so-called partners, from a party, a celebration, but in moments of difficulty and farewells.”

“In these eight years, this is the third company that says goodbye to Cape Verde in alarming situations,” he added, taking Bestfly’s departure from the archipelago as a matter of course.

“We are already beginning to doubt whether the operators or the government have been able to provide adequate answers,” he said.

Angolan airline Bestfly has an inter-island concession but suspended flights in early April after months of deteriorating service due to a shortage of aircraft.

At the end of February, faced with problems and complaints from the population, the state-owned company Transportes Aéreos de Cabo Verde (TACV), which handles international flights, chartered planes and began flying between the islands in an attempt to minimize the problem. which has been preserved.