Cape Verde: New PR prioritizes country reconstruction and promises to elevate the nation's soul

BEACH - 

José Maria Neves was sworn in on Tuesday, 9th, President of Cape Verde and in his speech, delivered alternately in Portuguese and Cape Verdean, he pointed out the country's reconstruction as the main national priority, defending a more effective relationship with the diaspora , highlighted the need for a foreign policy rooted in Africa and promised to fight inequalities and promote a new pact between the islands.

After being sworn in by the president of the National Assembly, Austelino Correia, before five heads of state, a dozen foreign delegations, including from the United States, and hundreds of personalities and guests, Neves highlighted that the reconstruction of the country in the post-pandemic “is about an enormous task that requires the convening of the entire Cape Verdean global nation”.

"This is the time to close ranks and all, together, do our best for the progress of our land and the well-being of all, starting with those who have been directly and disproportionately hardest hit by virtue of the circle of fragility" , he said.

In his speech, José Maria Neves reiterated phrases from his campaign and which he reinforced in several interviews after his victory, on 17 October, by guaranteeing that he will be a different President, who will privilege stability and be an ombudsman for all.

“I am a President who unites, who cares and protects, a President who is positive and committed to lifting the soul and spirit of the nation. I will be attentive to the demands and aspirations of Cape Verdeans”, stressed José Maria Neves, who also promised to act in accordance with the instruments and mechanisms that were within his reach, namely through the promotion of 'President Ilha' and 'President Diaspora', as space for dialogue and the search for solutions to the country's pressing problems at all times”.

present diaspora

Referring to the diaspora, and after highlighting the presence of the United States Secretary of Labor and former mayor of Boston, which hosts a large immigrant community, Neves highlighted the need to take advantage of talents, citing his presence at the minister's ceremony. from France's Gender Equality, the Franco-Cape Verdean, Elisabeth Moreno.

“We have to close the cycle of financial remittances and limited investments that, more than that, bet on capital and valuable assets in our days. I am talking about remittances of ideas, spiritual remittances, remittances of skills and abilities among the many and highly qualified that exist in our emigrant communities", said José Maria Neves, who emphasized a "more effective and enriching" relationship with immigrants in several sectors such as healthcare and digital.

Officialization of Creole and promotion of families

By delivering the speech in Portuguese and Cape Verdean, the new President gave impetus to the need to make the mother tongue, popularly known as Creole, official.

And he guaranteed that "as President of the Republic I will be in the front line of the fight for the officialization of our Creole, based on all the variants, as they are the marks of its wealth and strength as a language of this people spread across several islands."

Among other concerns, José Maria Neves emphasized the priority of foreign policy based in Africa, proposed a new pact between the islands and promised special attention to creating conditions for the stability and well-being of families in Cape Verde.

"More opportunities must be created for women, especially for those heads of households, a reality that was previously distorted, but which must be respected and valued as an aspect of our history, family sociology, economic and relationship in our country”, highlighted the new President, who assumed to be at the forefront in the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and “in favor of the promotion of responsible motherhood and fatherhood”.

The inauguration of José Maria Neves was attended by the Presidents of Angola, João Lourenço, of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo, who is also acting president of ECOWAS, Senegal, Macky Sall, and of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, as well as the vice president of Brazil, Hamilton Mourão, the president of the National Assembly of São Tomé and Príncipe, Delfim das Neves, the French minister for Gender Equality, Elisabeth Moreno, the secretary of Labor of the United States, Martin Walsh, and other representatives.

José Maria Neves succeeds Jorge Carlos Fonseca and is the fifth President of Cape Verde.