Francisco Carvalho promises “work, work, work” and says that “no Cape Verdean should be left behind”

Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho stated this Friday, the 19th, that the government of the 11th Legislature, composed of 18 members, is taking office with the mission of addressing the most urgent problems facing Cape Verdean familiesand to build a country that is “more prosperous, more just, and more inclusive.”

In his speech delivered after the new executive’s swearing-in ceremony at the Presidential Garden, Francisco Carvalho stated that the government’s agenda is based on a “simple conviction” that “no Cape Verdean should be left behind” and reiterated the “commitment to building a Cape Verde for everyone.”

“Today marks the beginning of a working team that takes on the honorable mission of governing Cape Verde with humility, a sense of responsibility, and total dedication to the Cape,” he declared, emphasizing that this moment “represents the renewal of a collective hope that it is possible to address the most urgent needs of Cape Verdean families” and, above all, of young people.

“We must address the basics today, here and now, because only then will we be able to stem the exodus of young people who, day after day, continue to seek in distant lands the opportunities we wish they could find in their own country,” he said.

The current prime minister also praised Thursday’s election of Janira Hopffer Almada as President of the National Assembly, making her the first woman to be elected to this position.

Among the commitments he highlighted, Francisco Carvalho reiterated some he had already made during the election campaign, namely free access to healthcare, public universities, and vocational training, as well as the creation of a transportation system capable of connecting the islands, not least because “mobility is not just a matter of transportation.”

“It is a matter of equal opportunity, economic development, territorial cohesion, and, above all, an essential condition for every Cape Verdean—regardless of the island where they were born or live—to feel fully integrated into the collective project of the Cape Verdean nation.”

The prime minister also highlighted areas considered priorities for governance, such as science, innovation, security, peace, housing, energy sustainability, access to water, environmental sustainability, education, the primary sector, tourism, and the ocean, among others.

Francisco Carvalho pledged to “deepen democracy across all the islands of Cape Verde, by increasing citizen participation and strengthening trust in institutions.”

Addressing the members of the new executive branch, he delivered a message of high expectations and accountability. “The only way forward is to work, keep our word, and honor the commitments we have made to the Cape Verdean people. The only way forward is to produce results without excuses and without deviations,” he stated.

“Citizens’ trust in politics, politicians, and political parties can only be earned through concrete results. There is no other way (…)”.

Francisco Carvalho summarized the new government’s philosophy as follows: “My colleagues, work is all that lies ahead of us. Work, work, work.”

The minister stated that the new executive will work within the conditions it finds and that the new members of the government are aware of the country’s reality and the challenges that await them. “The people expect answers, and that is what we have a duty to implement.”

The head of the executive branch also called on business leaders, the international community, and the diaspora to get involved in the country’s development process, arguing that job creation must be led by the private sector. “The biggest project is job creation, but it must be driven by private-sector initiatives,” he stated.

Francisco Carvalho concluded by expressing his hope that, five years from now, it will be possible to take stock of the government’s performance in a positive light, demonstrate that the commitments made have been fulfilled, and show that there have been positive results in people’s lives.

“May we be able to say with pride that we have honored the people’s trust, that we have kept our word, and that we have left future generations a Cape Verde that is stronger, more united, and better prepared to face the challenges of the future,” concluded Francisco Carvalho, who took the opportunity during his speech to thank his family and friends from various parts of the world for their support during the election campaign.

The President of the Republic swore in the 18 members of the new executive branch this Friday, the 19th, at a ceremony held in the garden of the Presidential Palace.

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