Ambassador criticizes acquisition of ship for Fogo-Brava connection and asks for clarification
Ambassador criticizes ship announced for Fogo-Brava route, questions safety and asks for clarification on acquisition.
Ambassador Manuel Amante da Rosa has expressed public criticism of the recent acquisition of a ship to connect the islands of Fogo and Brava by sea, announced by the Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva in the context of election trips.
In a communication addressed to the mayors of the two islands, the diplomat questions the suitability of the vessel, claiming that the ship, built in 1982, with a length of about 25 meters and a load capacity of 25 tons, does not meet sufficient technical conditions to operate safely in the channel between Fogo and Brava, considered demanding from a maritime point of view.
According to the ambassador, the vessel does not have a ro-ro configuration or characteristics that guarantee the transportation of passengers in adequate conditions of safety and comfort. His criticism extends to the acquisition process, which he considers to have been rushed through for electoral reasons.
Manuel Amante da Rosa argues that the decision could jeopardize future, more suitable solutions to ensure the connection between the two islands, stressing the importance of transparency in the process.
In the same communication, he asks local authorities to seek detailed information about the ship, including technical specifications, purchase conditions, costs involved and its real capacity to meet the mobility needs of people and goods.
The diplomat also warns of the need for institutional monitoring of these processes, calling for preventive action on the part of the municipalities, in order to guarantee the defense of the interests of the local populations.
