Cape Verde: 50 Years of Independence, Brava Feels the Weight of Time

However, while in Santiago, São Vicente or Sal there is a glimpse of a promising future, on Ilha Brava, independence seems more like a distant mirage, an ideal that, instead of progress, has brought with it a bitter taste of regression.

It is undeniable that independence, won with so much sacrifice, has transformed Cape Verde. Cities have grown, infrastructure has improved, education and health have expanded, and the archipelago has projected itself onto the international stage. There is pride in seeing paved roads, modern airports and tourism flourishing, injecting life and hope into many communities. For most of the country, the 50th anniversary is a time of celebration, of looking back with gratitude and forward with optimism. However, the reality of Ilha Brava is drastically different from this general panorama. Referred to as the "Island of Flowers" and often romanticized for its natural beauty, Brava seems to have been forgotten on the post-independence development map. While the other islands are celebrating progress, Brava is lamenting an obvious decades-long setback. The feeling is that instead of moving forward, the island has stagnated, if not regressed in crucial aspects of its inhabitants' lives.

The lack of investment in basic infrastructure is glaring. Poor roads, which hinder access and the flow of products, are a picture of neglect. Connectivity, essential in the 21st century, is a constant challenge, further isolating the island and hindering access to services and opportunities. Young people, looking for a future that Brava doesn't seem to offer, continue to migrate, draining the island of its most valuable human capital and compromising its potential for recovery.

The once vibrant local economy is withering away. Agriculture and fishing, pillars of Bravense's livelihood, lack support and incentives for modernization and growth. Tourism, which could be an engine of sustainable development for the island, is underutilized due to the lack of adequate infrastructure and an effective promotion strategy. The feeling is one of dormant potential, ignored by development policies that seem to prioritize other regions.

For the Bravense, independence, often seen as liberation from the colonial yoke and the start of a new era of prosperity, has become a constant reminder of what could have been and wasn't. The promise of a better future, of a better country, of a better future. The promise of a better future, more opportunities and a dignified life, for many, never materialized. Instead, the island deals with a feeling of abandonment, of being a footnote in Cape Verde's success story. As the country celebrates 50 years of independence, it is crucial that it looks at Ilha Brava not just as a picturesque tourist spot, but as an integral part of the nation that needs urgent attention and investment.

Cape Verde's true independence and full development will only be achieved when all its islands, including Brava, can feel its fruits, and the mirage of a better future becomes a tangible reality for all its citizens. What do you think needs to be done to reverse this situation on Brava Island?

João Paulo Gomes Rocha da Silva Municipal Deputy Nova Sintra, June 26/2025