Former governor defends TACV's strategic value and criticizes a vision focused on financial results.
Recent statements by the Minister of Transport and Sea, admitting the possibility of liquidating TACV, continue to provoke reactions. Following a statement from the National Union of Civil Aviation Pilots (SNPAC), the former Prime Minister (2000-2001), Gualberto do Rosário Almada, expressed support for the union's position, arguing that the value of the national airline cannot be assessed solely by its financial results.
In a post on his social media, the former government official, who also served as Minister of Economic Coordination, Minister of Agriculture, and President of the Cape Verde Tourism Chamber, stated that politicians, institutions, and citizens continue to make "an absolutely wrong interpretation" of TACV by reducing its importance to the company's accounting balance sheet.
"The true balance sheet of the company is that which results from the consolidation of this balance sheet with those of all the companies providing services to TACV, through the consolidation, with these balance sheets, of all the direct, indirect and induced effects it produces, through the response it gives to our diaspora, through the promotion it makes of our country, through its contribution to the development of Cape Verde."
He understands that the evaluation of the airline must take into account the economic and social impacts generated by its activity, including the effects on service providers, the connection to the diaspora, the international promotion of the country, and the contribution to national development. He also says that if government authorities intend, one day, to set aside prejudice and other petty, often self-serving interests and invest in the country as an air hub, they should understand the importance of TACV.
" Until decent work is done with the aim of consolidating everything, evaluating, understanding and planning, the result will be meaningless, and/or incomplete, and/or completely wrong statements and positions." Gualberto do Rosário states that these declarations could harm the country's strategic interests and the company's credibility.
Gualberto do Rosário, on the other hand, argued that financial support for flag carrier airlines is a common practice in several countries, including in Europe, arguing that the overall economic benefits can outweigh the costs associated with the subsidies granted.
Finally, the former governor congratulated the National Union of Civil Aviation Pilots for the statement released in defense of TACV.
