Francisco Tavares harshly criticizes the current management of Brava City Council and questions transparency, governance and the impact on the island's development

In a message sent to Bravanews, Francisco Tavares begins by questioning what he considers to be a departure from the basic principles of administrative transparency, asking: "Where has transparency gone? Where are the public tenders?". For the former mayor, the current administration has systematically resorted to direct assignments, without clear tendering procedures, in sensitive areas of the municipal administration.

Among the most critical points, Francisco Tavares challenges what he calls the "narrative of lies" used by the new council team. According to the former mayor, several pieces of information released by the current administration don't correspond to reality, namely with regard to the number of council employees, alleged debts of 300,000 escudos, the situation of the garbage collection truck, the entry of more than a hundred new employees into the council, as well as references to legal proceedings, reports and alleged judicial restrictions on him. "All lies", he states categorically.

In the field of works and investments, Francisco Tavares accuses the current administration of a whole year without visible results, with works at a standstill and a total lack of projects of its own, claiming that the new administration has not presented any structuring initiatives since it took office. At the same time, he denounces the awarding of council work to private individuals, including municipal deputies and political supporters, who, he says, are not even legally incorporated companies.

Another point raised relates to the significant increase in the Municipal Financing Fund (FFM) since the start of the mandate, including a further increase planned for the second year. For Francisco Tavares, this financial reinforcement has not translated into any concrete improvement for the island of Brava. On the contrary, he criticizes the zero impact on local development and the non-implementation of the Positions, Functions and Remuneration Plan (PCFR) in the Town Hall, a long-standing demand of the employees.

Internally, the former mayor speaks of redistribution of functions, dismissals and alleged political persecution, denouncing pressure on employees identified as MpD supporters, while, he claims, employees linked to the PAICV have benefited from salary increases and other privileges.

Francisco Tavares also draws attention to the significant increase in the expenses of the Mayor's and Councillors' offices, comparing the 2024, 2025 and 2026 budgets with those of the previous municipal team. He thus questions the coherence of the new administration's initial speech, which claimed to have inherited a "bankrupt and penniless" city council.

The situation of the refuse collection truck is another of the issues highlighted. According to Tavares, the vehicle was left broken down by his team, but he considers it unacceptable that, a year later, it is still inoperative, with no visible solution for a service that is essential to the population.

In the strategic plan, the former mayor openly questions: "What, after all, is the PAICV Brava City Council's government program for this term?". According to him, there are projects drawn up and ready for negotiation with the government, namely with the Environment, Tourism and MIOTH Funds, but none of them have moved forward. He adds that no new projects have emerged since the current team took office.

Particularly noteworthy is the organization of the São João Baptista festivities, where Francisco Tavares denounces the direct award of 1,500 contos for the traditional part of the festivities to two private individuals, allegedly close to the Mayor, without a public tender, without proven experience and without links to recognized cultural associations. It also questions the existence and terms of the contract to provide this service.

In the same context, it criticizes the direct award of the organization of the Baile de São João to a businessman from the island of Fogo, also without a public tender and without any formal contract being known.

Francisco Tavares stresses that these are just some of the many issues that, in his opinion, deserve investigation and monitoring by the media. He calls for serious, impartial and rigorous work, whose sole aim is the good of the island of Brava and its residents.

"And there are many more issues...", concludes the former Mayor of Brava, leaving open new developments in this political and institutional debate that promises to mark the local news.

Ms