Fogo: José Maria Neves advocates for greater decentralization and new financing mechanisms for municipalities.

The Head of State, who visited the municipality of Santa Catarina do Fogo this Saturday, where he met with the mayor and the municipal team, said that the country currently faces the challenge not only of restructuring, restoring and rebuilding infrastructure, but also of ensuring adaptation and resilience, especially in a context marked by climate change and the growing needs of communities.

José Maria Neves called on all political parties and sovereign bodies to pay attention to the importance of deepening the decentralization process and stressed that municipalities need more resources and greater decision-making capacity to respond to the challenges of local development.

According to him, the purpose of his visit is to bring these issues up for debate and ensure that all political actors are aware of the need to find solutions that will accelerate the development of the different regions of the country.

José Maria Neves highlighted the urgency of accelerating the pace of infrastructure investment in municipalities, especially the smaller ones, which face greater difficulties due to their reduced tax base and limited capacity to collect their own revenue.

To overcome these limitations, José Maria Neves advocated for the creation of new, innovative financing mechanisms to support local and regional development, with greater state involvement in the financing of key infrastructure projects.

The Head of State warned of the need for greater clarity and transparency in the criteria for transferring resources to municipalities.

He stated that there are situations in which some municipalities are able to mobilize resources from national funds, such as those allocated to the environment or tourism, more quickly, while others face difficulties in accessing the same support.

For José Maria Neves, it is essential to establish clear and transparent criteria to ensure that all municipalities, and consequently all citizens, can benefit equitably from investments and public resources.

The President of the Republic stressed that state resources belong to all Cape Verdeans and that elected officials have a duty to ensure their transparent management and balanced distribution, in order to accelerate economic growth and the country's development.

Inforpress