Note of Condolence in Honor of Mother Iva (Iva Baptista da Lomba).
On behalf of myself and all MPD members of Brava, we express our deepest sorrow for the passing of Mãe Iva, Senhora Iva Baptista da Lomba, a special figure on our island and a moral, civic, and human reference for several generations of Brava residents. Mãe Iva lived 99 years in our beloved Brava, witnessing and experiencing some of the most significant periods in Cape Verde's history. She lived through colonial Cape Verde and faced, with courage and resilience, the harsh period of famine in the 1940s, which brought so much suffering to our people. She followed, with hope and a sense of the future, the struggle for national independence, achieved in 1975.
But it was especially in the subsequent period that Mãe Iva stood out as one of the first personalities from Brava to defend, with zeal, clarity and persistence, the need for a multi-party system in Cape Verde - in the year 1990-91.
She did so driven by the profound conviction that freedom, democracy, and respect for private property were essential pillars for human dignity and the development of the country. Thus, she became an outstanding MPD member, firm in the values that place the human person at the center of public policies.
Throughout her life, Mother Iva distinguished herself by her boundless generosity. She welcomed, supported, and cherished all who needed her, which is why she rightfully received the affectionate title of "Mother" from all those who had the privilege of knowing her.
God granted me the honor, while serving as Mayor of Brava, of paying her tribute while she was still alive, by naming the main street of Cova de Joana after her on June 13, 2018 — a symbolic gesture that immortalizes her contribution and her example in the heart of our community.
In this moment of grief, we extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and the entire Brava community. May they find comfort in the luminous memory of a woman who dedicated her life to the common good, to freedom, and to love for her neighbor.
May his soul rest in peace.
Francisco Walter de Sousa Tavares
