One island, multiple voices, one cause and many groups. The disunity behind the many "Bravenses Unidos" and "Brava Unidos"
City of Pawtucket, August 16, 2025 (Bravanews) - The island of Brava, known for its strong emigration and the strong sense of community of its inhabitants, has been the scene of a phenomenon that, at first glance, seems promising, but which in practice has generated more confusion than unity: the proliferation of groups that share similar names and goals, but which, paradoxically, end up creating divisions. The rise of "Bravenses Unidos" and "Brava Unidos" perfectly illustrates this complex dynamic, raising the question of whether we are really working for the good of the island or whether we are unwittingly weakening our own efforts.
Some time ago, the emergence of the Bravenses Unidos group was greeted with hope. The idea of Bravenses, both on the island and in the diaspora, coming together to work for a common cause and shared goals was a positive sign. It seemed to be the beginning of a new era of collaboration, where differences would be put aside in favor of a greater purpose: the development and well-being of the island. However, this hope began to dissipate with the appearance of another group, Brava Unidos.
Brava Unidos came to prominence just over six months ago, at a time of great need. The fire at the Brava municipal market left many families in a vulnerable situation, and the new group quickly mobilized to provide support. This action in itself was commendable and demonstrates the spirit of solidarity among Brava residents. However, the founding of a second group with such a similar name and with a humanitarian and social aid purpose, which promised to work on behalf of those most in need by supporting evacuations, buying medicines and educating children, ended up creating a "soup kitchen" scenario - a confusing mix in which nothing seems to fit together.
This duplication of effort and apparent lack of coordination raises important questions. If everyone's ultimate goal is the good of the Brava, why not join forces? Why not channel the passion, energy and resources of all these Bravenses into a single cohesive and strong group? The current fragmentation can lead to inefficiency, overlapping initiatives and, what's worse, dilution of the impact that each of these groups could have if they were working together.
The Bravense community needs a serious rethink. It's time to rethink the strategy and realize that, although the intentions are noble, the disunity behind the proliferation of groups may be undermining the progress that everyone is aiming for. The way forward is not competition, but collaboration. The island of Brava is small and its community is strong; this strength must be the basis for a unified movement. The creation of a single platform, where all Bravenses interested in the island's development can contribute their ideas and resources, would be the most logical and effective step. After all, a single voice is always louder and more powerful than many voices whispering in different directions.
