OPEN LETTER TO NATIONAL CONGRESSWOMAN IVONE CARDOSO

However, this vote of confidence is not a blank check; it is a delegation of power that requires courage and an unwavering stance. The greatest test you will face during this term will undoubtedly be striking a balance between party loyalty and the greater interests of the island that elected you. Our country’s political history has shown us that, at times, the guidelines and discipline of parliamentary groups tend to silence the voices of the peripheries in favor of centralist strategies. The people of Brava expect—and demand—that their voice not be stifled by party politics. That, when it comes time to decide and vote, the well-being and progress of Brava always and unconditionally take precedence over any partisan convenience or discipline.

We vividly recall the commitment made during the election campaign to maintain a mandate of closeness, to stand side by side with the communities, and to listen to the people on an ongoing basis. It is essential that this promise be fulfilled and that Your Excellency not isolate yourself in the offices of the capital. Brava needs a representative who is present, who walks through our towns, who experiences firsthand the difficulties of daily life, and who brings to the National Assembly the real and raw accounts of our experiences—not just cold statistical reports.

Our island’s priorities are well known and have been dragging on for years without a definitive solution. The isolation caused by chronic deficiencies in the maritime transport system continues to stifle our economy and limit our citizens’ right to come and go. In healthcare, the reliance on medical evacuations and the lack of specialized care put lives at constant risk. In the education sector, we need modern infrastructure and incentives to keep our young people on the island. Furthermore, securing water—both for domestic use and for agriculture—remains a daily challenge on an island that has the potential to produce more. No less important is the vulnerable situation of many families: social support for the most needy must be structural and dignified, not merely welfare-based.

As a representative elected from the ranks of the opposition, Your Excellency is, in fact, in a strategically superior position to defend Brava. Free from the constraints and the need to justify or whitewash the Executive’s failures and delays, your role gains redoubled strength. Your parliamentary bench is the ideal platform to exercise relentless oversight, to rigorously question government policies, and to demand that the budget funds allocated to Brava move beyond paper and translate into real projects and improvements in people’s lives. In this context, being in the opposition means having the privilege and the duty to boldly demand what is rightfully ours.

The term that is now beginning will be long and, undoubtedly, full of complex challenges. However, we believe that your determination and your attachment to Brava’s roots will be the fuel needed to honor the seat you hold in the Grand House of Democracy. Brava does not ask for favors; it demands justice, investment, and the respect it deserves within the archipelago.

We will be attentive, vigilant, and eager to see your actions, confident that your time in Parliament will be marked by the courage to put our island first.

I wish you every success, wisdom, and good work in your legislative duties.

With my highest regards and esteem,

Moises Santiago, a native of Brava living in the U.S. and proud of his homeland.

Pawtucket, July 3, 2026