Promise of daily Brava-Fogo-Brava sea link disappears in post-election silence

In October last year, the Brava community received with optimism the news that Francisco Tavares had obtained a commitment from businessman Júlio Rodrigues to make every effort to guarantee the arrival of a vessel that would ensure the longed-for daily connection between Brava and Fogo, with a positive impact on the mobility of people and goods. The promise came at a time of intense election campaigning, generating expectations among the population that one of the island's biggest difficulties would be resolved: isolation and dependence on irregular and uncertain sea connections.

However, a few months after the local elections, the "firm certainty" that was once proclaimed seems to have faded. Days have turned into weeks and weeks into months, without any concrete development being publicly announced. The ship hasn't arrived, the daily connection remains a mirage and the initial enthusiasm has given way to a growing feeling of disappointment and frustration among the Bravenses.

"We believed the president's words at the time. It seemed so right, so imminent," laments a Brava resident who preferred not to be identified. "That daily connection would make all the difference to us, to our economy, to our families. But now the silence on the subject is deafening."

The lack of information from the former Mayor of Brava about what happened or the possible failure of negotiations with businessman Júlio Rodrigues adds to the feeling that the promise was nothing more than an election marketing strategy (which didn't work), used to drum up votes without a solid foundation.

The sea link between Brava and Fogo is crucial for Cape Verde's smallest island. The difficulty in transportation affects access to basic services, the flow of local products, tourism and, in general, the quality of life of its inhabitants. The promise of a daily connection represented a ray of hope for the island's development and the breaking of its historical isolation.

The silence that now hangs over the issue raises questions about the credibility of promises made at election time and the impact that their failure to materialize can have on citizens' trust in institutions and their representatives. Although he lost the election, the Brava community is waiting for clarification from Francisco Tavares, resident and current chief critic on social media, about what happened to the "firm certainty" of October and whether there is still any hope of seeing the much-needed daily maritime connection between Brava and Fogo materialize. For the island's residents, time seems to be running more slowly as they wait for answers that are still not forthcoming.