Brava Island Demands Equal Treatment in Open Letter to Cape Verde Prime Minister
The residents of Brava, one of Cape Verde’s smallest inhabited islands, have issued a powerful public appeal to Prime Minister José Ulisses Correia e Silva, demanding an end to what they describe as systemic neglect and political detachment from the central government.
A Cry for Recognition
In an open letter authored by Iris Macedo and published on Brava News, the island community expressed frustration with “delayed promises, misplaced priorities, and an institutional silence that contradicts this island’s value and contribution to the country.” The letter emphasizes that Brava can no longer be treated as “an outlying territory of the nation” but deserves recognition as an equal partner in Cape Verde’s development.
The communication highlights a fundamental tension in island nation governance: how to ensure equitable development across geographically dispersed territories with varying populations and economic significance.
Critical Infrastructure Failures
Maritime Transport Crisis
The letter identifies maritime transport as the most pressing issue, describing Brava’s connection to the rest of Cape Verde as “fragile, unpredictable, and insufficient.” This transportation bottleneck affects every aspect of island life—from families separated by unreliable ferry services to students needing educational access, patients requiring medical evacuation, and local producers seeking market opportunities.
“Without adequate transport, no development is possible,” the letter states, pointing to a fundamental reality of island economics where physical connectivity directly determines economic viability.
Healthcare Disparities
Healthcare emerges as another critical concern, with Brava residents facing “obstacles that other islands do not,” including complex medical evacuations, equipment limitations, and delayed emergency responses. The letter firmly states that “healthcare cannot be a geographical privilege—it is a constitutional right,” challenging the government to address what appears to be a two-tier healthcare system within the archipelago.
Economic Stagnation and Development Concerns
Beyond immediate service delivery issues, the letter addresses broader economic concerns, noting that development is “stagnating due to a lack of structural investments and the absence of clear policies to leverage local capacities.” The community explicitly rejects perpetual dependency, instead demanding “economic autonomy” and “the tools to grow” on their own terms.
This reflects a growing trend among smaller island communities worldwide that are seeking sustainable economic models beyond traditional aid and transfer payments.
Political Representation and Campaign Promises
The letter contains pointed criticism of the political process, accusing the government of remembering Brava “only during campaign seasons” and conducting “ceremonial visits without lasting solutions.” This suggests a breakdown in the social contract between the central government and peripheral communities, where political engagement doesn’t translate into substantive policy action.
The authors challenge the notion that “distance can justify political detachment” or that “insularity can be an excuse for invisibility,” demanding that their proposals and concerns reach “the center of national decision-making” and be “treated with seriousness and urgency.”
Broader Implications for Island Governance
Brava’s situation illustrates the complex challenges facing archipelagic nations worldwide. The tension between centralized governance and regional equity becomes particularly acute in small island developing states (SIDS), where limited resources must be distributed across multiple jurisdictions with competing needs.
The letter’s closing statement carries significant weight: “The nation we all love will only be truly strong when all its islands are respected, cared for, and integrated into national development.” This suggests that national unity itself may be at stake when peripheral communities feel systematically marginalized.
As Cape Verde continues its development trajectory, the Brava situation represents a critical test of the government’s ability to deliver equitable growth across its entire territory. The resolution—or lack thereof—will likely influence political dynamics and inter-island relations for years to come.
This report is based on original reporting from Brava News.