Cape Verde President’s ‘Presidency on the Island’ Initiative Reaches Brava in Community Engagement Drive
President José Maria Neves has taken his flagship community outreach program, “Presidency on the Island,” to the island of Brava, part of a sustained effort to bridge the geographic and administrative divides inherent to the archipelago nation. The initiative, designed to foster direct dialogue between the head of state and citizens, aims to promote local development and strengthen social inclusion across Cape Verde’s diverse islands.
Bridging the Insular Divide
Launched in March 2022, the “Presidency on the Island” program represents a strategic shift in how the nation’s highest office interacts with its populace. The program’s core mandate is to overcome the challenge of insularity—a significant factor in the governance of island chains—by ensuring citizens can engage with their president without leaving their home islands. This model facilitates a more direct and accessible form of governance, moving beyond the capital-centric approach common in many nations.
The visit to Brava continues a pattern of engagement that has previously connected the presidency with populations on São Vicente, Boa Vista, Santo Antão, São Nicolau, and in the northern region of Santiago. By systematically visiting different islands, the initiative ensures that the concerns and developmental needs of all regions are heard at the highest level of the state.
A Model for Archipelagic Governance
For a nation comprised of ten islands, managing equitable development and political inclusion is a complex logistical and administrative task. Initiatives like “Presidency on the Island” are critical in nations with fragmented territories, as they help to prevent the political and economic marginalization of outlying regions. This hands-on approach allows the presidency to gather unfiltered feedback on local issues, from infrastructure and healthcare to education and economic opportunities.
The sustained nature of the program, now in its third year, signals a long-term commitment to decentralizing the presidential dialogue. It underscores a recognition that effective governance in an archipelagic state requires proactive, physical presence and a willingness to listen to disparate communities on their own terms. This model of direct engagement could serve as a reference for other multi-island nations facing similar challenges of connectivity and centralized administration.
Source: https://balai.cv/presidencia-na-ilha-jose-maria-neves-visita-a-brava-em-iniciativa-de-proximidade-com-as-comunidades/