Praia City, Feb 26 (Inforpress) – The Ministry of Culture and Creative Industries today signed, in Praia, financing contracts with 12 tabanca groups, in the total amount of 2,400 contos, aiming to strengthen the preservation and promotion of this cultural manifestation in Cape Verde.

On the occasion, the Minister of Culture and Creative Industries, Augusto Veiga, highlighted the importance of supporting the groups, stating that “this signing of financing contracts with tabanca groups is extremely important.”

The government official stressed that tabanca constitutes one of the oldest and most important Cape Verdean cultural manifestations, a symbol of cultural resistance and intangible cultural heritage of the country, recalling its classification in 2017 as national intangible cultural heritage.

According to his explanation, over the years the Government has implemented programs to enhance this cultural manifestation, with interventions in the improvement of spaces of memory, interpretation and representation, promotion of research and transmission of knowledge to new generations, as well as financial support to official groups.

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Praia City, Feb 25 (Inforpress) – The Government today formalized, in Praia, the signing of Athlete Scholarship contracts and awarded prizes to champions and runners-up of Santiago, as a way of strengthening public investment and valuing sporting merit.

The act falls within the Athlete Scholarship programme, promoted by the Institute of Sports and Youth (IDJ), and covered five athletes from the island of Santiago, selected under the current call for applications, out of a total of 20 scholarships made available for competition nationwide.

During the ceremony, the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister for Youth and Sports, Carlos Monteiro, highlighted that the moment represents more than a symbolic act, underlining the progressive strengthening of public investment in the sector.

“More than the symbolism of this moment, what matters most is the real investment in the lives of young people, athletes and clubs, with resources that increase year after year and that are enshrined in the State Budget,” he stated.

The government official recalled that, since 2022, sports has been included in the Strategic Plan for Sustainable Development and has been provided with legal instruments that guarantee financial incentives based on results achieved, both in national and international competitions.

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Praia City, Feb 26 (Inforpress) – The Pelourinho Association considered this Wednesday commendable the Government’s initiative to launch a public ideas competition for the enhancement and requalification of Ilhéu de Santa Maria, in Praia, but stated that the measure comes late.

In statements to Inforpress, after the publication in the Official Gazette, this Tuesday, the 24th, of the announcement of the initiative, the association’s representative, Adérito Tavares, stated that the fate of the islet had initially been decided by a consultant, without due public consultation, adding that the intention is now to know the population’s opinion on the project.

“This islet is located in the country’s capital, therefore it belongs to everyone. The population of Cabo Verde must be consulted,” he argued.

According to Adérito Tavares, after the outcome of the previous business deal, the space returned to Government ownership, which, in the association’s view, should have immediately triggered a participatory process involving the population of the municipality of Praia and of the country.

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Mindelo, Feb 26 (Inforpress) – The Ambassador of Sierra Leone to Cabo Verde, Ibrahim Turay, emphasized today, at the ceremony for the presentation of credentials to the President of the Republic, the need for greater collaboration with Cabo Verde to strengthen maritime security in the Atlantic.

Ibrahim Turay, whose residence will be in Dakar (Senegal), was speaking to the press at the People’s Palace, in São Vicente, where he presented his credentials.

“Cabo Verde and Sierra Leone are part of the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission and we are working hard to improve maritime security, but there is a need to collaborate more and see how we can develop these areas, in terms of infrastructure and information exchange. It is very important for us to work on these aspects,” he stated.

The ambassador highlighted that Cabo Verde and Sierra Leone maintain a long-standing relationship, and therefore his responsibility is to deepen these ties in various areas, namely fisheries, sustainable development, the maritime economy, as well as tourism.

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