Debate- Brava: Two captains, and a sailing perspective in sight

Between exchanges of bouquets, resumes and accusations, the radio debate that brought together the two candidates for the 2016 mayoral elections addressed some of the issues that affect people's lives, but without any news to register.

Manuel Ramos Gomes (PAICV) and Orlando Balla (MpD), spent an hour and a half fencing arguments to try to convince the electorate that they have the best proposals for Brava in the next four years.

A repetitive Orlando Balla, presenting the same proposals as four years ago, dodging the fact that the previous Government had stopped fulfilling its promises, and a Manuel Gomes, still inexperienced, losing his ideas and tetubing a little, in the shadow of Balla, repeating almost the same proposals.

Tourism, sport, health, agriculture, fishing, transport, education and professional training were some of the themes that deserved the attention of the candidates.

Love for Brava Island and the fact of giving back to the island what Djabraba gave him were the basic reasons that led Manuel Gomes to run for office, together with the desire to help in the development of the island, goals that were a little vague, but acceptable.

Balla, on the other hand, understands in the same way, giving back to the island what it has given him and continuing to support its development. In short, both have the same objectives and the same motivations.

Brava X-ray

Ramos gives a negative note to the performance of the “former team” led by Balla, with the exception of some “beautiful” works that stand out. Here, some inconsistency of analysis is shown, but it saved the day in the fact that it tried to say that the works are not useful for people's lives, in terms of empowering the people of Brave, and does not even guarantee the due financial return, as there was recourse to credit for that purpose.

Culture deserved the honorable place of a poor relative, according to Ramos, and the city council was able to carry out the usual and traditional. In the view of Ramos, Sport was not given the best attention, as Brava in the past was already much better in this field. Tourism, health, transport... also deserved negative marks.

In his analysis, highlighting the time factor, Ramos was unable to clearly reflect his ideas to justify the negative note, as there is a large field of action that, in our humble opinion, Orlando Balla and his team failed miserably.

Of course, in contrast, Balla classifies his performance as highly positive, pointing to the fact that he completed three major works (Square, market and esplanade), very little for four years.

Home repairs, construction of access roads, some projects in the portfolio, are some of the works mentioned. Little… little… for 4 years!

The “previous debts” factor was shielded for some inability to perform and also the lack of support from the Central Government.

Weak x-ray at 4 years old!

the debate

Manuel Ramos Gomes starred in one of the moments that unnerved Balla, criticizing his opponent for not receiving his salary, being a well-mounted farce and having a business linked to tourism.

The candidates showed that they were not well prepared for the debate. Orlando Balla had a lackluster performance, although he showed knowledge of the dossiers. Ramos was in possession of certain information, but he was not good at defending it, as he was easily overthrown by his opponent.

In short, the ideas were just that, no one was able to show how to fulfill the promises/commitments.

They didn't show how to solve the island's bitter problems. Basic sanitation, care for unemployed young people, security and civil protection, penetration routes, tourism, support for the elderly, investment in education.

In agriculture and fishing, as well as maritime transport, education and health, although he spoke a lot, we know that after the elections, we will hear, “this will always be a matter for the Government”.

Emigration was lightly touched on, but there was no concrete talk about how to involve emigrants in the development of the island. It seems that emigrants are only expected to invest in restoring their homes.

More was expected from this debate. There was a technical draw!

polls

Polls show that Balla will win these elections with 52% to 56% of the votes, leaving Ramos in the range of 40% to 43%. Abstention will be the great enemy. More than 45% of bravens do not intend to go to the polls.

MS