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Cape Verde Information |
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Cape Verde Information
GEOGRAPHYThe Islands of Cape Verde can be found in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 450 kilometers to the west of the coast of Africa. Cape Verde is distributed into 10 major islands (the windward – Barlavento) and 5 smaller ones (the leeward – Sotavento). The most well known islands of the Barlavento group are Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia, São Nicolau, Sal, and Boa Vista whether the Sotavento group includes Maio, Santiago, Fogo, and Brava. The majority of the larger islands (which does not include Santa Luzia) are inhabited. The three islands Sal, Boa Vista, and Maio are level and very dry. Mountains which are higher than 1,280 meters are located on the islands of Fogo, Santiago, Santo Antão, and São Nicolau. Natural highlights that can be found on all of the islands (especially in the Barlavento group) are the magnificent rock formations which have been created by sand, carried by high winds. Another attraction that can be found on the mountain islands are the sheer, jagged cliffs that rise from the sea. Natural vegetation is thin in the uplands and on the coast, but the interior valleys support denser growth and lush gardens. Rainfall is irregular and therefore the islands suffer from periodic droughts and consequent food shortages. Per year the average precipitation in Praia is 24 centimeters and during the winter there are sometimes storms blowing clouds from the Sahara. Despite all that, sunny days are the norm all year round which makes the Cape Verde a great place to live.
PEOPLECape Verde has been discovered by the Portuguese in 1456 and is inhabited since. Back then African slaves have bee brought over to work on plantations. This is the reason why today you will find a mix between people with European and African origins on the islands. The island with the strongest influence of African culture is the island of Santiago. Half the population resides here. Of the more than 1 million individuals of Cape Verdean ancestry, fewer than half actually live on the islands. Reason for that are the sparse rain and other factors. The majority of the 500,000 people of Cape Verdean ancestry either live in the United States or other countries like Portugal, Netherlands, Italy or France. Portuguese is Cape Verde's official language but a Creole dialect (Crioulo) is also spoken by the majority of inhabitants. It is a dialect which is influenced not only by archaic Portuguese but also by African and European languages. Therefore Crioulo literature and music are widely spread.
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
HISTORYCape Verde's History starts in 1456, when Luigi da Cadamosto (who was a navigator in the service of Portugal) discovered the islands. It was six years later, in 1462, when the first Portuguese settlers arrived at Santiago and founded the first permanent European settlement in the tropics: Ribeira Grande or "the great stream". Four years after the first settlers got to the islands, an authorization was received to trade slaves. During the following one hundred and fifty or so years until the 16th century the islands became a flourishing shipping centre for the slave trade and finally in 1876 slavery came to an end. After slavery was abolished, Cape Verde and especially the harbour of Mindelo which is located on the island of São Vicente made the islands ideal to re-supply ships. In 1879 the administration of the colony of Portuguese Guinea (Guinea-Bissau) has been officially separated from Cape Verde for the first time. Due to the high emigration rate, the population of the islands recorded only 160.000 inhabitants in the year of 1920. The majority of Cape Verdeans immigrated to the United States, but shortly after 1920 the US government restricted the immigration of non-European peoples. As a consequence Cape Verdeans started looking for alternatives and found them in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Luxembourg, Angola, Argentina, Brazil, Senegal and other countries. In 1951 the Cape Verde Colony became an overseas province and ten years later the island's inhabitants became officially full Portuguese citizens. An independence movement which was led by the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAICV) was founded in 1956. After the fall of the Caetano regime in Portugal (1974), the islands became independent in 1975 (July 5th). Only five years later in November 1980 there was the coup in Guinea-Bissau - relations between Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau became strained around 1983. Most problems have since been resolved, and relations between the countries are good. The PAICV and its predecessor established a one-party system and ruled Cape Verde from independence until 1990. In January 1991, the first multi-party elections since the independence took place. The Democracy party (MPD) took the majority of seats and Antonio Mascarenhas Monteiro was elected president of the Republic. He was re-elected in 1996 and stayed president until 2001 when Pedro Pires took his place. Legislative elections in January 2001 returned power to the PAICV. The PAICV now holds 40 of the National Assembly seats, MpD 30, and PCD and PTS 1 each. In February 2001, the PAICV-supported presidential candidate Pedro Pires defeated former MpD leader Carlos Veiga by just 13 votes. Pedro Pires was re-elected president of the Republic in 2006.
HEALTHBefore travelling to Cape Verde there is some useful information you should know. Vaccinations are not required but it is recommended that precautions are taken against polio, cholera, typhoid fever and Hepatitis B. On the island of Santiago there is also a very limited risk of malaria between the months of September and November, but generally there are very few mosquitoes. It is not recommended to drink tap water without prior treatment. Although there are Europeans in Santiago who drank the water for the past 5 years without any trouble. Milk is unpasteurised, which is another important thing to know. Some medicines are in short supply and medical facilities are limited on most islands. Nevertheless, visitors receive free hospital treatments in state and general hospitals on presenting their passports. Health insurance is in spite of everything strongly advised, with coverage for emergency repatriation. On the island of Sal there is a new hospital and new private health clinics being built.
CURRENCYCape Verdean Escudo (CVE) is the unit of currency on the islands. The rate of exchange is at CVE 110.265 = 1 Euro. You can change money at the bureau de change which is located at the airport or cash your travellers cheques at local banks. Another alternative is the Morabeza Hotel which changes euros at 105 CVE. Unfortunately, at the moments there is only one ATM in the islands which is located at the international airport. Major credit cards are accepted only in a few main resort hotels and restaurants, but this is growing all the time. Several banks will give cash on credit cards but most likely there will be high commissions. Should you be interested in purchasing property it is advisable to open a bank account in the islands of Cape Verde. The easiest way is to open accounts for both CVE and Euros, due to the fact that CVE cannot be transferred out of the country, but euros can.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONSThe president is head of state and is elected by popular vote for a 5-year term. The latest elections were held in 2006 where Pedro Pires was re-elected president of the Republic. There is also a prime minister which is head of government. The prime minister proposes other ministers and secretaries of state. He or she was nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president. Like the president, members of the National Assembly are elected by popular vote for 5-year terms. Nationwide municipal elections were held March 21, 2004. The members of the Supreme Court of Justice are appointed by the president, the National Assembly, and the Board of the Judiciary. The judicial system also comprises of regional courts. Separate courts hear civil, constitutional and criminal cases. Appeal is to the Supreme Court. Cape Verde has a democratic system. Right after the first multi-party elections in 1991, the Movement for Democracy (MpD) captured a governing majority in the National Assembly. In 1995 the MpD was returned to power with an even larger majority. 2001, the PAICV regained power and a new president was elected who was re-elected in 2006. The two strongest parties in the National Assembly are the PAICV and the MpD.
PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
ECONOMYThe major problem in Cape Verde is the poor rainfall and therefore the limited fresh water. There are also only a few natural resources available on the islands. Santiago, Fogo, Brava and Santo Antão are the four (out of 10 main islands) that support significant agricultural production. The mineral resources that exist include salt, pozzolana which is a volcanic rock, used in cement production and limestone. Cape Verde's economy is mainly service-oriented. Commerce, transport, and public services are accounting for more than 70% of GDP. 10 % of the GDP are agriculture and fishing, even though most of the population is living in the rural areas of the island. Light manufacturing accounts for most of the remainder. Around 20% of GDP is contributed to the domestic economy through remittances from expatriate Cape Verdeans. Since 1991, when the first multi-party elections took place, the government has pursued market-oriented economic policies. This includes a far-reaching privatization program as well as an open welcome to foreign investors. It established as top development priorities the promotion of market economy and of the private sector; the development of tourism, light manufacturing industries, and fisheries; and the development of transport, communications, and energy facilities. Between 1994 and 2000 there were approximately $407 million in foreign investments made or planned. 58% of which were in tourism, 21 % in fisheries and services (fish and shellfish are plentiful), 17% in industry and 4% in infrastructure. Cape Verde is enjoying a privileged and also strategic location - at the crossroads of mid-Atlantic air and sea lanes. The most important harbour (Porto Grande) is located in Mindelo and Cape Verde's international airport can be found on the island of Sal. Both underwent major improvements and the harbours (Mindelo and Praira) have also been renovated. Ship repair facilities can be found at Mindelo harbour. All of the other islands provide smaller port facilities. Additional to the international airport on Sal, airports have been built on all of the inhabited islands. Each of them (except the airport on Brava) has a scheduled air service. On the whole archipelagos there are 3,050 kilometres of roads and streets, 1,010 kilometres of which are paved.
FOREIGN RELATIONSCape Verde is pursuing a nonalignment policy and is seeking cooperative relations with all friendly states. In Praia you will find embassies from Angola, Brazil, China, Cuba, France, Portugal, Senegal, Russia, and the United States. Other countries (mostly European members) maintain honorary consulates. Cape Verde also holds memberships in many international organizations and at the moment is working to accede to the World Trade Organization. The archipelago is also especially interested in foreign affairs in Africa and participates in many international conferences on political and economic issues. |
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