Mindelo, Cabo Verde, Aug. 18, 2025 (Lusa) - The president of the Western Chamber of Commerce acknowledged on Monday that the storm on Cabo Verde's island of São Vicente, which caused nine deaths, has generated shortages and a tendency for prices to rise. Still, there are no abusive increases he added.
"It's natural that in situations of crisis, calamity or loss of stock, there may be some temptation to increase prices, but there are no reports of anything abusive. I have only seen increases in water and rice," Jorge Maurício told Lusa.
He added that if abusive situations occur, they will be reported to the competent authorities, including supervisory institutions, so that they can be stopped.
‘In a situation that is already very difficult, complicated for the population, they can't and shouldn't take advantage of it,’ he said, asking for tolerance and solidarity.
Jorge Maurício also explained that it is normal for there to be a tendency for prices to rise at certain times or under certain circumstances, as is the case with fish in the summer, due to the increase in demand.
‘There are more people, more immigrants, more tourists; the price adjusts to the law of the market,’ he explained.
Mauricio emphasised that the priority is to help people who have lost everything: homes, belongings and livelihoods.
The president of the Western Chamber of Commerce also emphasised the role of financial institutions and the transport of essential goods.
‘There are already specific credit lines for commerce and micro-enterprises, and international and internal transport is being coordinated to ensure essentials,’ he said.
Residents alerted Lusa to price rises in basic foodstuffs, such as rice and water, while shopkeepers emphasised that the rise was in products imported from other islands.
The floods, which occurred a week ago, flooded neighbourhoods, destroyed roads and bridges, commercial establishments and affected the power supply, and one person is still missing.
Cabo Verde's government has declared a state of calamity for six months in São Vicente, Porto Novo (Santo Antão) and the two municipalities of São Nicolau.
In addition, a strategic response plan has been announced that includes emergency support for families, but also for economic activities, with credit lines with subsidised interest and non-repayable funds, justifying the decision with the ‘dramatic, exceptional situation’.
The government will use the resources of the National Emergency Fund and the Sovereign Emergency Fund, created in 2019 precisely to respond to natural disasters or the impact of external economic shocks.
A Portuguese Navy ship docked in São Vicente on Friday with 56 military personnel, rubble removal equipment, a desalination plant for the hospital and drones to collect aerial images in hard-to-reach areas, as well as divers and teams prepared to support the population.
RS/ADB // ADB.
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