afrol News / A Semana, 10 July - A group of citizens residing in Praia plans to gather at least 10,000 signatures on a petition in which they “urge” the government to take actions regarding the poor performance of water and electricity utility Electra. In the petition, the citizens call once again for “a definitive solution to a problem that is a veritable impediment to the development and well-being of this country’s citizens.”

The idea, according to the promoters of this latest initiative from civil society regarding Electra, is to gather at least 10,000 signatures throughout the country, as they believe that Eletra’s “inoperativeness” “is evident beyond just the city of Praia, with complaints coming from São Vicente, an island asphyxiated by water problems, Boa Vista and various parts of Santo Antão.”

Even if the problem is a general one, it is clearly most acute in Praia. For the past several weeks, Cape Verde’s capital has been undergoing a major crisis in its electricity supply, the reflections of which are now visible in various different realms of activity, including commerce. According to an employee at one of the city’s supermarkets, the number of customers has gone down drastically with the constant power outages.

Another result of the crisis is sound pollution - the Cape Verdean capital is now alive with the music of the gas-powered generators that have taken over the task of supplying electricity to much of the city. What’s worse, the crisis could, according to Electra itself, go on for at least another week.

The residents of Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente, seem to be having better luck this summer. Declarations made yesterday to Cape Verdean National Television by Electra Executive Commission president Rui Santos indicate that the problems resulting in the near total lack of water that has affected local citizens and businesses over the past two weeks has been resolved.

© afrol News / A Semana

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