The candidate of Independent Democratic Action (ADI, opposition) to the legislative elections of São Tomé and Príncipe, Patrice Trovoada, promised this Thursday to lower the price of rice and oil, if he wins the elections next Sunday, in which he asks for a majority absolute.
In a campaign action in the rain in the fishing village of Santa Catarina, Patrice Trovoada, former prime minister, said that most of the rice that reaches the country is donated by Japan, arguing that the government of Jorge Bom Jesus must take measures: “If people are tight, why don’t you lower the price of this rice?”I ask.
Currently, a kilo of rice is sold in the markets for 28 dobras, equivalent to 1.15 euros.
“The problem is hunger. We have a solution to lower the price of the product,” he said.
After requesting the vote “to step on number one” (position in which the ADI appears on the ballot), he promised that “in October the ship that comes with rice from Japan will already have a low price to alleviate a little.”
“We are going to lower the rate, we are going to lower the tax, also on other products, even if it is for six, seven, eight, nine months,” said Patrice Trovoada, in front of a few hundred supporters who were concentrated in Santa Catarina, a district of Lemba (west).
The ADI leader also said he wanted to lower the price of oil, which costs 70 dobras a liter, about 2.85 euros.
“We have to ease the suffering of little people a little bit,” he stressed.
Another measure that proposes is the launch of a program of major workssuch as roads and bridges, for which authorization is not needed, he stressed.
A man who is a man, who is not afraid of the sun or the rain, who has muscle, can work”, he commented, while some men showed their arms.
Patrice Trovoada, who returned to the country after four years, also took advantage of the rally to guarantee that he will not leave the country, as opponents accuse him.
“Tomorrow, Friday, I am going to Principe. Prince belongs to what? It is national territory”, he said, before returning to justify his absence.
“I didn’t run away. I just took my body. You know how some here hate Thunderstorm Patrice. My head, my heart, my soul are in São Tomé and Príncipe”, she assured.
Regarding the current government, which is the result of a coalition between the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP/PSD) and PCD/UDD/MDFM, he stated that “in 2018 they promised a lot, they did not deliver but the excuse cannot be covid
In the district of Lembá, headquarters of the largest national factory (the Rosema brewery), he sent the message to the voters: “They are not going to spoil the vote, take away the absolute majority from the ADI due to the problem of two people”in reference to the Monteiro brothers, former owners of the company and candidates for the legislative elections for the Movement of Independent Citizens/Socialist Party and National Unity Party (MCI/PS-PUN).
He also called for a “massive vote” in the ADI “to prevent fraud.”
“Young men, go there and take a picture of the results. You are the inspectors and you can guarantee that the elections are fair, free and transparent”, he appealed.
Some 123,000 voters in São Tomé and Príncipe are called to the polls next Sunday to vote in the legislative, municipal and regional elections.
Source: Observadora
