The recent rise in fuel prices in Cape Verde is significantly affecting family incomes, with fishermen and drivers bearing higher costs and reducing their activities. Carlos Gilberto, a 52-year-old fisherman, says the price of a ton of diesel went from 70,000 escudos to 100,000 escudos, which drastically reduces the earnings from each sea trip. Euclides Dias, owner of two vessels, says he went from three sea trips per week to just one, while the price of fish remains unchanged.
Collective transport and taxi drivers also face great difficulties. João Correia, who has been driving for 33 years on the route between Praia and São Domingos, saw daily fuel expenses rise from about 2,000 escudos to 3,000 escudos. Hélio Carvalho, a taxi driver, admits he will have to increase the price of trips soon. At the fuel station, Evilise Melo observes there is a drop in traffic and drivers are putting in less fuel than before.
The most vulnerable families are the most affected. Liliana Lopes, a mother of four, spends about 10,000 escudos monthly on travel, which represents a large part of the national minimum wage of 17,000 escudos. Artemisa Ferreira, a trader who travels from the interior to sell at the capital's market, reduced trips from four to just one per month and started paying drivers to transport her goods.
The increase results from the adjustment defined by the Multisectoral Economic Regulation Authority, which set an average increase of 4.51% in maximum fuel prices since September 1st. The Association for Consumer Defense warned about effects on transport, electricity, and food prices. The Government announced maintaining electricity tariff discounts until the end of the year, but deferred explanations about possible new support measures for affected sectors to a later date.
