 |
 |
The Archipelago of |
 |
 |
|
 |
Brought to you by Cape Verde Travel |  |
|
|
||||||||
| Choose an Island to Visit | |||||||||
|
|||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
History & Economy | |
|
Sao Tome and Principe, a former Portuguese Colony, was discovered
by Joao de Santarem and Pero Escobar sometime between 1470 and 1471
and claimed by the Portuguese in the late 15th century. Sao Tome
was discovered on the 21st December on the day of Saint Thomas,
hence the name! The archipelago was left abandoned until 1485 when Jaoa da Paiva tried to settle and cultivate sugar cane. However, his attempt failed due to Tropical diseases. Settlement in Sao Tome began in 1493 and in Principe in 1500. The islands are steeped in history and the legacy of post-colonial hard times is everywhere. For centuries Sao Tome became a slave port and slave ships use to roll in daily to Ana Chaves Bay. Between 9th-29th July 1595, there was a slave revolt on Sao Tome during which the legendary Rei Amador was caught and hung on 14th August. Slavery was abolished in 1875 and the islands began to contract labour from Angola and later on Mozambique, Cape Verde and other parts of the Portuguese empire. The Dutch occupied the port and fort of Sao Tome between 1641 and 1648. In 1709 the French arrived and the Dutch were driven out. Many of the investors from the first period of settlement started to leave the islands for safer places such as Brazil. The islands then went through a severe economical, political and social crisis. Cultivation of coffee and cocoa was developed by the mid 19th century and by 1909 the islands and their impressive large-scale plantations (Rocas) became the largest Cocoa producers in the world, producing 30,300 tons of cocoa. However, things started to go wrong when British Company, Cadbury, boycotted Santomean Cocoa against the inhuman living conditions of the African contracted workers in Sao Tome. Cocoa output continued to decline due to crop diseases, soil erosion and high production costs. On 3rd February 1953, the massacre of Batepa started and hundreds of people were killed on the orders of Governor Carlos Gorgulho. In April 1974 Caetano was overthrown in Portugal and on 12th July 1975 the islands of Sao Tome and Principe gained independence. Manuel Pinto da Costa became the first president of the republic. In 1990 the socialist system was substituted by a multiparty system and the first free elections were held in 1991. Miguel dos Anjos Trovoada was elected president and continued his role until 2001. Fradique Melo de Menezes took over President in 2001 and was re-elected with more than 60% of votes to continue for another 5 years as President of the Republic. Oil was found within the maritime territory of Sao Tome and Principe and a contract on a joint Development Zone was signed with Nigeria for the extraction of off-shore oil in 2001. Sao Tome and Principe have become increasingly dependant on cocoa since independence 32 years ago. However, the country is becoming dependant on International aid, due to the cocoa production substantially declining and economic growth in other sectors have remained sluggish. However, the coffee grown in Sao Tome and Principe has a good reputation and is considered one of the worlds best and the worlds most expensive coffee! The best coffee is frown between 600 and 800m above sea-level at the coffee plantation of Monte Café. Apart from Cocoa and Coffee, the islands produce agricultural products such as coconuts, palm kernels, copra, vanilla, cinnamon, pepper, bananas, papayas, beans, poultry and fish. Industries include light construction, beer, fish, processing and timber. Exports are approximately $4.9 million and imports approximately $19.5 million. |
||
|
|
|
 |
|
||
| © Cape Verde Travel | CAPE VERDE & EASTGATE TRAVEL - TOUR OPERATOR 14 Market Place, Hornsea, East Yorkshire, HU18 1AW, ENGLAND tel. +44 (0)1964 536191 & fax. +44 (0)1964 536192 |
||
 |
 |
||