Restaurants: The Minister imposes the menu!

I inaugurate with this article a new category of the blog called “News” which I will use to give my opinion on some crisp news of the country!

This Friday, December 2, 2022, I came across this article from BissauOnline (Instagram).

For the context, as part of the "Decade of Return" program, I am working with the Minister of Tourism and his team. We had a few clashes, but today, let's say that we are working under a cordial and professional understanding.

I'm coming out of an intense week with the hosting of the 4th group of the "Decade of Return"and then continued with a (too) quick appearance at the International Diaspora Conference as well as at the Bissau Rising Forum.

The choices for our group tours of restaurants "BlackOwned" and Clean and with nice decoration and price not exceeding a arm and a leg AND easy access can be counted on the fingers of ONE HAND!

Coming to the article:

Guinea-Bissau government impose restaurants to include national dishes on menu

Guinea-Bissau's Minister of Tourism, Fernando Vaz, today issued a decree ordering that henceforth all restaurants, including those in hotels, include national dishes of the country in the menu.

In the document, to which Lusa had access, Fernando Vaz indicates that the measure aims to respond "to the numerous complaints and requests of users" and also in association with the need to promote "the rich national gastronomy among tourists and the general public ".

Vaz supports the decision with the law establishing the legal regime for hotel and similar activities in Guinea-Bissau.

Fernando Vaz, who is also the spokesperson for the Guinean government, orders that the measure be communicated to all hotel and restaurant establishments.

End of quote.

My opinion:

Short version: But WTF is his problem?!

Long and thoughtful version: I am still looking for the deep reason for this decree.

I'm trying to identify what obscure Caldo di Tchebem (Palm oil stew) lobby pushed the Minister into trouble stupidly like that!

More seriously, there are hundreds of "barakas" which make very good Guinean food but which are half clandestine, do not respect safety measures or the labor code and I do not even dare to mention the design or construction rules.

For these establishments, no training in accounting, hygiene or service? No line of credit open at the bank to refresh the dishes or the damp walls?

For these same establishments and all the others, the team of civil workers within the Ministry of Tourism itself is not sufficient and sufficiently equipped to tax correctly, to carry out inspections, in short, to do their “normal” work.

Nooooo, let's rather hit on (extort?!) the 4 restaurants that have personality in Bissau, whose owners have thought about a particular concept and; when the money invested is “clean”; have bled themselves to the four veins to legalize themselves, build and / or decorate the room with care and sometimes train staff who have little or no training.

Besides this, in which country are restaurant chefs forced to offer this or that dish? Since when does a Chinese, Indian or Ethiopian restaurant sell Mac'An'Cheese?

Since when should a Burger restaurant sell Caldo branco? #OnlyInGuineaBissau

In addition to all the problems of the sector, we add on the top a Kuntchuro* Police ??!

(*Sweet breakfast dish with grounded rice and peanut)

It REALLY makes no sense and it may damaging even more the stormy relations between the Ministry and the restaurants owners...

Besides, dear Minister, we are still waiting for the 2 helicopters promised last year, huh!

The Russian company benefited from a line of credit at the BAO if I remember correctly...

We suffer for nothing here deh…

N’skirbi, n’ditanda - local version of I drop the mic!