São Tomé e Príncipe 2004 National Forum

A commitment to hold a National Forum was included in the Memorandum of Understanding that ended STP's political crisis of July 2003.  Events called "National Forums" had been held in 1997 and 1998, but these events were not successful.  In March 2004, President Fradique de Menezes visited Columbia University for discussions of the new legislation, governance institutions and public investments needed in his country.  At that time, Columbia faculty suggested a design for more decentralized kind of forum, aimed at simultaneously informing and consulting the public at large.  The idea was well received and led to the announcement by President de Menezes of a new forum process in STP on April 27^th. 

Columbia University researchers traveled to Sao Tome and Principe to assist with the Forum, which took place between June 16th and July 12th, 2004.  In a series of 56 public meetings around the country, citizens were presented with a popular information bulletin (English) (Portuguese version) explaining the oil situation, and a questionnaire (English, Portuguese) eliciting their preferences for public investment.  The questionnaire results were presented at a series of national-level meetings, providing a foundation upon which citizen delegates and political leaders could base their arguments. 

In spite of many political and logistical obstacles, the Forum ended on Independence Day with hundreds of Santomeans holding hands, delivering to lawmakers the results of an unprecedented exercise in civic participation. 

Key Documents on the 2004 Forum

• Final Report of the Saotomean Consultants on the National Forum (pdf)
• Presidential decree on the Forum organization, in Portuguese

• Forum Official Planning, in Portuguese

• Popular Information Bulletin* (Portuguese version, insert with credits and errata, and accompanying posters*)

• Questionnaire (English) (Portuguese)

• Opening speech by Forum Executive Secretary the Rev. José Manuel Dias Marques

• Columbia Team final report on the National Forum

• Columbia Team interview on STP Radio Nacional, 28 June 2004 (mp3 format)

Forum Video (in Portuguese) footage taken by RTP Africa (courtesy of Valdimir Antonio)

• 06/15/04 National Forum Introduction and Facilitator Training
  This segment introduces the National Forum at its planning stage and includes an interview with Reverend Jose Dias Marques. The Columbia Team appears in training sessions with Forum facilitators and moderators. (Length: 2:38) Watch Real video

• 06/16/04 Opening of the National Forum:
  This segment provides footage and highlights from the Opening Ceremony of the National Forum. Parts of Reverend Marques and President de Menezes's Opening Ceremony speeches are broadcast. Dates and National Forum details are provided. (Length: 1:40) Watch Real video

• 06/18/04 Day Two of the National Forum, Santa Catarina Meeting
  Content: This segment provides details about the how the National Forum meetings are progressing, including interviews with several participants in Santa Catarina. This segment is somewhat critical and emphasizes people's skepticism of the National Forum. Forum facilitator Olavio Anibal is also interviewed. (Length: 2:50) Watch Real video
• 07/5/04 National Forum Centralized Meetings, Day One
  This segment introduces stage two of the National Forum, the centralized meeting with community delegates in the capital. The central objectives of the centralized meeting are explained. Interviews with Reverend Marques and delegates are provided. (Length: 2:04) Watch Real video
• 07/6/04 National Forum Centralized Meetings, Day Two
  This segment reviews the objectives of the National Forum centralized meetings and looks at its progress. The dispute over whether delegates will get paid is also briefly mentioned. Executive Committee member Maria do Carmo Silveira is interviewed.(Length: 1:44) Watch Real video
• 07/7/04 Payment Dispute Involving National Forum Delegates
  This segment highlights the growing dispute between the National Forum and the Forum's community delegates over whether they should be paid to attend the centralized Forum meetings. Interviews with the leaders of the protest are provided. (Length: 2:12) Watch Real video
• 07/8/04 Payment Dispute Involving National Forum Delegates, Part II
  This segment provides an update on negotiations between the Forum delegates, the Forum's Executive Committee and the national government regarding payment of the delegates. Interviews with President de Menezes and Reverend Marques are provided. (Length: 2:00) Watch Real video
• 07/11/04 Closing of National Forum, Day One
  This segment provides footage from the first day of the National Forum's Plenary (Closing) Sessions. The segment refers to the National Forum thus far as a "success." The segment mentions that politico-institutional, social and development issues and topics were discussed. Interviews with President de Menezes, Prime Minister Maria das Neves and Forum delegates are also provided. (Length: 3:70) Watch Real video
• 07/12/04 Closing of National Forum, Day Two
  This segment provides footage from the final day of the National Forum. The segment reflects on some of the controversial aspects of the Forum's final conclusions and recommendations. Footage of Executive Committee member Justino Veiga reading aloud some of these final 45 recommendations is provided. Footage of the crowd holding hands in unison is also shown. (Length: 1:42) Watch Real video

Historical documents regarding previous forums

• Terms of Reference for the 1997 Forum in Portuguese

• Lessons learned from the 1998 Forum in French

Acknowledgements and credits

Columbia University's support to the National Forum in STP was provided by Clara Albuquerque, Joshua Chaffin, Paulo Cunha and Christine Weydig, under a grant from the United Nations Development Programme.   Activities were managed by the Columbia University country coordinator, Jan Hartman, and led by William Masters with Macartan Humphreys and Martin Sandbu, under the general Sao Tome and Principe Advisory Project funded by the Open Society Institute.