“As a foreigner, the line between fighting for what one believes in and imposing those beliefs onto others is particularly thin. I believe the Prince could achieve something remarkable by making different choices than those of all other small island nations, but I am not willing to fight for it. I do not wish to become a source of discord in the politics or society of the Prince,” reads a letter from the multimillionaire to the Regional Government of this island of São Tomé and Príncipe.
“If there are strong leadership factions that believe our work is done in bad faith, with neocolonial intentions, then it would be better to withdraw out of respect for the autonomy of the Prince. My team and I feel that we are currently seen as benefactors and punching bags, depending on what is more convenient at the moment,” adds Mark Shuttleworth.
HBD is the largest company on the island of Príncipe, with several investments in the tourism sector, providing employment to nearly 80% of the island’s population, and supporting the construction and rehabilitation of various infrastructures.
In recent months, Príncipe’s political opposition and some citizens have heavily contested the company’s decision to charge access fees to a beach on the island, although the company justified that the measure was foreseen in the contract approved by the authorities, aimed at cleaning and maintaining the space.
