Maio is a constituent republic of Verde Commonwealth.
| Maio Republic | |
|---|---|
| Island of Maio | |
| Constituent Republic of Vekllei | |
 |
|
| Part of the Verde Commonwealth | |
| Accession | 1945, as part of the British Atlantic Territories |
| Area | 274.5 km² |
| Capital | Vila |
| Languages | English, Verde Creole, Portuguese |
| Population | 14,391 |
The Maio Republic is a constituent republic of Vekllei at the eastern edge of the Barlavento islands of Cabo Verde. It is flat and quiet, and the least visited and least developed of the Verde republics – arguably the most overlooked of the lot, though this does not seem to bother the people who live there.
Portugal used Maio as a supply point from the 16th Century, and salt pans formed the basis of its colonial economy. The salt economy never produced much wealth, and Maio has always been a working place rather than a prosperous one. The rectangular salt works at the island’s southern end are a holdover from this period, and now run on mechanised equipment, drawing salt from seawater shallows. When the industry declined, most of the people who stayed on were small farmers and fishers, and the island changed little between the 18th and 20th Centuries.
Maio is also home to one of Vekllei’s more peculiar institutions. The International Peace Garden occupies the island’s inland plateau, and is designated neutral ground under Commonwealth law – used for international mediation, regional diplomacy and occasional West African arms treaty negotiations. No single ministry administers it; instead, a joint committee of the federal government and several international bodies runs the site. The installation itself is a scatter of low-profile buildings set among protected woodland, linked to Vila by railway and to the wider network by the island’s small airport. It provides some local employment and the odd curious visitor.
The capital, Vila, is a modest coastal town with a pleasant square, a church dating from the colonial period, and the civic infrastructure that came with federalisation. Ferries run regularly to Praia and Boa Vista, and the airport also handles Commonwealth services flights. Life on Maio is quiet by any standard, and suits people looking for the quiet corners of the country.
Climate
Hot and dry, with a brief wet season from August to October. Winds are persistent. The island is generally calmer than the more exposed northern Verde islands.
Public Holidays
- New Year’s Day 1 Jan
- Heroes Day 20 Jan
- Republic Day 2 Apr
- Good Friday
- Commonwealth Day 1 May
- Assumption Day 15 Aug
- All Saints Day 1 Nov
- Christmas Day 25 Dec
- Electronic Components
- Fish
- Fruit
- Glass
- Grain
- Medical Supplies
- Palm Oil
- Paper
- Petroleum
- Sugar
- Timber
- Vegetables
- Water
- International Peace Garden: Neutral diplomatic facility on the island’s inland plateau, used for international mediations and treaty negotiations under Commonwealth auspices.
- Maio Salt Works: Historic salt extraction site still in partial operation, with Portuguese colonial infrastructure alongside modern processing equipment.
- Morrinho Peak: The island’s highest point at 436 metres, giving views across the flat interior to the sea.
- Ponta Preta Beach: Long, undeveloped beach on the island’s north coast, one of the quietest in the Verde archipelago.
- Maio Central Railway Local rail service serving the tranquil island of Maio.