A group of four Massachusetts state legislators, among them Cape Verdean-born Vinny de Macedo, will arrive in Cape Verde today, January 5, for a one-week visit. The group's trip comes following an invitation made by Prime Minister José Maria Neves during his last trip to the United States in the summer of 2007.

Vinny de Macedo, who was born on the island of Brava but was taken to the United States before his first birthday, will be accompanied by three other colleagues, António Cabral and Michael Rodrigues (both of Azorean origin) and Marie St. Fleur. According to information gathered by A Semana Online, the four members of the Massachusetts State Legislature count the state's Cape Verdean community among their electoral base, and the visit is aimed at giving them a better understanding of the country of origin of this segment of the population of New England. Among the institutions with which they plan to make contact is the University of Cape Verde.

The group, and Macedo in particular, played a role considered important by Cape Verdean authorities in ensuring that Cape Verde would be included on the list of countries eligible for the United States government's Millennium Challenge Account program.

During their stay in Cape Verde, the four legislators will be received by President Pedro Pires, National Assembly president Aristides Lima, the Prime Minister himself, Minister of Foreign Affairs Victor Borges and various other public entities.

In addition to official meetings, the group will visit various spots on the islands of Santiago and Brava. Indeed, this will be the first time Vinny de Macedo will have returned to his home ground since emigrating to the United States before he was one year old. A state legislator for the Republican Party, Vinny is the brother of renowned linguist Donaldo de Macedo, a staunch defender of making Crioulo Cape Verde's official language.