Following the swearing-in ceremony of his
Cabinet on Friday and a marathon meeting of the first Council of Ministers
in which the Budget for the 2006/2007 financial year was approved, Prime
Minister Dr. José Ramos-Horta, true to his word that there wouldn't be
excuses for inertia, has hit the deck running.
On Saturday, after meetings with political
and community leaders, Dr Ramos-Horta, went on a three-hour walk through
the suburbs of Balide and Taibessi, during which many Timorese, from the
most humble to shopkeepers and children, had the opportunity to raise their
concerns and tell of their hopes for the future.
These concerns and hopes and requests were shared by the Minister for Education and Culture, Rosália Corte-Real, and the Vice-Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Planning and Finances, and Public Works, respectively Adalgisa Magno, Aicha Bassarewa and Raul Mousaco, who accompanied the Prime Minister in this unscheduled 'meet the people' walk.
The walk through the streets both surprised and was enthusiastically greeted by the suburbs' populations.
"I have been touring suburbs for years, either on foot or by bicycle. It is not only a good healthy exercise but it is the opportunity to meet the people," Dr Ramos-Horta said.
"I'm pleased that a few of my colleagues were able to join me and I hope this becomes a routine to all of my cabinet colleagues as it is vital not to lose touch with those we are supposed to serve. Only this way, listening to them, can we develop appropriate programs that will better their lives."
On Saturday evening, Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Dr Ramos-Horta, visited F-FDTL's Naval Component at Hera, where he addressed the members of the armed forces stationed there and answered many of their questions.
He also addressed hundreds of the local population and IDPs (displaced persons), listened to them and answered their questions.
To both groups - the military and the civilian population - Dr Ramos-Horta told of aspects of the program of his Government that, he assured all, will do its very best to serve the best interests of the Timorese people particularly the poor.
"My Government," he said "is going to be a government for the poor. My Government will be at the forefront in the fight against poverty. We are going to use existing money to dignify the human being, give them hope, given them food, clothing and give them a roof."
This message was repeated in Manatuto when the Prime Minister visited yesterday, Sunday, July 16.
In his address to an enthusiastic crowd of many hundreds, including local and traditional leaders, police, clergy and local representatives of political parties, Prime Minister Ramos-Horta recalled his links to Manatuto and the district (he attended primary school at Soibada) and again outlined his vision to a prosper life to all Timorese.
Today, Monday, July 17, after his daily briefing by the Joint Task Force on the security situation in the last 24 hours, Prime Minister Ramos-Horta held a meeting with prospective Australian investors in the areas of agriculture, fisheries and catlle breeding and meat export.
"The private and entrepreneurial sector is an indispensable pillar in the development and well being of our country and I've been very encouraged by the response of international investors to my appointment as Prime Minister and their renewed confidence in Timor-Leste," Dr Ramos-Horta said.
"I'm happy to discuss with them projects, ideas that will contribute to the development of our country and create jobs to the Timorese. We are going to find ways to offer incentives and enthuse them and facilitate their activities. The foreign investors in this country can count on this Government to listen to them and to support them," he said.
After his daily meeting with his two Vice Prime Ministers, Eng Estanislau da Silva and Dr Rui Araujo, the Prime Minister attend the swearing in ceremony by President Xanana Gusmão of the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General, respectively Dr Longuinhos Monteiro and Dr Ivo Valente.
Prime Minister Dr Ramos-Horta then held his regular Monday meeting with H.E. President Xanana Gusmão, during which a number of issues were discussed including the budget approved on Friday by the Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister's plan to visit every Ministry, salries of public servants, and candidates to fill in vacancies in the government as well as for the position of Inspector-General of the Republic, to replace the late Mariano Lopes da Cruz.
The economic and financial situation of Timor-Leste was the focus of a series of meetings in the afternoon.
Dr Ramos-Horta held separate meetings with the representative of the Asian Development Bank, Mr Charles Andrews; with Dr Abraão de Vasconcelos, general manager of Timor-Leste's Bank Payment Authority; and later, together with his two Vice Prime Ministers, Eng Estanislau da Silva and Dr Rui de Araujo, and the Minister and Vice Minister for Planning and Finances, Madalena Boavida and Aicha Bassarewa, held an exhaustive meeting with members of a high-level delegation of the World Bank. -ENDS
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CHRIS SANTOS
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