Government of Timor-Leste

The Secretary of State for Social Communication (SECOMS in portuguese), Nelio Isaac Sarmento, inaugurated the Lian Tatamailau Community Radio [which means Tatamailau Voice], in the Municipality of Ainaro, on June 24^th, 2016, in a ceremony in which the Radio’s inaugural headstone was signed. The Administrator of the Municipality of Ainaro, Martinho de Araújo, the President of the Board and the Manager of the new Community Radio, respectively, Francisco Barros and Rita Barros attended this event.

The construction of this radio station’s building costed 246 thousand dollars, paid by the Infrastructures Fund, through the Ministry of Planning and Strategic Investment. This work was entrusted to the company Rocky Construction.

In his speech, the Secretary of State informed that the Government of Timor-Leste, through the Social Communication programme, will create conditions for the country's Communication channels to disseminate information and to become educational bodies for all citizens: "For this nation to develop, it is not enough that the citizens feel the results of development; they also need to have access to information, and to listening, reading and watching the news through Social Media. Thus, within the development process, the information broadcast capacity increases."

The Secretary of State asked the local authorities and the population of the Municipality of Ainaro to work together with the Manager and the Board of Lian Tatamailau Radio, to pay attention and be aware of the sustainability of this new achievement. He also asked the President and the Manager of the Radio to ensure their role of information to the community, and to work together with the authorities of the Municipality of Ainaro. It aims to broadcast information on the Municipal and Central Government’s development policy.

In his turn, the Administrator of the Municipality of Ainaro recognized the great privilege of having this new building, because it will be a pilot project for the Community Radios in Timor-Leste: "The Municipality of Ainaro congratulates itself for this new building and declares itself ready to work together with the Lian Tatamailau Radio, to make it a powerful tool in broadcasting progress and the achievements reached towards the development of the people of this Municipality."

The President of the Radio thanked the Government for the construction of the building, which represents a great advantage for the Ainaro community, as, because of it, radio frequencies will be able to reach everywhere in the Municipality.

The Manager of the Tatamailau Lian Radio also added that this inauguration is a milestone in a new phase in the history of the community: "We did not expect it to materialize in this Municipality, but our dreams have become true."

Rita Barros also called on the local authorities to continue supporting the Radio regarding the likely difficulties that may arise in the future and also the evolution of its own programming.