In spite of being independent, the People feel a lack of quality of life
The Fohorém sub-district, Covalima district, was the place chosen by the Prime Minister, on July 20th last, to do the consultation about the Strategic National Development Plan (SNDP).
Before the SNDP presentation by the Prime Minister, the Fohorém sub-district Administrator, Carlos Carvalho, presented the sub-district geographically. He started with the number of Sucos, a total of 4 (specifically Dato Rua, Dato Tolu, Laktos and Fohorém Vila), which have 4 730 inhabitants, localized 48 Km distance from Suai and 248 Km from Díli. In terms of produce, Fohorém has vegetable gardens, meadows, rice fields, coffee plantations, camim (timorese oleaginous tree with edible seeds), sandalwood and coconut trees, among others. Breading horses, buffalos and bovine, caprine, and swine cattle is the population’s main activity who also dedicates itself to agriculture. Therefore, the creation of cooperatives, the purchase of local produce and the increase of agricultural workers should be considered as a fundamental necessity of the sub-district.
The Administrator also added that every year and because of the natural disasters, the “Fohorém population has the need for food products. The bad conditions of roads make it difficult for the population to access them, as well as the lack of electrical power”. Carlos Carvalho also referred that in order to accelerate the country’s development, in order to reach the national objective, a good Strategic National Development Plan is necessary.
In response to the difficulties presented, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, indicated that “if the State was constituted by the People, it’s up to the State to look after the People, whatever the difficulties that it may have had during the development process. The State continues to perform this role and that responsibility, with the view of helping the People, to ensure the independence, although it knows they still lack a good quality of life”. The Head of the Government added that during 24 years, the People suffered and today still continues to suffer but “the sacrifices that they made led to today’s independence”.
Xanana Gusmão also recognized that “although the national development process has had a few failures, dynamism, however slow, but always firm and resolute, is essential in this walk to realize the dream, and one day the People will benefit from this commitment, through the improvement of the basic structures”.
