American Ambassador visits CDT-TL facilities
On March 31st, 2021, the new Ambassador of the United States of America to Timor-Leste, His Excellency Charles Kevin Blackstone, made a courtesy visit to the CDT-TL facilities, at the Government Palace, in Dili. The ambassador was received directly by the Executive National Director of the CDT-TL, Ambassador Constâncio Pinto, by his assistant director, Mariano Carmo, and his team. Ambassador Constâncio Pinto congratulated and welcomed His Excellency Charles Kevin Blackstone, as the new U.S. Ambassador to Timor-Leste.
Ambassador Constâncio Pinto also took the opportunity of this visit to take a state of view on the progress of the development of the Compact Program in the areas of water and sanitation, drainage and education. He also said that the US Government and the Timor-Leste Government had planned to sign the Compact programme implementation agreement in October 2020, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was not possible for this signature ceremony to take place. Despite this, CDT-TL and MCC continued to work to finalize the feasibility study. At this time, the CDT-TL and MCC are making efforts to bring back the MCC’s experts to Timor-Leste, to finalize this study. Under the new plan, the U.S. and Timor-Leste government will try to sign the agreement in 2021. "During this period of work, the CDT-TL had the maximum support of the Timor-Leste Government, Civil Society, Private Sector, Development Partners and the Timorese people. At the moment people are waiting for the start of implementation of this project”, said Ambassador Constâncio Pinto.
After hearing this information from Ambassador Pinto, His Excellency the U.S. Ambassador said that, from his part, he will give full support to the efforts of the CDT-TL and the MCC. "This is a priority of my mission as Ambassador to Timor-Leste." , said the ambassador, who added that he will work together with the CDT-TL and MCC to achieve this investment.
