Government Reinforces Development in Covalima with Investments in Road Infrastructure and Water Supply
The Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, visited the municipality of Covalima between July 9 and 11, during which he led a series of activities aimed at strengthening local development and improving the quality of life of the population. Accompanied by members of the Government, municipal authorities and representatives of civil society, the Head of Government took part in the inauguration of a drinking water supply Fohorem, launched the road rehabilitation project in the Maucatar Administrative Post and met with the municipal leadership to assess the progress of development programs.
On July 10th, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Public Works, Samuel Marcal, accompanied by the Secretary of State for Local Development, Mateus dos Santos Tallo, the Secretary of State for Toponymy and Urban Organization Affairs, Germano Santa Brites Dias, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bee Timor-Leste, E.P. (BTL), Gustavo da Cruz, inaugurated the Drinking Water Supply System Improvement Project at the Fohorem Administrative Post. The project will provide piped water to more than 200 households, for the benefit of approximately 1,260 people, and includes the installation of two large-capacity reservoirs, around 2.3 km of pipes and 210 meters. The new system is also connected to various public buildings, such as the medical centre, the school, the PNTL station, the station administration building, the village office and the church. “Today we inaugurate this system as part of our concrete response to the appeals of the community,” said the Prime Minister during the ceremony. According to the plans of the Ministry of Public Works, through BTL, similar inaugurations are planned in Maubisse, Fatuberlio, Ossu and Lacluta.
The next day, July 11th, the Prime Minister went to the Maucatar Administrative Post, where he presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the road rehabilitation project between the Ogues and Leogore villages. Divided into two packages, the project covers around 17 kilometre’s and represents a total investment of 5.5 million US dollars. The work, which will take between 12 and 18 months to complete, will be realized by two groups of companies, under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Works.
During the ceremony, the President of the Covalima Municipal Authority, Miguel Armada Cardoso, expressed the population's satisfaction with the start of the work, stressing the importance of the road infrastructure for transporting local produce and calling for the community's cooperation to ensure that the work goes smoothly. We've been waiting a long time for this road. Now that the 9th government has finally launched the project, we can only be grateful and supportive," he said.
For his part, the Prime Minister stressed that investment in basic infrastructure is provided for in the Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030 and is a responsibility of the state towards those who fought for national independence. “We are not doing this out of recognition, but to honour the sacrifice of the martyrs and to serve the people who survived to build this country,” he stressed.
The visit began on July 9 with a meeting between the Prime Minister and the Cova Lima Municipal Authority, held at the authority's official residence. The meeting made it possible to assess the progress of the municipal development programs and identify the main challenges still to be overcome. The Head of Government listened attentively to the presentations by President Miguel Armada Cardoso and his team, who stressed the importance of strengthening basic infrastructure and continuing decentralization efforts.
