Government of Timor-Leste

The sixth visit of Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão to disseminate the Project for the Administrative Decentralisation and Local Government took place on Friday 19 April, 2013 at the Timor-Rai-Klaran Hall, in Aileu district.

“Municipality means Local Government. For this reason, all this structure will have to understand, comprehend and get to know their concerns and needs. All inhabitants of Aileu should contribute for the development of their district, the same applies to the intellectuals and veterans, including district and sub-district administrators; the citizens of Aileu should identify the historical touristic sites, starting from this house that was an important milestone in the History of Timor-Leste. You should start by rolling up your sleeves and exchange viewpoints regarding your district”, the Prime Minister said.

The Head of the Government also reminded that the objective of the municipality in Aileu is to develop the living conditions of its population, to enable the population to increase and improve their quality of life, particularly insofar as the energetic resources are concerned, and so that the elderly may enjoy the benefits deriving from the eradication of poverty as ensured by the Constitution of the Republic.

Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão encouraged the intellectuals, the professionals, the veterans and the community leaders to define the functions of the municipality. He also encouraged them to prepare themselves better and to identify the natural potentials such as oil, gold, thermal waters, silver and anything that enables the development of Aileu district.

“The people needs to be prepared for the production and supply of local produce, both for internal and external consumption, otherwise we shall be forced to continue importing such produce”.

In accordance with the Prime Minister, “Aileu district needs to prepare itself so that in future it may invest in the municipality. There is a need to support the district Administrator in this phase of preparation related to data survey. During the Indonesian occupation, Aileu also had a project of “autonomous area”, although such project was not materialised. Now, it is expected that the population of Aileu come to represent a bigger force for the success of the preparations to install the Municipality in the future. The inhabitants of Aileu have to prepare an operation machine, i.e., the Setting-up Committee”.

Aileu district has an area of 729 Km² and a total of 37,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are subsistence farming, livestock and tourism, and the quality of the soil is good for making bricks.