Government of Timor-Leste

The Government of Timor-Leste is maintaining it's partnership with the community radios, to continue to disseminate information to the public, thereby promoting the people's participation in the national development.

In his opening speech, at the National Seminar for Community Broadcasters, under the theme "Community participation in the Institutional Development of Community Radios", which was held at the Ramelau Hotel, on December 16, 2013, the Secretary of State for Media, Nélio Isaac Sarmento, stressed that the Government remains committed to supporting the media, including the community radio stations.

The seminar was organized by the Secretary of State for Media, through the Centre for Community Radios, and took place prior to the training session for the Board and Management members of the Community Radios, which took place from the 17 to the19 of December.

"I wish that the future relationship between the community radios and the Government, does not become one of dependency, but rather one of institutional interdependence, so that it may be a good partnership. A partnership which preserves our culture and is the vehicle for disseminating information and civic education. An important partnership in the democratization and state-building process" said Nélio Isaac Sarmento.

The Secretary of State emphasized the need to create an integrated plan which may lead to greater community participation, so that the investment and the support from the state may diminish, and that the creation of institutional dependencies is avoided. "I believe you have the ability to utilize the community radios, as the means of media communication, which may have a contribution in all the processes in our country. Community radio stations have their own nature and character, which are the result of community initiative. You must therefore keep this peculiarity. The Government's commitment is to continue to support you through the Centre of Community Radios. This does not mean that there is a political intention to intervene in the contents of the programs, "concluded the Secretary of State for Media.

The Secretary of State for Administrative Decentralization, Tomás Cabral, the President of the Commission F, Sérgio Hornai, the members of the Board of Management for the community radio stations in all districts and journalists, participated in the event.