Government of Timor-Leste

Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and

Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste

 Díli, February 6, 2015

Ceremony for a peaceful and sustainable future for Timor-Leste

Last night a dinner and lighting ceremony was held focused on the theme of A peaceful and Sustainable future for Timor-Leste and beyond.

The event began with the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, officially launching the book Timor-Leste Standard Methods of Measurement, written by the National Development Agency [ADN]. The Prime Minister noted that “the ADN was formed to control the pricing and quality of Public Works and has been responsible for savings in the order of $227 million between 2011 and 2014”. The book will assist this kind of oversight in years to come.

The Minister of Finance, H.E. Emilia Pires presented a Statement on the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals. She began by thanking Noeleen Heyzer, Under Secretary of the United Nations and the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Advisor for Timor-Leste, who is undertaking her last visit to the country in her role as special advisor. Dr. Heyzer, she said, has “strengthened the partnership between the United Nations and Timor-Leste” and “helped get Timor-Leste’s voice heard on the global stage.” The Minister went on to explain that the new Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] would address the main gaps in the MDGs and that Timor-Leste was well represented in the Open Working Group process developing the SDGs by the g7+.

H.E. Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, spoke passionately on Sustainable Energy for All, noting that “we must find a path to a future that is people centered and planet sensitive.” As regards energy she said “we need to turn UP the lights so that all communities have access to light and energy and turn DOWN the global thermostat to address the issue of climate change.”

Visiting Timor-Leste for the first time His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway spoke to the theme of the Transition from Millennium Development Goals to the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The Prince has been a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNDP since 2003 and spoke warmly of his time in Timor-Leste so far.

Representing the Business Community, Mr. Carson Wen, Chairman of the Asian Business of Sustainable Development Network, spoke on sustainable business practices and presented solar lights which were given to the Prime Minister, members of Government and Community Leaders. Four “grandmother technicians” were introduced who have been trained to maintain and repair the one thousand lights being donated to the Timorese community by Mr. Wen.