The IV Constitutional Government celebrates its 3rd Anniversary
The IV Constitutional Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, marked its 3rd Anniversary of the Parliamentary Majority Alliance (Portuguese acronym AMP) governance, on Friday, 6th of August, with a Ceremony of Reflexion in the Lahane Noble Palace, in Díli.
The swearing in of the IV Constitutional Government took place on the 8th of August of 2007, a little more than one month after the elections on the 30th of June. The AMP began the implementation of a reforming political project that started a new stage of development for this young Nation.
The Ceremony of Reflexion was carry out by the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão and by the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta.
In his intervention, the Prime Minister remembered some of the goals reached during the three years of this Government mandate.
“In the first place, we guaranteed political and social stability, through the consequent resolution of national security problems and the introduction of a profound reform of the defence and security sector.”
“In second place, we began the year of 2008 as the year of the State Management reform. In this way we have promoted legislative reforms, financial management administrative reforms, of systems and procedures reforms, and of governance mechanisms.”
“In third place, we began the process of paying pensions and subsidies to our Veterans and National Heroes, to our elders, to our widows, to our orphans and to other vulnerable groups in our society”.
“In fourth place, we also launched an ambitious plan for the planning and survey of the needs regarding basic infrastructures, fundamental for the provision of education and health services, agriculture and industrial development and the creation of employment. Still in this sector we created a daring project of electricity and energy production and distribution to ensure the supply of electricity in all the country.”
In fifth place, parallel to the removal of the first of the obstacles to private sector development, or in other words, by guaranteeing the country’s security and stability, increasing the confidence for the investor, we began a frank dialogue with national businesspersons, hearing their needs and difficulties and we supported the establishment of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry for an increased capacity of this sector.
Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, pointed out the fact that in these three years the government increased public investment, which, in 2008, allowed Timor-Leste to achieve second place in the ranking of economies with higher growth in all world.
In way of conclusion, the Head of the Government appealed to the Timor-Leste People and to those present to “reflect if the implemented programs serve the needs of the Nation”.
In his reflexion about the three years of governing by the IV Constitutional Government, the President of the Republic started by manifesting his satisfaction and trust in the future. Ramos-Horta remembered that he swore in “the IV Constitutional Government after a long process of consultations and dialogue with all the political parties. My concern was, however, to create conditions for the Country to recover the stability and confidence and, with these, to drive the development of our economy”.
José Ramos-Horta stated that “by tracing the balance of the travelled path, I find reasons for renewed trust in the future”. The Head of State highlighted the way that the Government resolved the instability focus, “the petitioner problem, the displaced persons and the Alfredo Reinado gang”. The security issue deserved a strong distinction from the President of the Republic’s part, who highlighted the continuity of the effort and objectives that were verified between the IV Government and those who preceded it.
The international relations, namely with the neighbouring countries (Australia and Indonesia), were equally pointed out in the way that positive results have been developed and produced.
The President of the Republic concluded hiss reflexion stating that “in spite of the challenges, and of much that is still to do, a balanced look over the last three years allows us to conclude a positive balance of the initiated policies. But we have the duty of not feeling as satisfied and continue to perfect the Government’s actions, to do more and invest better”.
After the reflexions, the Prime-Minister, together with the President of the Republic, presided a symbolic ceremony that consisted in a toast and cutting the cake of the IV Constitutional Government’s 3rd anniversary.
Besides the Government members and members of parliament, also present in this ceremony were the Defence and 
Security Forces members, namely the Major General for the F-FDTL, national and international institutions representatives, amongst them the United Nations Secretary-General Special Representative and members of the diplomatic corp.
To access the complete version of the Prime Minister’s speech, click here.
