On October 30th and 31st, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão inaugurated and launched a series of infrastructure projects in Lautém municipality, including the rehabilitation of key road sections, the reinforcement of the drinking water supply, and the commissioning of a desalination plant on Jaco Island. 
At the launch of these projects, the Head of the Government emphasised that the basic infrastructure outlined in the 2011–2030 National Strategic Development Plan constitutes “the foundation of national development,” highlighting that roads in good condition “pave the way for tourism growth, boost the local economy, and sustainably enhance the country’s resources.” The Prime Minister also urged community collaboration with teams on the ground to ensure high-quality execution within the contracted deadlines.
On October 30th, the rehabilitation project for the section between the Lautém roundabout and Com was launched, covering 19.76 kilometres, with a completion deadline of 365 days and a budget of US$11.2 million. The following day, October 31st, the Government launched the rehabilitation of the connection between Lautém and Lospalos, also with a deadline of 365 days, a length of 27.98 kilometres, and a budget of US$18.8 million.
At both ceremonies, the Minister of Public Works, Samuel Marçal, expressed his appreciation for the commitment of the technical teams and emphasised that “the resources belong to the people and must be managed rigorously,” calling on the support of local authorities and the population to facilitate the progress of the work and prevent constraints.
Additionally, on October 31st, a project was launched to improve and expand the water supply system at the Lospalos administrative post, with a deadline of 1,095 days and a budget of US$17 million. This investment will increase the availability of drinking water for around 4,000 beneficiaries, strengthening an essential service for families and economic activities in the municipality.
On the same day, the Prime Minister, accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry, Marcos da Cruz, inaugurated a desalination plant that converts seawater into fresh water on Jaco Island, installed with support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry and the Secretariat of State for Forestry. The system, developed by Timorese Luciano dos Santos Pereira, primarily aims to ensure water availability for local wildlife—namely, the approximately 400 deer that inhabit the island, along with other wild species—and to support the environmental management of Nino Konis Santana National Park. The Government has assigned four forest security agents to ensure the protection of the flora and fauna of Jaco Island and Nino Konis Santana National Park, urging the population and visitors to preserve these protected areas and the coastline.
The President of the Municipal Authority of Lautém, Mélio de Jesus, thanked the Prime Minister and the Executive for launching these structural projects and expressed the community’s willingness to actively collaborate to ensure their successful implementation.
Members of the Government, representatives of national and local entities, veterans, community and religious leaders, young people, students, and the general public attended the ceremonies.
