The International Republican Institute held a program to provide a forum to listen to the concerns and problems facing the community in Baucau district.
The program involved Members of Parliament, who spoke and, as representatives of the people in National Parliament, listened directly to people’s suffering and difficulties.
On the day the community conveyed concerns about basic necessitieslike clean water and electricity,as while some villages already have 24-hour electricity, other villages don’t.
Meanwhile some communities were also concerned with infrastructure, for example roads, because the roads in their villages are still in a bad condition.
According to IRI Senior Program Officer Carlito Nunes the program has been held seven times already, including in Baucau district.
“The program is done so MPs can listen directly to people’s concerns in Baucau district and MPs can convey these to the government to take action,” said Nunes in Baucau.
He also added the sessionlasted for two hours and it was clear therewere still many people with concerns but they should take part so the public forum could be effective and more interactive.
MP Francisco Da Costa said through the program MPs could know about the concerns of people living on the ground.
“For the problems and concerns, we will convey them in the plenary so the Secretary of State for ParliamentaryIssues can convey them to the relevant ministry to take action,” he said.
At the same place,Baucau resident Agustu Belo said the program was very goodbecause they could meet the people’s representative in parliament and express their concerns.
He said he hoped there would be a good result in relation to these concerns.
