The Secretary of State for the Promotion of Equality Idelta Maria Rodrigues asked government members’ wives to wear tais when accompanying their husbands for National Women’s Day celebrations.
According to her, wearing the traditional, woven cloth is a way to promote and the culture and identity of Timor-Leste to other nations.
“I told the wives to accompany their husbands and in this celebration we have to show our culture as our identity,” said Secretary of State Rodrigues in Dili.
She added, currently they were raising awareness with all the people, especially members of the government, to get them to wear tais for the historic celebration.
National Women’s Day is on November 3 but the celebrations will be held on November 8, as November 1 and 2 are public holidays.
She said tais could be modified according to each person’s style, but the theme should still be tais.
Meanwhile Brigida da Silva, the wife of the Minister of Public Works, agreed everyone should wear tais at this important event to show other countries that Timorese women have their own culture and identity.
“I think the Secretary of State’s suggestion is very good, as we can promote our culture to other nations,” she said.
On the other hand, Marie Jacqueline A. Siapno, the wife of the Deputy Prime Minister, disagreed and said SEPI had no right to force the wives of government members to wear tais in this celebration, as tais is expensive at the moment.
“I like to wear tais but it’s expensive and while I accompany my husband for national and international events, the state never gives me money to buy tais,” she said.
In response to the issue, Secretary of State Rodrigues said it wasn’t compulsory but the organizing committee for the event decided that government members’ wives should wear tais during the event.
“It depends on the everyone’s conscience.”
She acknowledged that tais is expensive because it is sold to foreigners and so Timorese themselves refuse to buy tais.
