The FRETILIN bench of the opposition at the National Parliament of Timor-Leste expressed dismay yet again over delays with the introduction of the General State Budget proposal for 2014 into the parliament.
FRETILIN MP’s claim the delay constitutes a Constitutional breach and will have a flow on effect and negatively impact its execution in the year ahead.
MP Inacio Moreira said the budget proposal ought to have been sent at least three months prior for consideration and prior to being debated so MP’s had time to adequately consider it and conduct public hearings on it.
“We will only have limited time to study and analyze the State Budget proposal. We just won’t have enough time,” said MP Moreira.
Meanwhile the Head of Academic Studies at the University of Dili (UNDIL), Antonio Cardoso, said his biggest worry is that since the first Constitutional Legislature budget execution has been questionable with many projects falling short from achieving predicted results.
“We talk about a budget but this is the people’s money. So we have to do better for the people. People need to feel the results of its execution and they must reap the benefits through development across all sectors,” he said.
Mr. Cardoso added it is time the government brings society together to contribute towards the implementation of quality projects.
He urged the government to ensure the sustainability of public projects and to try and find other sources of State revenue.
“Currently we are dependent on Oil and Gas revenue and we are just spending these funds,” he added.
