Secretary of State for Social Communication (SEKOMS) has distributed new equipment to 14 community radio stations. 
Radio Communities Center (CRC) national director Luis Evaristo Soares, who handed over the equipment said SEKOMS, through the CRC, would provide technical assistance to the community radio stations.
“During our long term co-operation, we identified that the radio equipment in the districts was not working,” said Director Soares said at the Hotel Vilaverde, Dili.
He said he hoped that the new equipment could solve the problem faced by community radio stations.
Soares said the technical team took many trips to the community radio stations to repair the equipment.
Pedro de A. Goncalves, from the Ermera radio station, said while staff at radio stations had the skills to do live broadcasts in cases of emergencies, they lacked the necessary equipment.
“In the past, we have had to borrow the equipment of District Police to do live transmissions,” he said.
“With this new equipment, we will be able to do live broadcasts in emergencies,” Goncalves said.
SEKOMS national technical director Manuel de Fatima said individual radio stations received different equipment, dependent on need.
He said technical teams were available to help community radio stations when necessary.
De Fatima said community radio stations had a strong presence in the districts, particularly in remote areas which do not have access to media such as television, newspapers and national radio.
