Member of National Parliament (MP) Cristovão Barros has suggested the Ministry of State Administration (MAE) include sub-district administrations in the organization of national celebrations.
MP Barros said some people don’t participate in national celebrations as all the activities were organized national bodies.
“Don’t just concentrate in the district level, but also give power to the sub-district administrators so they can participate in celebrations of the national day and feel included,” said MP Barros.
Fretilin MP Manuel Gaspar Soares said as national day celebrations were concentrated at the district level, many Timorese felt excluded.
“When the Betano electrical central was opened, we went there and many people complained that much money was spent but the people felt nothing as all the activities were concentrated away from them,” MP Gaspar said.
“Those from national bodies did the activities but we small people never got money,” he said.
He said after the flag-raising ceremony in Craras to mark the events of November 28, the site was isolated.
“All the activities were done by the people from the national level but the residents did nothing,” he said.
He suggested in future, the MAE should give power to the district and sub-district administrators to organize some national events.
Minister of State Administration, Jorge da Conceição Teme, said two commemorations of the national day (Luak and Craras) were organized by the MAE but were planned in coordination with district and sub-district administrators, head of villages, head of sub-villages as well as the traditional leaders.
“In our preparation of the district ceremony we always involve those from the districts,” Minister Teme said.
