The government is unable to collect money from market vendors for the use of public facilities such as toilets as it does not have a legal basis for doing so, according to Minister for Commerce, Industry and Environment Antonio da Conceição.
He said citizens were obligated to take part in furthering the development of their nation by paying appropriate fees.
The minister said the collection of money by the National Union for Micro Enterprises (UNAME) from Taibesi market vendors for the use of public facilities had ceased as it had no legal basis.
He said the public facilities were free for use until the appropriate laws enacted.
Member of Parliament Leonel Marçal said he considered the collection of money from vendors for the use of public facilities to be an act of major corruption.
“To use the toilets, they have to pay 25 cents and 50 cents to take a shower; it’s a huge amount of money,” he said
He called on the government to consider the financial situation of vendors before creating laws to charge them for the use of the facilities.
“There is major corruption here,” he said.
UNAME President Fernando Vieira said the push to charge for the use of toilets came after an agreement was signed by the Timor-Leste Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry for Commerce, Industry and Environment in August.
He said the money collected did not go to UNAME coffers but was used to pay for cleaners, security guards and facility maintenance.
“There is money being collected but it isn’t mandatory; donations are voluntary,” he said.
He said about $725 was collected each month.
