The government has not yet identified an appropriate site for a new Parliamentary building as all suitable locations are already occupied.
National Parliament deputy president Aderito Hugo da Costa said locations which have been scouted include sites at Hera, the old airport and Tasi Tolu, where a new town square is earmarked.
He said the building of the new building would be a mammoth undertaking as the new Parliament would serve the nation for up to 50 years.
“We want the building which represents the legislative organ to answer the needs of the Parliament for the next 50 years,” he said.
“It’s difficult to find places for new state buildings as a lot of state land is occupied by our people; it’s difficult to make it free,” he said.
He said he hoped an appropriate place could be found soon for a 2017 completion date of the proposed building.
When approached by The Dili Weekly for clarification, a Secretariat of State Lands staffer said the secretariat had not received communications from Parliament about finding a location.
