The Commander of the Maritime Police Unit (UPM) of the National Police PNTL, Lino Saldanha said the PNTL has allocated $225.000 to for the maintenance of 17 boats that have not been operations for thee years.
Commander Saldanha said for the past three years, the boats haven’t been deployed because they are not operational.
“With this maintenance funds from PNTL’s Command we will be able to fix the 17 boats,” added Commander Saldanha in Dili.
He added that tender has been sent out to select the company that will be responsible for the maintenance work.
“We have tendered it out so now we are just waiting to which company will provide us with the maintenance support,” said Commander Saldanha.
PNTL’s maritime unit has only been running two boats to patrol Timor-Leste’s coastal areas.
Member of Parliament MP Ilda Maria da Conceição said she is aware of the dire conditions of PNTL’s maritime unit boats and is glad the situation is being ratified.
“Timor’s sea needs to be protected and the boats need routine maintenance so the boats can be used to hold operation around Timor’s sea,” said MP Conceição.
She added though that the government should have already allocated funds to ensure the maintenance of the boats.
“The boats are not supposed to be out of action for this long, it is not good,” said MP Conceição.
