The New Zealand Embassy has allocated $500,000 to the Timor-Leste National Police (PNTL) to help establish official village police (OPS) posts across the country.
PNTL Second Commander Commissioner Faustino da Costa said the funding would allow the posts to be established this year.
How many sukus (villages would be established in the initial phase and where was still under discussion with municipality commanders.
“We have not discussed it yet, [but] maybe they will be established in the conflict places first,” he said.
Member of Commission B (responsible for security, defense and foreign affairs) MP Ana Ribeiro was supportive of the initiative to establish the OPS posts in the sukus as this would help the police service in these areas work more professionally.
“They have no proper place so far and they do not stay at the one place [so] that’s why their service is not working properly,” she said.
The National Parliament did not approve the budget for OPS posts this year, but Ribeiro said it was hoped the funding would help ensure the posts are established.
