Container trucks are continuing to operate during the day despite a government law decree restricting their use between the hours of 10pm and 5am.
National MP Jose Luis Guterres said the issue was concerning as the trucks occupied the street and led to traffic jams.
“The government should control [the trucks] because they are too big and block the traffic,” said Guterres at the National Parliament.
He also called on the competent ministry to ensure the law was properly implemented.
He said that in other countries there were regulations about when container trucks could operate and a specific schedule of service.
“For instance at night, the time that it should start and finish, it is scheduled,” he said.
In response to the issue, second advisor to the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communication Basilio M.X. Teixeira said the government approved the law regulating container truck operations in 2013 and was now considering re-establishing the law.
He said that recently the government has established Timor-Leste Port Association (APORTIL) to organize the unloading of containers.
“It is their duty to control, organize and create space for the containers,” he said.
He said the trucks occupied the street and led to traffic jams when operating in the morning or afternoon.
Dili resident Manuel Guterres said container trucks should only operate at night in order to prevent traffic accidents.
“It should be operating at night as the street is empty,” he said.
