The State Secretariat for Toponymy and Urban Organisation (SEATOU) has begun intensifying measures to organise and regulate the commercial activities of coconut and corn vendors in the Cristo Rei tourist area in the capital, Dili.
SEATOU Secretary of State, Germano Santa Brites, said that the measures are based on the need to ensure urban order, environmental cleanliness, and the preservation of the tourism value of Cristo Rei, considered an important symbol of Timor-Leste and a principal destination for national and international visitors.
“Cristo Rei must remain a clean, orderly and safe tourist site. So, we have decided to regulate commercial activities in this area to protect its image and the comfort of visitors,” he told journalists.
He said that the government has already conducted an assessment on the ground and identified that the activities of selling coconuts and corn in the area contribute to various problems, including the accumulation of rubbish, smoke, and the use of public spaces that are not organised.
He highlighted that the measure is not intended to close economic opportunities for vendors, but rather to reorganise their activities to locations that are appropriate and legal.
He said that through SEATOU, the government has already prepared an alternative area, including at the roundabout near the residence of the President of the Republic, to accommodate vendors who wish to continue their businesses.
“We are providing an alternative so they can continue selling, but in a place that we have already prepared. In this way, it can help organise the city and provide opportunities for them to earn an income,” he said.
He stated that although the measure has already begun to be implemented through socialisation and guidance on the ground, authorities have observed that there are still some vendors who continue to violate the rules and carry selling illegally in the Cristo Rei area and other public places.
“We cannot continue to tolerate situations like this. Tourist areas must have good standards of cleanliness and organisation,” SEATOU stressed.
He further added that SEATOU will continue to carry out regular and rigorous inspections on the ground, including coordination with the relevant authorities, to ensure the effective implementation of the measures that have been established. He also said that the government is considering applying administrative sanctions against people who continue not to respect the rules.
“We will apply the law firmly. People who continue to violate the rules will face consequences according to the regulations in force,” he said.
On the other hand, a vendor in the Cristo Rei area, Armando do Rosário, said that he is concerned about the measures being implemented by the government because it directly affects their daily income.
“We understand that the government wants to organise and improve the city. However, for us who depend on selling here, this change is very difficult because it supports our families,” he said.
He added that vendors are not against the government’s measure, but they hope there will be communication and a solution that takes both sides into consideration. According to him, the alternative location proposed should be able to attract customers in the same way as Cristo Rei.
“If the government can guarantee that the alternative location being offered is good and has people passing through, we are ready to move. We also want to cooperate, but there must be a fair solution,” he said.In addition, he asked the government to provide an adaptation period for vendors before implementing stricter measures, so that they can prepare themselves and look for other alternatives for their income.
