Speech of HE the  Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak on the Occasion the Swearing-in Ceremony of 21^st  Members of the VIII Constitutional Government

Presidential Palace of Nicolau Lobato, Wednesday, June 24^th , 2020,

Your Excellency, the President of the Republic, Mr. Francisco Guterres Lú Olo and Wife

Your Excellency, the President of the National Parliament, Mr. Aniceto Guterres

Your Excellency, the President of the Court of Appeal, Mr. Deolindo dos Santos

Your Excellency, the Former Prime Minister of the I and VII Constitutional Governments, Mr. Mari Alkatiri

Your Excellencies, Former Heads of sovereign bodies

Your Excellency, the President of the Authority of the Special Administrative Region of Oekusi (the “RAEOA”) and the Special Zone of Social Market Economy of Timor-Leste (the “ZEESM-TL”), Mr. Arsénio Paixão Bano

Your Excellencies, Reverend Bishops of Baucau, Dili and Maliana

Distinguished Members of the National Parliament

Distinguished Members of the Government

Distinguished Mr. Attorney-General of the Republic

Chief of the General Staff of FALINTIL – Defence Forces of Timor-Leste

General Commander of the National Police of Timor-Leste

Distinguished Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps

Representatives of International Agencies

Representatives of Civil Society

Ladies and gentlemen

Distinguished Guests;

With humility, I return to this Palace to participate in the swearing -in ceremony of the remaining members of the Government, concluding the process of forming the VIII Constitutional Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.

Today we have, at our disposal, some of the best Timor-Leste sons, to, together, develop the country and rescue the confidence and hope of the Timorese People.

I am sure that the challenges are enormous, but if we have the confidence, the strength of mind and the firm will to win, we will achieve the objectives of the promises transmitted by successive governments to transform Timor-Leste into a Rich, Strong and Secure country, capable to achieve Modernity and Prosperity.

A country capable of achieving the national, human and economic development goals and indicators, provided for in the National Development Strategic Plan (PEDN) and in the Roadmap for the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A country that, we all hope, by 2030, can be of medium-high income, and that does not forget or abandon any of its citizens.

A country that presently, as in the past, neither conforms nor despairs in the face of adversity, but with optimism and determination, tackles the serious challenges caused by disasters, natural disasters and the current SARS-Cov-2 and COVID-19 pandemic.

A Nation that, gathered around common objectives and principles of improvement and well-being, of fighting against poverty and malnutrition, of defending national integrity and sovereignty, of protecting the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of Timor-Leste, seeks to transform all difficulties into opportunities through work, commitment, loyalty and dedication in its daily life.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Distinguished guests;

In times of crisis, uncertainty and fear for the future, messages of encouragement, confidence and encouragement are needed.

We will soon present a renewed proposal for the 2020 State General Budget, in order to continue to invest at a good pace in the well-being of the populations and in the infrastructures that are fundamental for the country’s development.

We are implementing measures at a time of global economic and social crisis, aiming at some effective stabilization and economic recovery of the country.

Concrete measures, implemented on the ground, that have already responded and will continue to respond, whenever necessary, to urgent situations, natural disasters and public calamities.

Financial Support Measures that will decrease the negative impacts that affect more than 298,000 (two hundred and ninety-eight thousand) households in all municipalities and regions.

But also measures to recover the damage, to rehabilitate infrastructure and to rebuild all the essential means for our mobility and economic and social activities.

The new members of the VIII Constitutional Government that take office today are the right people chosen with a sense of patriotism and nationalism.

The right people with the appropriate support to lead the Social and Economic Recovery Measures, which we are preparing to present to the country, giving priority to new technologies and the sectors of economy, education, health and epidemiological surveillance.

These measures will certainly contribute to a “more modern, prosperous and developed” Timor-Leste.

This means, obviously, that we need to be near to our citizens, not only to understand the true dimension of inequalities and problems that persist in society, but also to urgently respond, with lucidity and vision, to their expectations and to the challenges they face.

It is therefore essential to mobilize institutional will, to appeal to all our wisdom and intelligence because I believe in the commitment and capacity of the Timorese to achieve our common future.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Distinguished guests;

We have been receiving the praise from several development partners, mentioning the success we have achieved in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.  

We are happy that we haven’t recorded any fatalities so far and that we have managed to control the outbreak, preventing its free spread in Timor-Leste soil.

In this sense, we observe the strong role of health professionals, especially doctors and nurses, in the fight against COVID-19. We also highlight the important role that the Timorese population played during the State of Emergency, collaborating with the authorities both in prevention and combat actions.

We will not fail to recognized the various supports received from donor countries, that comprise development partners, as well as from the World Health Organization (WHO), international agencies and non-governmental organizations, taking the opportunity to thank everyone who participated in this huge operation of prevention, control, combat and assistance to the citizens.

This success of Timor-Leste in combating COVID-19 belongs to everyone.

Finally, I would like to leave a message of deep gratitude and public acknowledgment to all member of the VIII Constitutional Government, who, between June 2018 and June 2020, accompanied me on the noble mission of governing the country, but which, for political reasons, had to leave the Government.

I would like to thank everyone for their commitment, dedication, loyalty and spirit of mission, with which they took on the challenge of integrating the VIII Constitutional Government.

A Special appreciation for all those who, due to the circumstances, were forced to assume cumulative functions, from various government portfolios, as well as those who assumed interim ministerial functions.

It has been an honour to work with everyone and I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best of success, health and prosperity in the new public or private functions you may assume.

I would also like to thank to the new members who agreed to join the VIII Constitutional Government, for the period between 2020 and 2023.

I also want to thank citizens, families, communities, entrepreneurs, development partners, and non-governmental organizations, for their renewed support and trust in the VIII Constitutional Government.

We continue to count on you, with your help and your will, because I believe that, together, we will win the future and conquer the development, towards a Timor-Leste more fair, equal, fraternal and tolerant.

May God bless us all!

Thank You very much.