Notion of New RDTL National Parliament Building

A national parliament building represents people's identity, and that the people feel proud of their existence being unique. Functionally, the building provides space for the people, represented by a bunch of talkers, to critic or support ideas on how to make public lives better. So, I think it is normal to dream of having a new national parliament building like what the President of Parliament alluded two weeks ago.

 

The building currently used by the National Parliament is a meeting hall located at the backside of the Government Palace. I heard that, prior independence, it was used for provincial government meetings, and etc. It is located in the backdoor, the space-use is so squished. Parliament office rooms are made of prefabricated materials, and parking space is packed during busy times. It also sits in city center that , in many ways, affect so much to the public interest. For example, traffic chaos occur due to frequent road closures for demonstrations, official events such as foreign dignitary state visits, and annual state budget debates.  

 

There are many people opposing this so-called ambitious plan due to many reasons but financial. Yes, we do still have many priority areas that we must spend money on. For example, on health, and  education sectors, and basic infrastructure services. However, it does not mean that the government can not start to think about it. The government can start a serious planning, strong political decision power, and do it in phases. One reason why the government needs to plan it seriously is that because there have been different plans showing up which come from different leaders in different times. For example, few years back, the planned location was in Tasi-Tolu. There has been design of a super building taking up Tasi-Tolu lakes (picture above). The location now has moved to Hera. This shows that the notion deserve total opposition from the public. 

 

Constructing a national parliament building and complex does cost hundreds of millions of this $. RDTL does not have money to make the project a one go like most major infrastructure projects in the past which took up so much to other priority areas. So, the government has to be wise enough. At least from the beginning to make the public believe by providing a definitive location (acquire the land) based on studies, not based on personal preference. Next will be bringing basic infrastructure, and then will be the building?. Considering the opposing argument, I think the government can still do it, but in a realistic way. 

 

The challenging thing is that decisions are made not rationally, but emotionally most of the times. Things tend to be done quick and fast in order to satisfy short terms goals. This kind of attitude should be changed by our society sooner or later, or we go bankrupt.  

 

**Hope this gives you an inspiration.  

Housing for FALINTIL Veterans

Source

 

I am one of you who respects very much of the sacrifice of our best independence fighters or FALINTIL Veterans. I mean, Veterans, the ones who hid in deep mountains for 24 years fighting. They sacrificed their own wellbeing, life convenience, family members, almost everything, I would say. With that being said, we are now independent.

Today is FALINTIL's 45th anniversary. In the last 20 years of our independence, it is not fair to keep seeing that some of the Veterans even live in a worse condition than the time living in the mountains. They are getting sick but no adequate health services, they don't even own or entitle to a house. I saw Facebook posting today showing a veteran lives in an old Indonesian-built house given by neighbor. You can imagine, how ironic it is to see an independence veteran lives in such situation while opportunists live luxurious?

Getting adequate housing is a basic right for every citizen, but housing for FALINTIL Veterans is a right and obligation as well that this country has to provide. The state has to initiate a proper housing program that covers improvement of living conditions.  We must recognize that the pension fund that being paid to the Veterans is far from enough to improve their living conditions.   

It is impossible to build a house with $200 (maybe a little more) bucks monthly pension money; thus providing housing separately will be a miracle. They State has to come asking them where to build the house, to what extent their housing need is, and thus suitable, and adequate housing can be provided. 

The kind of mainstream public housing is not going to work for the Veterans. For example, relocating them all together to one place, same size of building, the worse is without sustainable basic infrastructure such as water, and electricity is only to make their living condition worse than improving.

When we call housing is not simply about a bunch of buildings constructed and lived in by human beings, but a home for the Veterans. The housing has to match with their needs, their capacity to maintain, their home to feel happy living inside. Providing housing to the FALINTIL Veterans is a proportional appreciation to their sacrifice. 

**Hope this gives you an inspiration.

  

Hera ETO Mangrove Forest Tourism

 

I asked a guy who was sitting under a small house inside the mangrove forest if there is any native and unique name for this place distinguishable to other mangroves in Hera. He said you can just call this place "Hera ETO mangrove forest." I asked about naming or branding of this site because there are several patches of mangrove forest in the area of Hera which people could not quickly distinguish from one another.  

 

Situated near ETO fuel depot, a community organization called Asosiasaun Konservasaun Flora i Fauna has just started to develop the mangrove recreation site. One and crucial facility is wooden walkway bridge. Approximately a hundred meters long walkway has been built to make access possible into the forest. Management of this new recreation site charges entry fee, $1 per person.

 

A person who often times passes by this area and could only see outer, I was amazed by the internal look after entering the forest. The place is so fresh, and cool for one to have a good time in. According to the guy, number of visitors is quite high on weekends. The site has just opened some weeks ago, and people are quite curious and attracted to come.

 

When I asked the guy what activities are planned for this mangrove recreation site, he said people can come here to relax, also school and university students to do mangrove conservation research activities. But nearly all the visitors come to take photos. The management plans to construct another access facility to the top of a big beachside rock. There will be a nice photo spot. However, this plan needs some time to implement because they need to raise fund, make design and build. Constructing access to the top of the rock will be another unique experience.

 

There are around tens of monkeys living inside the forest. These monkeys are native, and have multiplied since the forest was taken cared by the association. I was talking to the guy what if you do monkey feeding business alongside the entry fee, those monkeys could be fed by the visitors with banana bought from your association. You would make another money to keep and develop this site. 

 

Another important aspect is parking for visitors. The parking is not healthy because dusty. Furthermore, visitors on-street parking is not safe since the road, National Road Number 1 has improved significantly, and traffic is quite busy. The guy said they would like to improve the parking area in the near future.    

 

**Hope this gives you an inspiration.