DILI, 14 may 2021 (TATOLI)– The Ambassador of The United State to Timor-Leste, Charles Kevin Blackstone, consider Timorese Government has taken a serious and important decision to prevent the spread of covid-19 in Timor-Leste.
Ambassador Blackstone made his statement after the courtesy meeting with the President of Tatoli Agency, Manuel Pinto, his Vice President Olandino da Costa and Xisto Freitas, at the office of Tatoli, Farol Dili.
Speaking to the journalist, Ambassador Blackstone said, a pandemic is a very serious disease and many people have suffered and die, thus to prevent the covid-19 in Timor-Leste, the US will continue to partner with Timor-Leste to help the country concreate the covid-19.
“Pandemic is very serious, as we have from United State many have suffered and died, I believe that Timor-Leste Government took some difficult but important decision earlier, to prevent the spread of covid -19 here. And the US also help, between last year to this year, we have more than 4 million dollars assistance for COVID-19 response, we will continue to partner with Timor Leste until they have completed concrete covid-19,” Ambassador Blackstone said.
Likewise, Mr. Blacstone added that the United State had already provided 1.6 million dollars to support Timor-Leste last year and expect to announce more support in the coming week.
“We have already provided 1.6 million dollars, we have currently planned at least 2. 5million additional, and we expect in the coming week we will announce more support directly to the moh to meet priority to fight covid-19 on assistance,’ he said.
At the same time, Mr. Blackstone informed that The US will sign a new agreement with the Government Ministry of Finance, for the five years country development strategy.
“On assistance more generally next week we will sign new agreement with the Financial Ministry, for new five years country development strategy, will focus on economic development governance, which is about 97 million dollars, to support Timor-Leste for better development,” he said.
Ambassador Blackstone stressed that the views of Timor-Leste as a very progressive country since its independence with regards to this, they have also been provided the whole range of supports to Timor-Leste in many sectors to help Timor-Leste to become a member of Asia.
“We are supported and we are impressed, the US Government believes that Timor-Leste has much progress since the independence, thus we have provided a range of support to Timor-Leste in the area of Tourism, Agriculture, Health program and Custom reform project,” he said.
Mr. Blacstone explained, the support in the tourism sector, they have been making a chief on focusing on internal tourism, where they have been working with the international organization, at the same time, they have Avansa agriculture program, “ We work with many farmers about 12 thousand farmers, to create better value change from the time they grow, the sellers to the buyer, increasing the incomes, we had a very successful of introduction strawberry production.” Ambassador said.
He added that, in the health sector, The US supports the health program in Covalima, which is focused on delivery to those who most vulnerable, and at the same time, they also support the program of the customs reform project.
“In this project, we work with costume potentially to help Timor-Leste ” he said.
Journalist: Jose Belarmino de Sa
Editor: Rafael Belo
