DILI, 14 december 2022 (TATOLI) – The design of the ‘Tais’ uniform for public officials and students will be soon presented to the Council of Ministers for its approval, says Minister of Tourism, Trade, and Industry, José Lucas do Carmo da Silva.
“The Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, and Industry plays a crucial role in promoting Timor-Leste’s traditional textiles (Tais) through various products, including ‘Tais’ uniforms for civil servants and students,” Minister Carmo made the comments, at the Dili Convention Centre on the sidelines of the Tais National Day celebration.
Carmo said that the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (KOMNAS PKI TL) is currently working on the design of the Tais Uniform, which would be completed in the near future.
“The Committee is still working on the technical parts, for instance, deciding which types of motifs for the public officials and students,” he explained.
Minister Carmo said that as soon as the committee completed its technical work, the design would be presented to the Council of Ministers for approval: “We have to start by improving the quality of the Tais. I believed the committee will complete their work so that we could present the Tais uniform design to the Council of Ministers.”
Carmo said apart from the ‘Tais’ uniform, the government, through the MTTC also planned to promote Tais by transforming it into other useful products such as interior decoration products such as curtains, etc.
KOMNAS PKI TL Vice-President Abrão Mendonça said that the committee would organize a public consultation to gather ideas and thoughts on ‘Tais Uniform Design’ before presenting it to the Council of Ministers: “If all goes well according to plan, the ‘Tais’ uniform can be launched next year.”
“Regarding the type of motif to be used in each school in different municipalities, it would depend on the geographical location. So, schools in each municipality would have to choose the ‘Tais’ motif from their municipalities,” he said.
On december 14, 2021, Timor-Leste gained International Recognition for Tais as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
Following the announcement of Tais as the Intangible Cultural Heritage, the National Parliament issued and approved a parliamentary resolution to declare december 14 as National Tais Day, to promote, protect, and preserve Timor-Leste’s Tais.
The commemoration of the National Tais Day was organized by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (KOMNAS PKI TL) with the theme: “Hau Nia Tais, Hau Nia Identidade (Tais is my identity).”
The government of Timor-Leste allocated more than US$30.000 for the celebration of the first anniversary of National Tais Day.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
