DILI, 20 may 2023 (TATOLI) – The President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta, in his speech at the celebration of the 21st Anniversary of the Independence Restoration Day, said Timor-Leste national leaders must define the great national priorities.
“The next decade will be one of great challenges, risks, dangers, and opportunities. Leaders must know how to identify the great challenges, risks, and opportunities. Leaders must know how to define the great national priorities, and stay focused!” the Head of State said at the Presidential Palace, today.
Horta raised a number of important national priorities for national leaders to consider, including consolidating democracy and democratic institutions, promoting gender equality, redressing social imbalances, eliminating extreme poverty and child malnutrition, prioritizing rural development, small and medium agriculture, ensuring food independence, healthy nutrition, safe drinking water and sanitation, and ensuring health for all (including the elimination of TB and dengue) and quality education from pre-primary onwards.
The Head of State stressed that these objectives should be raised to the top of the national agenda and achieved with adequate investment and quality sectoral leadership, with permanent monitoring.
Horta said the dollarization of the world economic order is being challenged with the emergence of an economic and commercial superpower that imports and exports globally, dominates digitalization and AI, and circulates trillions of dollars globally: “Timor-Leste and other poor and emerging economy countries will be caught up in this global dynamic.”
He said countries that invest heavily in education geared towards this new world order, dominated by digitalization and AI, will reap benefits and advantages.
President highlighted that one of the lessons of success lies in the careful identification of challenges and clear definition of priorities and focusing on the realization of these priorities with a strong technical/political team: “Putting together a government of politicians and managers based on solid criteria of technical and professional training and practical experience, with proven track-records, is another key to success.”
The celebration of the 21st Anniversary of the Independence Restoration Day was attended by Members of Parliament, Speaker of the National Parliament Aniceto Guterres Lopes, Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak, President of the Court of Appeal Deolindo dos Santos, Former Heads of State, Parliament and Government, Attorney General of the Republic, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Commander-General of the PNTL, Ombudsman for Justice and Human Rights, President of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Rectors, Venerable Leaders of Religious Confessions, Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, United Nations Agencies, Foreign Guests and International Observers.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
