DILI, 06 july 2023 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, João Paulo da Costa Rangel, accompanied by leaders of Timorese communities in the United Kingdom, met with the President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta, to request his support for the establishment of a Notary Services Centre (NSC) in the United Kingdom, and for the construction of Consular Offices in London and in Northern Ireland, to support Timorese communities that have problems with their identity documents, namely Birth Certificate, Identity Card, passport, etc.
“As President Horta is very supportive of this initiative, we would like to ask our Government, under the leadership of Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão as Prime Minister, to create the NSC in UK and construct consulates buildings both in London and Northern Ireland,” Ambassador Rangel told reporters at the Presidential Palace, in Dili, today.
President Horta will present the initiative to the new government for approval.
He said that the establishment of the Notary Services Centre (NSC) and the Consulate Building in London and Northern Ireland is essential to bring services closer to the people.
Rangel considered the Timorese workers in the United Kingdom as the new heroes of Timor-Leste who are continuously contributing to the country in terms of money and so on.
According to Ambassador Rangel, more than 30,000 Timorese currently live, work, and study in the United Kingdom.
“I can say that Timorese communities in the United Kingdom have so far contributed around US$200 million to Timor-Leste,” he said.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
