DILI, july 13, 2023 (TATOLI) -The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Covid-Resilient Elections in Timor-Leste (CORE-TL) project, funded by the Government of Japan, handed over new offices to Secretariado Técnico de Administração Eleitoral (STAE) in the Municipality of Manatuto.
According to the UNDP’s official note accessed by TATOLI Agency, the ceremony represents the handover of three STAE’s new offices in Manatuto, Covalima, and Viqueque municipalities, supported by the UNDP CORE-TL project and the Government of Japan.
All the new offices are equipped with accessible facilities for people with disabilities, such as an accessible bathroom, a handwashing station with a ramp, spacious multi-functional rooms, and climate-resilient facilities including solar panels and a rainwater harvesting system.
The General Director of STAE, Acilino Manuel Branco, expressed his gratitude for the support from UNDP and Japan, saying, “Through the strong partnership with UNDP and the Government of Japan, we conducted the renovation of 7 STAE offices (Dili, Liquica, Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro, and Lautem municipalities) and the new construction of 3 STAE offices (Manatuto, Covalima, and Viqueque municipalities). We sincerely appreciate the support that accelerates our work to realize inclusive elections.”
“During the Parliamentary election held this may, I had the opportunity to witness the aspirations of the people of Timor-Leste, men and women, young and old, people with disabilities, people with small children, and pregnant women to participate in nation-building by voting in the election. I believe that assets gained through this cooperation project, including the new STAE building, will contribute to many elections in the future,” Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste, KIMURA Tetsuya expressed.
Japan supports the UNDP CORE-TL project with US$ 4 million, and approximately US$ 2 million was allocated to the construction activities for the EMB offices.
UNDP OIC Resident Representative, Adeline Carrier, congratulated the electoral management bodies for the successful parliamentary election, stating, “Democracy is upheld by citizens’ active participation in the political processes, and Timor-Leste has held a successful and transparent parliamentary election with a voter turnout over 79 percent—one of the highest in the world. UNDP keeps supporting the democratic and inclusive elections in Timor-Leste to leave no one behind.”
In cooperation with the Election Management Bodies and the Government of Japan, the UNDP CORE-TL project ensures safe, informative, and inclusive elections at the national and municipal levels.
It is known that on 13th july, the inauguration ceremony & handover of STAE’s new offices took place in the Municipality of Manatuto, attended by Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste, KIMURA Tetsuya, Minister of the Ministry of State Administration (MSA), Tomás Cabral, Minister of Health Dr. Élia António de Araújo dos Reis Amaral, Vice-Minister of MSA, Jacinto Rigoberto, Secretary of State for Toponomy and State Urban Organization of MSA, Germano Santa Brites Dias, Secretary of State for Rural Development, Mateus dos Santos Talo, CNE Vice-President Domingos Barreto, STAE General Director, Acilino Manuel Branco, and Officer-in-charge Resident Representative of UNDP Timor-Leste, Adeline Carrier.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor : Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
