DÍLI, 31 january 2024 (TATOLI) – Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão sworn in Rogério Tiago Lobato as the New President of the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA). The inauguration ceremony was held at the Ambeno hotel on wednesday (31/01).
Rogério Tiago Lobato replaced the previous President of RAEOA, Arsenio Paixão Bano.
Rogério Tiago Lobato was sworn in as the President of the Authority of RAEOA for a term of five years, with the primary mission of overseeing decentralization activities, educating and mobilizing the local population for conscious involvement in the economic development of the Oe-Cusse Ambeno Enclave.
The following citizens were also sworn in as members of the RAEOA Authority for a five-years term: André Lao, as Regional Secretary for Administration; Elvira Manat, as Regional Secretary for Finance; Luís de Jesus Neno, as Regional Secretary for Health; Inácia Tamele, as Regional Secretary for Education and Social Affairs; Filomena Sila, as Regional Secretary for Agriculture; and Marcelino Marques Coro, as Regional Secretary for Lands and Properties, Registry, and Notary. Meanwhile, Agustinho Caet was sworn in as Chief Advisor, João Mendes Gonçalves as ZEEMS Commission Coordinator, and Cruz Salu and Herculano de Sousa as Deputy Regional Coordinators.
In his inaugural speech, Lobato pledged to prioritize access to water for all communities in the RAEOA: “Clean water is my top priority agenda to ensure that at least every household in the RAEOA has access to safe drinking water.”
Ensuring access to electricity, road construction, and tourism are also part of Lobato’s priorities.
Marcos Meni, The Chief of Bene-Ufe village said that the new authority should continue the work of the previous authority, including the construction of roads, schools, and so on.
“We believe that the new authority will put effort to address the identified issues in RAEAO,” Meni said.
At the same place, the Chief of Usitaqueno Village, Francisco Elo also urged the new authority to speed up development in RAEOA: “The new authority must consider the improvement of the roads that connect the different sub-regions in RAEOA.”
Journalist: Abílio Elo Nini
Editor: Evaristo Soares Martins
Translation: Jose Belarmino de Sa
