01 April 2010

Address by Prime Minister Gusmao on launch of Government Web Site

ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRIME MINISTER KAY RALA XANANA GUSMAO ON THE OCCASION OF THE LAUNCHING OF THE GOVERNMENT WEBSITE

Hotel Timor, Dili

30 March 2010

Excellencies

Honourable guests Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure for me to be here today at the official launch of the Government Website, which brings the Government institutions of Timor-Leste even closer to the Timorese, and to the world.

It has been precisely a week since the Council of Ministers approved the National Media Policy.

This is a policy that will continue to make information more accessible to the People, that supports and respects the role of the national media, and that creates opportunities for the training of journalists.

This is why the Government created this Website, which is made available to the public today and launched in the presence of so many illustrious guests, who I would like to thank for attending today.

This Website fills a gap in terms of direct contact with the population and the international community, meeting civic, cultural and educational goals using information technology.

From now on, we have more information, more transparency and better citizenship just a click away!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In a democracy it is important that there are ways for the elected Government to interact with Civil Society.

It is also important that the People should have access to information about their public and political institutions. This Website is, therefore, a privileged channel to bring institutions, particularly government institutions, closer to citizens and to society.

This Website will also be a reference site for all those seeking to invest in Timor-Leste. Potential investors will have easy access to up-to-date information on social, economic, financial and legal issues.

We also hope that this Website will showcase the potential of tourism in Timor-Leste and attract international visitors

Importantly, it will also serve to provide information on our recent events, history and culture and to be a dynamic source of information for national and international journalists.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This Website also provides strong evidence that Timor-Leste is on the path towards development and modernisation – in one word, towards Innovation.

This Government has always had a positive approach to innovation and change. We consider that open, transparent, accessible and innovative communication systems, such as provided by this Website, will leave no room for the monopolization of power or for political intolerance.

It is within this context of transformation that we are here today launching this Website.

Providing information, governing with openness and transparency and overcoming political, social and geographic barriers, strengthens our democracy and safeguards the image of the Timorese State.

We want governance to be open and dynamic, so that we may achieve the goals of sustainable development and poverty reduction, as well as to enable Civil Society, the Private Sector and other partners in development to participate more effectively in this process.

And so, I would like to praise the hard work involved in the creation of this Website, and thank in particular the Secretary of State for the Council of Ministers for the manner in which he led this project, overcoming obstacles and effectively addressing its many challenges.

This shows once again that when there is will, perseverance and direction, we are able to implement innovative projects in our Country.

Still, the hardest part of the work has only just begun...the success of the Website will depend to a large extent on the capability of the team established in the Office of the Secretary of State for the Council of Ministers to maintain and update the content, as well as to manage the close coordination between all Ministries, Offices of Secretaries of State and other Public Institutions.

The choice of using three languages – Portuguese and Tetum, the national languages, and English, the working language – also makes this challenge even more demanding, but more rewarding as well. We know that we are providing information for everyone, leaving no one behind.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Finally, and before moving on to the presentation of the Government Website, I would like to congratulate the IDA for carrying out the project. I would also like to extend my congratulations to the team of the Office of the Secretary of State for the Council of Ministers and to all those who have contributed to this initiative, for turning this ambitious project into reality.

But, we cannot rest on our achievements. We must continue to show great dedication towards this project.

In order for this Website to be truly focused on the future, making all of Government accessible to all, and increasing the participation of society in the economic, social and political life of the Country, it is important that all members of society consider that the Government Website is also their Website.

Therefore, I urge everyone to be involved and to support the ongoing management of this Website, so that Timor-Leste may be more developed, more democratic and better informed!

Thank you very much!

Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao

30 March 2010

East Timor Government Web Site http://www.timor-leste.gov.tl

No comments: