REPÚBLICA DEMOCRÁTICA DE TIMOR-LESTE
GABINETE DO PRIMEIRO-MINISTRO
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MEDIA RELEASE
19 July 2006 For immediate release
UMA FUKUN SET TO BECOME A SHOWCASE
UMA FUKUN (commonly know as the ‘pink building’) is set to, once again, become a showcase that will enhance Dili’s beautiful waterfront promenade.
Prime Minister Dr José Ramos-Horta, in one of his very first decisions as head of the Government, decided to hand over the imposing 19th century landmark to BNU/Caixa Geral dos Depósitos, another Timor-Leste institution.
Today, just 10 days after taking office as Prime Minister, Dr Ramos-Horta presided over the signing of the lease contract between Minister for Justice, Domingos Sarmento, on behalf of the Government of Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, and the Director of BNU/CGD in Timor-Leste, Dr Correia Pinto, for the rebuilding, refurbishment and 20-year management of Uma Fukun.
At the ceremony at Palácio das Cinzas, Prime Minister Dr Ramos-Horta expressed his delight of being able to wipe out an eyesore from the capital Dili.
“It’s been a sore point for me that after the World Bank spent some US$1.3 million to renovate Uma Fukun to its old glory, once it was handed over to the Government it was literally left to rot,” Prime Minister Ramos-Horta said.
“So this ceremony today to handover the management of the building to BNU/CGD is particularly pleasing to me as I’m sure they will make UMA FUKUN a cultural precinct and a beehive of activity for Timorese and foreign visitors alike,” Dr Ramos-Horta said.
Prime Minister Ramos-Horta thanked the Minister for Justice and the ministry staff for the timely manner in which the contract negotiations were concluded and the BNU/CGD for their continuing commitment to Timor-Leste.
UMA FUKUN, which was originally a military installation used by the Portuguese, was subsequently used as a police station by the occupying Indonesian regime until 1999 when it was destroyed.
BNU itself suffered enormous damage from 1975 until 1999 during the Indonesian occupation during which time, observers estimate, lost some $100 million in business and profits. Then in 1999 when the Indonesian were withdrawing and the militias went on a destruction spree, the BNU headquarters in Dili was destroyed, costing a further US$4 million for its rebuilding.
Still, BNU/CGD remained commited to Timor-Leste and since 2000 has injected more than US$150 million into the economy of the country.
“BNU/CGD is an institution in the histoty of Timor-Leste and a model of professionalism both in the commercial aspect as in its socio-economic impact that should be followed by other commercial institutions around the world,” Prime Minister Ramos-Horta said.
Now, reinforcing its commitment to Timor-Leste, the BNU/CGD plan for the Dili landmark will transform UMA FUKUN in a centre for research, information and culture.
“BNU/CGD is very honoured to be chosen to look after one of Dili and Timor-Leste’s most beautiful and historical buildings,” BNU’s Dr Correia Pinto said.
“We have a proud record of service and commitment to Timor-Leste, and we will ensure that all Timorese will be proud of UMA FUKUN under our management,” he said.
UMA FUKUN will be transformed into a centre which will facilitate access to information and knowledge; promote the interchange of ideas; and dynamize socio-cultural activities and encourage the use of new technologies.
“One wing of the building will be divided into three big areas – Videoteca, Didateca and Biblioteca. The first will have over thematic videos, languages courses and will have facilities for video-conferencing; the second, Didateca, will be equiped with 12 access posts to internet, focused on self-education and research; the Biblioteca (library) will have more than 4,000 technical and scientific books with capacity for 60 seats,” Dr Correia Pinto said.
“The other wing will be used for art exhibitions, meetings, seminars, etc with 120 seats. The central open space, facing the sea, will be mainly a ‘leisure area’ with tables and chairs, where you can enjoy the beautiful view,” he said.
7 comentários:
Hi Zhara!
Só não entendo porque é necessário colocar estas notícias em inglês. Os brilhantes e valentes jornalistas portugueses que se encontram em Timor não sabem destes acontecimentos? Ou ainda estão a curar a ressaca da noite anterior à hora a que estes eventos têm lugar?
Ainda se o BNU/CGD fosse uma ONG australiana....
There is still other buildings that were left to rot after being rebuilt and handed over to the previous government. One notable building it the beautifully rehabilitated portuguese built Mercado Municipal which served as the exhibition building for the 2002 independence celebration. $8 million (correct me if wrong) were spent to rehabilitate it. It had manicured gardens, A main building with the large original facades, outdoor stage and movie screen, paved pathway, outdoor displays of traditional houses, etc. Basically the place was a beauty.
After it was handed back to the government Jose Teixeira was in charge o Turism portfolio and the place was practically left to rot and be looted.
There was a commercial group that sought to rent the premises from government to establish a commercial centre but the proposal was ignored. Instead of becoming a bustling and profitable place for commercial ventures and revenue for government it simple was left to rot.
Today it looks like a dump and you could not believe so much money had been spent on its rehabilitation. It breaks everyone's heart to see the state of neglect and disrepair that Alkatiri's government allowed that beautyfull place to fall into.
I hope someone steps up and puts a proposal forward to the new PM as he seems willing to undo the neglect of the old government. Those places and buildings are historical and the should be put to good use. The most ironic thing is that the government supposedly wanted to promote turism and investment but on the other hand it curbed commercial initiatives that could put such buildings to a better and profitable use. But such was the concentration on oil that everything else seemed unimportant.
Good on you PM Horta. do transform Dili into a more beautiful place to live.
para vossa informação é um projecto muito interessante e arrojado por parte do director do BNU que levará muito de bom à cidade e seu desenvolvimento.
Pena é que nunca tenha sido possível avançar com o Clube Náutico e a Escola de Vela - direccionada para as crianças de rua, projecto apresentado em 2001 e que nunca mereceu a atenção de quem de direito. Havia a desculpa do Central Maritime Hotel estar no lugar da marina e a ocupar a zona de desenvolvimento da escola e clube em terra.
O Clube Náutico existe e tem uma direcção eleita. Quem sabe se agora já se pode avançar.
Contudo, há a dizer que o tal Central Maritime Hotel, da Tailândia, demorou anos a sair por ter as costas bem quentes por um grande amigo de Timor.
Tivesse ele saído em tempo e hoje teríamos dezenas de velejadores em várias classes olímpicas a representar Timor-Leste e menos delinquência e miséria nas nossas ruas.
Falem com o Mário Inglês do Hotel Turismo, tem os projectos na mão e prontos a arrancar!
Acho que não há necessidade de traduzir esta porque adianta pouco em relação à da Lusa. Mas não era tempo de lembrarem o vosso PM que as línguas oficiais de Timor-Leste são o tétum e o português? Que pirosice só usar o inglês!
O que eu não percebo é porque é que o governo da Austrália ou dos Estados Unidos não emitem comunicados de imprensa em Tetum ou Português.
E já agora a França, a Itália, a Alemanha, a China, a Indonésia, a Malásia.
Oh meu caro anónimo a sua nacionalidade não é de certeza a timorense!
Qualquer publicidade, comunicado do governo desde Mari ate Ramos Horta, sempre foram publicadas ao publico em tres linguas, Portugues, Ingles e tetum.
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