SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello spent the day in Ermera district, central East Timor, where he met hundreds of people in a town hall meeting and visited two sub-districts.
In Atsabe town, SRSG briefed the crowd on general matters in relation to UNTAET and met two widows of the Timorese UNAMET staff killed last year. During the almost five-hour meeting, many questions were raised by the local residents.
SRSG paid a visit to the Peacekeeping Force and met various UNTAET staff.
He visited a Tais (East Timor weaving) project and a horticulture project.
He then drove to Gleno sub-district and visited private clinics in Lauala and Letefoho, and an agricultural project in Baboi Leten, as well as road works between Humboe and Gleno.
NCC APPROVES TWO NEW REGULATIONS
Last Friday, 8 September, the National Consultative Council (NCC) approved two new regulations, one to reallocate money for the University of East Timor and the other on a supplementary appropriation to provide support for the offices of the Members of the Transitional Cabinet.
The regulation on the University of East Timor establishes that US$1,320,000 from the Education budget will be reallocated to the University, which will allow it to open in October for the start of the 2000-2001 academic year. On Wednesday, 6 September, the Transitional Cabinet also endorsed this transfer.
The total Education budget for fiscal year 2000-2001 is US$13.65 million.
The regulation on supplementary appropriation establishes that a total of US$200,000 will be allocated to the four East Timorese members of the Transitional Cabinet, i.e. US$50,000 for each. These funds will provide support staff and related expenses for the Cabinet members.
The National Consultative Council also agreed in principle to a Tax Administration Framework Regulation, subject to further consultation of some of the NCC members.
