Lifau memorial - memorable for the wrong reasons

LIFAU MEMORIAL – Memorable for the wrong reasons.

This memorial is located in the area where the Portuguese first landed in 1515.

To commemorate the anniversary of 500 years of Portuguese influence in East Timor, work on building a large memorial and ceremonial place was undertaken by ZEEMS in 2015.

The area was never opened and work remains unfinished.

 A large partially completed set of sculptures inappropriately depicts the landing of a dominating Portuguese party and the subservient acceptance by the local East Timorese.

Even more disturbing was the entirely poor quality work and lack of professional finish throughout the area.

These grandstands were never ready and can never be used due to totally unsafe and possibly corrupt work and materials.  They demonstrate a disgraceful waste of public money and resources. 

ZEEMS, however have no culpability or answerability. 

 

--oOOo--

We then went back to Oecusse town and walked around some of the sporting facilities. 

Unfortunately all the sporting facilities we saw are positioned much too close together, the courts and far too close to the boundaries or the edges and there is no room for spectators.
We were also told that many of the local tradesmen and especially local contractors have yet to be paid and accounts are long overdue.

Throughout Oecusse, ZEEMS has exhibited poor disregards for the community,  lack of accountability and answerability and performed work that is inappropriate or goes unchallenged. 
Whilst many projects will no doubt deliver benefit and a higher standard of living down the track, the total lack of transparency and complete failure to consult the people whom the work directly affects is detracting from the merit of most of their undertakings.