Bro. Amilcar D’Silva, SDB

Fatumaca, Timor-Leste, 18 July – Colégio de Don Bosco Fatumaca was privileged and honoured to be visited by His Excellency, the Prime Minister of RDTL (Republic Democratic of Timor-Leste) Dr. Rui Maria de Araujo, on the 18th of July, 2015.

The Prime Minister Dr. Rui Maria de Araujo and his committee arrived at around 09.00 AM and were welcomed by Fr. Tomas Gusmão de Carvalho SDB (Rector in-charge), Bro. Adriano Maria de Jesus SDB (Principal of the Technical School) and the whole Educative Pastoral Community of Colégio Don Bosco Fatumaca, Timor-Leste. The Ministers who came with the Prime Ministers were – the Minister for Public Services, Mr. Gastão Sousa; the Secretary State for the Professional Training & Employment, Mr. Ilidio Pereira, and other dignitaries from both central and local governments. At the reception ceremony, took place in front of the main building of the Technical School, though, it’s simple yet joyful, the teaching and non-teaching staff, the students of Technical School, the Aspirants, the Novices and the Salesians, all in all was 300, lining up along the road welcoming His Excellency the Prime Minister Dr. Rui Maria de Araujo and all the dignitaries with thunderous applause and banda musical by the Aspirants, as they walked towards the main campus of the Colégio Don Bosco Fatumaca. One of the students read the welcoming speech and donned the finest Tais to His Excellency Prime Minister and the Ministers as a sign of welcoming the eminent guests.

His Excellency Prime Minister and all the dignitaries then proceeded to the Salesians’ refectory, accompanied by Fr. Eligio Locatelli SDB, Fr. Tomas Gusmão de Carvalho SDB, and Bro. Adriano Maria de Jesus SDB, to have a cup of coffee before having a series of visits and interactions.

After having coffee, His Excellency Prime Minister had a visit to the under construction building, along with the Minister for Public Services and the Secretary State for Professional Training & Employment. Fr. Eligio Locatelli SDB and Bro. Adriano Maria de Jesus SDB, explained the purpose of putting up the building is to provide more classrooms, offices, library, computer room and designing room for the technical students. Having visited the building, His Excellency and the Ministers visited the four workshops: Wood working/Carpentry, Electricity, Metal working /Mechanics and the Electronics. The Prime Minister was excited observing the students working in the workshop – applying their skills and technical knowledge in doing their practical works and manufacturing works. He was delighted to interact with some of the students while doing the works.

The highlights of the meetings

Immediately after the workshops visit, His Excellency Prime Minister, the Minister for Public Services and the Secretary of State for Professional Training & Employment held a 30 minutes meeting with the teaching staff of technical school. The meeting took place in the computer room at 11.30 AM. Bro. Adriano Maria de Jesus SDB, the Principal of the technical school, in his felicitation address, thanked His Excellency for giving his valuable time to have a special meeting with the teaching staff. Mr. Jose da Costa, the representative of the teachers read the prepared text of proposals and of suggestions to the Prime Minister and handed it over to His Excellency. In response to the addresses, Prime Minister highly appreciated the demands, suggestions and proposals which put first the best interests of students. He said that “this is the role model of demanding, that all the teachers in the country should have borne in mind that the good and interests of the students come first”.

The next meeting was held in the Electronics hall with all the Salesians, the Novices, the teaching and non-teaching staff and the students at 11.30 AM. The interaction lasted one and half hour. The meeting began with the National anthem, sung by the Aspirants and prayer by Fr. Rui Gomes, SDB. Fr. Tomas Gusmão de Carvalho SDB welcomed the dignitaries and the gatherings and he delivered the opening address. In his speech, he presented the various sectors and overall works of the Colégio Don Bosco Fatumaca to the Prime Minister, the Ministers and the dignitaries. Bro. Adriano Maria de Jesus SDB specifically presented the activities related to the learning process of the technical school, the numbers of the students and the teaching staff, the drawbacks of the implementation of the new curriculum, the proposed budgets for smooth running of the learning activities and future plan of upgrading the technical secondary school to polytechnic level.

In his address to the gatherings, the Prime Minister stressed the important role of the church, specially the Salesian Congregation in Timor-Leste, for providing the best quality of technical education to the youths of this country. He said “the government could not fail to recognize the great contributions from the church and the great services of the missionaries in the development of this country through the education”. He showed great appreciation to the learning process of the Don Bosco institutions and he declared that the Don Bosco Technical School Fatumaca teaches the students not just to the extent of know-what but the students know how to do/produce something. He encouraged the students to clearly set the goals for the future after completing their course from this school. To end, he thanked the whole members of the Colégio Don Bosco Fatumaca and in a special way he expressed his deep gratitude to Fr. Eligio Locatelli SDB, the founder of this institution, for his great services. The interaction ended at 13.00 PM.

To complete the day, the Prime Minister and the dignitaries had a fellowship lunch with the Salesians and the teaching staff in the refectory of the salesians. After having a tasteful lunch, Fr.Eligio Locatelli SDB, Fr.Tomas Gusmão de Carvalho SDB and Bro. Adriano Maria de Jesus SDB, accompanied Prime Minister to have a short visit to the cultivation fields, warehouse, piggery, before departure. It’s really privileged to have a half day visit of the Prime Minister. Thank you very much His Excellency Prime Minister of RDTL for your valuable time.