Asian Development Bank

Those taking part included Mari Alkatiri, President of the Oecusse Special Economic Zone, and Richard Phelps, Principal Infrastructure Specialist, ADB.

“This next phase will continue the push to reduce the incidence of water-related diseases, to deliver 24-hour supplies to target urban areas, and to lessen the workload of women who currently bear the brunt of water collection activities,” said Phelps at the ceremony.

Finance Permanent Secretary Filimone Waqabaca says talks have been held with various international financial institutions to work out the best solution.

“The payment next year will be in full, it will probably be a rollover depending on the arrangement that we will agree on now, so it will be a, we will have to roll over or do another float in order to repay that, but part of it will probably be taken from our funds that we have been keeping aside to help in the funding aspect of it as well.”