Response to an article by Timor-Leste Minister for Finance, Fidelis Magalhães

Original article: The Diplomat Magazine (4 May) Timor-Leste’s Coronavirus Response, by Minister Fidelis Magalhães.

In this article, Minister Magalhães outlines, what I believe are the intelligent and decisive actions his government has taken in dealing with the chaos wreaked by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The most promising aspect of their response to this crisis is that political parties have risen above partisan squabbles and worked together to do what is best for their people and the country. Furthermore, they have looked to other countries and cherry-picked the best for Timor-Leste. 

For almost three years, the Timor-Leste Government has been in a stand-off over passing the budget. This block has left many sectors with no money to undertake essential work to provide food, services, security, and infrastructure, to name a few. They do not need to be looking for political mileage at this time; right now the country needs stability. With the cooperation seen for COVID-19 and a majority coalition, assuming there are no legal hurdles, they appear to be in a perfect position to pass the national budget for the good of the country broadly. 

Having business interests in Timor-Leste, it has been reassuring to watch their nuanced COVID-19 response take form where, as the Minister says, they have seen health and business not as ‘mutually exclusive, but instead mutually reinforcing’.

Timor-Leste, like any developing nation, has the difficult challenge of competing priorities, but to help relieve the financial pressure of such large spending over the short-term, the country’s Petroleum Fund, valued by the Minister at around ten times the GDP is an incredible asset that provides them with the financial base to see themselves through this difficult time. If ever there was a time to use that buffer to protect the Timorese people, I am sure most would agree, this is it.

Crises have a way of clarifying one's thoughts and actions. The strategic groundwork for dealing with COVID-19 appears to be complete. Now, I pray that over the coming days we will see the government set aside bureaucratic hurdles and roll-out a transparent and accountable economic assistance package that is simple and fair for community and business alike.