CDI Supporting New Government in Timor-Leste
With the appointment of a new government in Timor-Leste headed by Xanana Gusmao as the country's prime minister, CDI is working to expand our programme of assistance in Timor Leste.
The focus of this assistance will be supporting the National Parliament of Timor-Leste. An Induction Program for all members of the newly-elected parliament is likely to take place in early 2008, and would cover a broad range of topics related to the position and role of MPs in the parliament. CDI's key contribution to the induction would focus on the role of parliamentary committees, and be intended to give members a better understanding of the role and structure of legislative committees, how they operate, their authority and composition, and the responsibilities of members of commissions.
In addition, as in previous years, officials from the Timor-Leste Parliament will be involved in this year's Responsible Parliamentary Government course (RPG), which CDI runs annually to strengthen the capacity of parliaments in the region. CDI has asked the new President of the National Parliament, Mr. Fernando Lasama de Araujo, to nominate two parliamentary officials to attend the 2007 RPG course, which will take place in Canberra from 3-21 September.
CDI is also assisting the parliament with their Youth Parliament initiative and continues to cooperate closely with Timor-Leste's political parties.
