Dīli, 2 June 2026 – The commemoration of National Public Service Day 2026 officially opened with a series of sports events at the Lecidere Mini Soccer Field. The opening ceremony was led by a coalition of four key state institutions: the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ), the Public Service Commission (CFP), the Anti-Corruption Commission (CAC), and the General Inspectorate of State (IGE). The event began with mini-soccer matches, including games between PDHJ and the National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL), as well as a women’s match between PDHJ and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEC). The activities will continue with basketball, volleyball, social actions, and cultural events, running until the official closing ceremony on September 4, 2026, in Gleno.
Ombudsman Virgílio da Silva Guterres “Lamukan” emphasized that the celebration is not merely ceremonial but serves as a critical moment for public reflection. “The objective is to cultivate public servants who practice healthy, solidary, and professional unity with a strong national and resilient consciousness,” he stated. He challenged the common perception that public service is only about salaries, pensions, or privileges, declaring instead that the public service is the “living machine of the State.” The chosen theme for 2026“accessible, responsive, transparent, fair, and effective public service” aims to be the central guide for introspection, ensuring that employees return to their ministries with renewed energy and commitment to their sworn duty of serving all citizens without discrimination.
In a key message to public servants, the Ombudsman stressed that their role is not merely employment but a contract to guarantee the nation’s future. He reminded the approximately 1.3 million citizens that being selected as a public servant is a privilege, as many others work as street vendors or laborers without the same state guarantees. He urged officials to leave behind any discriminatory or arrogant behaviour and to abandon personal, sectoral, or directorial egos that hinder inter-institutional cooperation. Furthermore, he called for a renewed focus on punctuality, transparency, and good governance, using sports as a metaphor for teamwork, patience, and integrity in defending state institutions.
Representing the Government, the Secretary of State for Social Communication, Expedito Dias, reinforced the importance of public servants in nation-building. He explained that accessible public service must reach citizens in remote areas, not just those in the capital, using digitalization to reduce distance and bureaucracy. Regarding responsiveness, he called for swift, compassionate, and transparent service delivery, which he described as the “medicine to cure the disease of corruption.” Dias was unequivocal that there is “no place for political corruption, favouritism, nepotism, or any form of discrimination” within the public function. The event saw maximum participation from various ministries, demonstrating broad institutional engagement.
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