His Excellency Dr. Rogério Tiagio de Fatima Lobato, President of the Special Administrative Region of Oé-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA), announced that the RAEOA Authority is in the process of negotiations with the Oé-Cusse District Court and the construction company SAMHEE to resolve legal matters concerning the RAEOA Administrative Building project—an initiative previously abandoned by the former administration. The aim is to resume and complete the project.
“The company in question, SAMHEE from South Korea, was initially contracted to construct the RAEOA Administrative Building. However, the former RAEOA administration had terminated the contract. We are now finalizing negotiations with them and have reached a preliminary agreement, which will be submitted to the Oé-Cusse District Court for homologation. Once approved by the court, the RAEOA Authority, as the contracting party, will withdraw the formal complaint lodged with the Ministry of Public Works, enabling the project to proceed,” stated President Dr. Rogério Lobato to journalists following an inspection activity on a road widening project in Naktuka, Setrana, Bene-Ufe Village, Nitibe Administrative Post, RAEOA.
The RAEOA President further explained that once the Oé-Cusse Court formally approves the agreement, the company—if it wishes—will be permitted to resume and complete construction. Since the project is being financed through the RAEOA’s own budget, the authority is working diligently to find legal and procedural means to ensure its continuation.
“I anticipate that by the end of October we will have the final agreement approved, allowing us to officially retract the complaint with the Ministry of Public Works and enable the company to continue the project. If we were to engage a new company now, we would face significant delays. Once the court grants homologation, the same contractor—whether they want to or not—will be obligated to resume and complete the work,” President Lobato affirmed.
The Administrative Building, located in the Santa Rosa neighborhood of Costa Village, Pante Macassar Administrative Post, was originally awarded to Samhee Construction Ltd. under a total contract value of USD 10,900,033.37, with a contract duration of 18 months. The project commenced on 1 February 2017, with design provided by NLA Timor and consultancy by Profico Lda. Progress on the building reached 46% completion before works were halted.
