Seasons Greetings!

On behalf of all CET committee members and volunteers, this newsletter comes with very best wishes to you and your loved ones at this special time of year.

For Christians, hope is a hallmark of the Christmas season. For those who have different or no specific spiritual beliefs, the season of Santa Claus brings with it genuine good will to others as well as a spirit of giving and sharing, also heightened awareness of those who are less fortunate than ourselves.

Regardless of your beliefs, I invite you to pause for a moment, to reflect and to rejoice in the fact that CET has got as far as it has because everyone who receives this newsletter has contributed, has shared something whether it be their time, skills equipment, and/or money. Some have done so repeatedly since CET started in 2001. This generosity has revealed us to be people of compassion and hope, bringing the true spirit of this season to bear in our everday lives so that some of the poorest people in the world might be able to benefit from something we take so much for granted: communications!.

Since the recent newsletter was issued, there is also a new reason for hope: an interesting new development for CET!

We understand that the CET/Project Telesuco vision may once again be placed before senior levels of the Government of Timor-Leste, namely the PM, Minister for Finance and Minister for Infrastructure. The PM has apparently stated that 2009 will be the ‘year for infrastructure’ in Timor-Leste and a National Infrastructure Plan is being prepared to set priorities for investments in all infrastructure (not only for telecommunications but for electricity, water etc).

It is understood that a recent review considered what CET has achieved on the ground as well as our proposals for the next steps. Based on this review, a proposal for basic, affordable rural communications infrastructure (i.e. the CET vision as defined in Project Telesuco) is included in a recommended list of infrastructure projects for consideration and, hopefully, approval.

So as we approach the end of what can only be described as a frustrating year for CET/Project Telesuco, there is new reason to hope in that the CET vision is once again (and perhaps more formally) ‘in play’ with senior decision makers in Timor-Leste.

Let us hope that in 2009 (if not sooner!) these leaders will now finally commit to giving 300,000 of their poorest constituents access to affordable communications as a matter of priority. It would be a wonderful gift to make their very difiicult lives a little easier.

Best wishes for a joyful and peaceful holiday season, and a new year filled with many blessings!

Peter de Haas