LH apresia intensaun Governu atu kansela projetu Pelican Paradise

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La’o Hamutuk hato’o apresiasaun ba anúnsiu Governu Timor-Leste atu kansela projetu Pelican Paradise. Desizaun ida ne’e mosu iha kontestu ne’ebé projetu durante tinan barak la hatudu progresu ne’ebé proporsional ho eskala no promesa inisiál, iha tempu hanesan envolve preokupasaun kona-ba sustentabilidade, korrupsaun, violasaun komunidade nian direitu, transparénsia no risku fiskál.

La’o Hamutuk konsidera desizaun ida ne’e importante atu proteje interese Timor-Leste iha tempu naruk, mantén integridade institusionál no reforsa responsabilidade iha jestaun investimentu estranjeiru. Ami enkoraja Governu atu kontinua reforsa prevensaun rigorozu hodi proteje Timor-Leste husi risku estruturál relevante.

Hafoin projetu ida ne’e hahú iha tinan 2009, iha sinál barak ne’ebé hatudu problema sira, maibé proponente no Governu ignora. Iha Setembru 2009, projetu-na’in Edward Ong husi Singapura koko na’ok liu dolar biliaun ida husi Fundu Petrolíferu, uza kompañia ho naran “Asian Champ Investment”. Fulan neen tan, traballadór sira deskobre mate isin na’in sia (karik vítima husi Indonézia-nia okupasaun) iha fatin projetu. Maske nune’e, Ong iha planu atu loke kampu joga golf iha 2012. Iha 2014, autoridade ambientál informa LH katak Pelican Paradise kansela ona, maske sira hetan ona lisensa ambientál. Timor-Leste tenke aprende husi esperiénsia ida ne’e, no labele fiar investidór ka projetu sira ne’ebé iha indikadór ba mal-fé.

Projetu Pelican Paradise hahú dala ida tan iha tinan 2018, bainhira Governu aprova proposta Special Investment Agreement (SIA) ho valór maizumenus tokon $310. Iha tinan 2019, projetu ne’e aumenta ba maizumenus tokon $700 iha área Tasi-Tolu no Tibar ho ektare 558, ho objetivu atu dezenvolve kompleksu turístiku ho hotel fitun lima, kampu joga golf no infraestrutura seluk. Iha 2021, liu husi Rezolusaun Governu nian n.º 133/2021, Estadu Timor-Leste aprova projetu Pelican Paradise no proposta SIA, ne’ebé hatudu kontinuidade no responsabilidade institusionál iha relasaun ho investidór. Maibé durante tinan sira tuir mai, implementasaun projetu la hatudu progresu signifikante; sira kontinua mak halo renovasaun ba lisensa ambientál de’it. Relatóriu Auditoria 1/2024 husi Tribunal Rekursu identifika problema sira bainhira Estadu fó lisensa ba Pelican Paradise atu la selu ba aluga rai.

Iha tinan ikus 2023 sira investe ba setór edukasaun liu husi lansa eskola internasionál ida iha Dili, ho naran Pelican Grammar School ne’ebé hahú anó eskola iha Janeiru 2024. Iha 2025, empreza husu Estadu atu halo depózitu maizumenus tokon $180, ikus mai, iha 23 Marsu 2026 Governu anunsia intensaun atu kansela, enkuantu empreza kontestu no refere katak parte balun husi obrigasaun kontratual seidauk kumpre.

Esperiénsia Timor-Leste hatudu padraun repete repete iha kazu promesa ba investimentu balun ne’ebé levanta preokupasaun kona-ba boa-fé (onestidade), korrupsaun, viabilidade, transparénsia no kredibilidade. Ida ne’e, hatudu nesesidade atu reforsa sistema jestaun investimentu husi li’ur. Problema estruturál sira inklui due diligence la sufisiente, promesa boot maibé implementasaun limitadu, falta transparénsia kontratual no koordenasaun institusionál ne’ebé la efetivu.

Investimentu estranjeiru importante, maibé tenke asegura katak Timor-Leste kontinua iha sistema ne’ebé estavel, klaridade no responsabilidade. Projetu ne’ebé la klaru ka la sustentavel bele afeta konfiansa investidór ne’ebé sériu no aumenta risku disputa legál internasionál.

La’o Hamutuk rekomenda atu Timor-Leste kontinua reforsa jestaun públika investimentu liu husi verifikasaun rigorozu, prova kapasidade finanseiru independente no transparénsia kontratual. Estratéjia ida ne’e sei ajuda proteje rekursus públiku, hamenus risku no aumenta konfiansa ba investimentu sustentavel.

La’o Hamutuk sei kontinua apoia esforsu atu promove transparénsia, responsabilidade no prátika di’ak internasionál hodi asegura katak investimentu estranjeiru kontribui duni ba dezenvolvimentu sustentavel no benefísiu ba povu Timor-Leste.

LH appreciates Government’s intention to cancel the Pelican Paradise project

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La’o Hamutuk appreciates the announcement by the Government of Timor-Leste to cancel the Pelican Paradise project. This decision comes in a context where the project has not progressed proportional to its initial scale and promise, while at the same time raising concerns about sustainability, corruption, violations of community rights, transparency and financial risk.

La'o Hamutuk considers this decision important to protect Timor-Leste's long-term interests, maintain institutional integrity and strengthen accountability in managing foreign investment. We encourage the Government to continue to strengthen rigorous prevention to protect Timor-Leste’s people and interests.

Since this project started in 2009, there were many problematic signs, but the proponent and the Government ignored them. In September 2009, the owner of the project, Singaporean Edward Ong, tried to scam more than a billion dollars from Timor-Leste’s Petroleum Fund, through a company called “Asian Champ Investment”. Six months later, workers discovered nine corpses (probably victims from Indonesia's occupation) at the project site. However, Ong planned to open a golf course by 2012. In 2014, the environmental authority informed La’o Hamutuk that the project was cancelled, although it already had received an environmental license. Timor-Leste should learn from this experience, and not trust investors or projects with indicators of bad faith.

Pelican Paradise restarted in 2018, when the Government approved a Special Investment Agreement (SIA) proposal of approximately $310 million. In 2019, the project increased to approximately $700 million in the areas of Tasi-Tolu and Tibar with an area of 558 hectares, with the aim of developing a tourist complex with a five star hotel, golf course and other infrastructure. In 2021, through Government Resolution 133/2021, the State of Timor-Leste approved the project and the SIA, showing continuing institutional responsibility to the investor. However, during the following years, project implementation did not show significant progress; they only continued to renew its environmental license. Audit Report 1/2024 by Timor-Leste’s Chamber of Accounts identified problems with rent exemptions granted to Pelican Paradise. 

Pelican Paradise invested in education by launching an international school in Dili, known as Pelican Grammar School, which opened in January 2024. In 2025, the company asked the State to deposit about $180 million. Finally, on 23 March 2026 the Government announced its intention to cancel the project, although the company rejects this, referring to parts of the contractual obligation not being fulfilled.

Timor-Leste's experience shows a recurrent pattern of promised investments that raise concerns about good faith, corruption, feasibility, transparency and credibility. This shows the need to strengthen the external investment management system. Structural problems include inadequate “due diligence,” great promises but limited implementation, lack of contract transparency, and ineffective institutional coordination.

Foreign investment is important, but we need to be certain that Timor-Leste continues to have a stable system, clarity and accountability. Unclear or unsustainable projects can affect the confidence of serious investors and increase the risk of international legal disputes.

La'o Hamutuk recommends that Timor-Leste continue to strengthen public investment management through strict verification, proof of independent financial capacity and contractual transparency. This strategy will help protect public resources, reduce risks and increase confidence in sustainable investments.

La'o Hamutuk will continue to support efforts to promote international transparency, accountability and good practice to ensure that foreign investment is contributing to sustainable development and benefits for the people of Timor-Leste.