A lesson from Abilio

DILI: Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares threatened to dismiss a staff member from the Ministry of Industry and Trade office for his insincerity in participating in a ceremony to commemorate National Awakening Day yesterday.

"Before I leave the podium, I want the civil servant standing in the back, corner row to come up here," Abilio said in a high voice.

The civil servant, identified as Rorong, then came up without his official civil servant (Korpri) cap, which he should have used in the ceremony.

"Such a civil servant deserves punishment or dismissal if necessary," Abilio said, trembling with anger and pointing his finger at Rorong.

The governor said that the man had followed the official ceremony reluctantly. "I saw him shaking his legs and putting his hands in his pockets as if he was not part of the official ceremony," Abilio said.

The provincial chairman of civil servants (Korpri), Radjakarina Brahmana, said that the governor has the capacity to punish errant civil servants.

"How can a civil servant be a model to the public if he or she cannot set a good example," Radjakarina said.

The secretary general of the provincial Korpri, Latuconsina, said he agreed with the governor's tough stance against such undisciplined civil servants. (sur)