Dili, March 28, 2025 (Média Democracia) – Maria Esmeralda da Silva, 50 years old, from the Municipality of Dili, Dom Alexo Administrative Post, Comoro Village, Moris Foun Hamlet, is a victim of the eviction currently taking place in the Tasi-Tolu quarantine area. She feels sad because the value of goods is no longer the same as it was when she was still in Moris Foun Hamlet.
According to trader Maria Esmeralda da Silva, she feels very sad because when she was still living in Fomentu by the riverside, she could create small business activities, such as selling small items that people would buy, allowing her to earn a little money. However, after being relocated to the Tasi-Tolu quarantine area by the state, goods no longer well sell.
“I feel very sad because the goods I sell every day no longer have the same value as when I was living by the riverside. But before the government relocated us, while we were still living in Fomentu by the riverside, goods always had value, and in a day, I could earn $10.00 to $20.00 to support our daily needs. However, after the government moved us to the quarantine area, it has been over a month, and now the goods I sell only bring in $1.00 to $2.00 per day,” said trader Maria Esmeralda da Silva.
She added that since the government relocated them to the quarantine area, it has been very difficult to run a business because many people are engaged in the same small-scale trade, making it challenging to secure customers.
“Our goods have no well sell because many people who came from the riverside are also selling small items. Now, everyone here has opened their own small business, so who will buy our goods? This has had a huge impact on us, as we rely solely on selling these items to survive since we have no other jobs to sustain our daily lives,” she said.
She emphasized that while living by the riverside, people also panned for gold dust to earn a little money to meet their basic needs and support their children’s education. However, after the government relocated them to the quarantine area, far from the river, it has become extremely difficult to earn money from gold panning.
She explained that the stall business began in 2014 and has continued until now. During that time, her husband would go every day to pan for sand, allowing them to earn money to support their needs. Additionally, they would gather small items to sell at home and run a small business.
Reported by : Nelfiano
Picture by : Nelfiano