My first impression of Dili was of a place which was VERY slowly being rebuilt. The population live in primitive conditions compared with ours. Infrastructure is still not in place. Some telephone lines are available in Dili, but not in the country areas. Mobile phones, serviced by Telstra, do not work outside Dili where UNTAET has its principal seat of administration. The only reliable method of contact with Australia from Dili is by mobile. Roads are in bad condition and their repair seems to be a temporary and patchwork solution until the next wet period again washes much of the repair away. Schools are few, poorly staffed and equipped. In Dili itself, food is pretty expensive, a scrawny chook or a pound of meat costing about AUD$10. The two supermarkets charge at least twice what we pay in Australia for everything they offer. Fresh fish is available from stalls along the main road. Fresh vegetables are inexpensive if bought from stalls. All water has to be boiled before it can be drunk. The water comes on only three times a day and is stored for use. To our horror, we discovered that it finds its way into the petrol bought from the stalls.

Bishop Belo had a meeting with us the afternoon we arrived. He asked that we come immediately and staff his seminary, a request which we explained we were unable to fulfil. He asked that we put a proposal to him about what we think we could do when we arrive in 2003.