If anybody doubts that glib PR and financial jargon bedevil humanity, then they should read Darwin City Council Sister City minutes. QUESTION: What is the stated goal of the Sister City connection with Timor -Leste ? You might think it is to help a nation which for nearly a quarter of a century was torn apart by brutal invaders, which as a result produced dire social problems, poor infrastructure, limited government services, high unemployment, etc. No, according to the DCC minutes, involvement with Dili is to : “PROMOTE BRAND DARWIN. ”
In each of the sister city relations the funding appears to be a mere $4000. There is talk of a Timor-Leste peanut paste project in which mash impregnated with vitamins and minerals could be used to combat widespread malnutrition . Malawi in Africa has such a scheme. The minutes do not make it clear the project is actually in swing as it says it would increase production of local peanuts . There is talk of an email having been received seeking assistance “in sourcing” basic equipment to make the paste. “This has since happened,” the report continues , which again is not exactly clear as to its meaning. The council plans to bring to Darwin a person from the Dili District Sanitation Department for a two week waste management course. The stated goal in all of the sister cities is the same : PROMOTE BRAND DARWIN .
The DCC is investigating whether or not it should sign a Friendship agreement with the Dongfang Municipal Government . Their letter , in Chinese , is being translated so that the DCC will know exactly what Dongfang is proposing . There is talk of exchanges and economic trade. Another point of interest, to be clarified, is mention of sealing in concrete a road from Lao Ou village to a soldiers’ memorial, a distance of 800 metres , for $US600,000.
The DCC is investigating whether or not it should sign a Friendship agreement with the Dongfang Municipal Government . Their letter , in Chinese , is being translated so that the DCC will know exactly what Dongfang is proposing . There is talk of exchanges and economic trade. Another point of interest, to be clarified, is mention of sealing in concrete a road from Lao Ou village to a soldiers’ memorial, a distance of 800 metres , for $US600,000.
An item of interest is that a Chinese tutor may be engaged for Darwin High School under the Federal government scheme to promote Asian languages .
