He had been talking US dollars. Everyone knows what the rupiah is worth. The New Zealand dollar is unknown, here, but if it was, it would be about 4000Rp. The country has no reserves and could not credibly operate a reserve bank. If the World Bank agreed to underwrite a state bank here, the government may as well hand just over the finance portfolio to them.
Most people agree that the three-currency system works.
Eventually having their own currency will become a matter of pride for the East Timorese. But at the moment, this country can t afford its own currency. There is no doubt people would prefer the government to concentrate on providing them with corrugated iron so they can replace the tarpaulin roofs of their houses than concern themselves with the currency issue.