The old antenna atop the radio tower at Radio Akademika at National University had to be replaced the other day. The problem was – no one wanted to climb the skinny 25 meter high tower. ICFJ staffer Fernando da Silva, who is kind of a big guy, got half way up before the tower began to sway – he figured it was time to climb back down.
The old antenna atop the radio tower at Radio Akademika at National University had to be replaced the other day. The problem was – no one wanted to climb the skinny 25 meter high tower. ICFJ staffer Fernando da Silva, who is kind of a big guy, got half way up before the tower began to sway – he figured it was time to climb back down.
This was a job for a specialist who doesn’t weigh a lot.
Standing around the base of the radio tower, discussing the issue seemed fruitless – that is until someone mentioned Januario Barros Pereira.
After a while, this skinny guy shows up – weighing in at about 50 or so kilograms. Januario’s profession when not a student at National University: he climbs coconut trees.
Before he started up the tower, Januario took off his shoes, grabbed the antenna and some wrenches and strapped a safety belt around himself and the tower.
Climbing barefoot, Januario was up at the top in less than two minutes. Anchoring his feet on the sides of the tower, it took him about ten minutes to unhook the old antenna and install the new one. He was back on the ground 15 minutes after his ascent.
Thanks to Januario and the new antenna, the student-run radio station now , for the first time, broadcasts across the entire city of Dili.
