Meeting of the Council of Ministers on September 21st, 2015
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Sixth Constitutional Government
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Dili, September 21th, 2015
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on September 21st, 2015
The Council of Ministers met this Monday, September 21st 2015, at the Council of Ministers’ meeting room, in the Government Palace, in Díli, and approved:
1. Document on the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Development of Timor-Leste and the UNICEF, UNDO and UNFAP Document – Program on Actions Plans for Timor-Leste
The Action Plan of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for the Development of Timor-Leste (UNDAF) is the basis for the United Nations programming for the 2015-2019 cycle and also constitutes the general framework that includes the totality of the agencies’ activities in the country.
Within the scope of this general framework, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UNICEF – United Nations Children’s Fund, created their Action Plan for Timor-Leste, coordinated with the Timorese Ministries of the related sectors and with the Ministry of Finance.
The UNDAF agreement will be signed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. The action plans of the sectoral organisms will be signed by the respective Ministers of each sector or by the Minister of Finance.
2. “Development Objective Agreement”
The “Development Objective Agreement” – agreement on the development objectives for Timor-Leste – was signed on 27 March 2014 and will come into effect on 30 September 2018. It is the mechanism of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is namely directed to the strengthening of decentralisation in the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (OHRJ).
The Council of Ministers has approved an alteration to this agreement, in the sense of promoting an additional contribution within the scope of the respective program. It was also decided that the agreement will be signed by the Minister of Finance.
3. Government resolution that approves the Rules of Procedure of the Interministerial Commission for Security
Law no. 2/2010, of 21 April – Law on National Security, created the Interministerial Commission for Security (ICS), as the consultation body for the Prime Minister on the political coordination of the Integrated System for National Security. The law defines its competencies and structure, remitting the approval of the respective Rules of Procedure to the Council of Ministers.
Thus, a set of rules have now been approved which discipline the organisation and functioning of the meetings of the Interministerial Commission for Safety. Among other aspects, it was sought to ensure a secretariat that provides technical and administrative support to the meetings and guarantees the confidentiality of the issues subject to appreciation in the ICS.
4. Government resolution which nominates members of the Archive and Museum of the Timorese Resistance, IP
Decree-Law no. 22/2014, of 3 September, approved the Statutes of the Archive and Museum of the Timorese Resistance, with the legal structure of a public Institute and with administrative, technical and financial autonomy, as well as its own assets. It is its objective of preserve, add value and divulge the memory of the resistance and the culture of the Timorese people.
It is thus considered necessary to nominate the members of the board of this public institute, and constituted by an executive director, that presides it, and four Board Members. The nomination is made by the Council of Ministers, under the proposal of the Prime Minister, after consulting the President of the Republic, and it’s for a renewable mandate of four years.
5. Government resolution on the objectives for Sustainable Development
The Council of ministers approved a resolution that creates a Working Group to promote the necessary mechanisms for the country to achieve the objectives of sustainable development. Timor-Leste participated actively in the work that defined the 17 global objectives for sustainable development, through the High Level Panel of Eminent Persons, created by the United Nations, objectives that are in line with the policy defined in the strategic development plan 2011–2030.
6. Tax Reform plan
Tax Reform is a project that will demand sustained and combined effort between the public and private sector, as well as of civil society, in the short and medium-term. Thus, the Council of Ministers has approved a plan to implement Tax Reform, where the objectives, fundamental issues and reform actions are outlined. It is up to the Commission for Tax Reform to draft a work plan for each defined component.
7. Government Resolution on Guido Valadares National Hospital
The government has formalised the recognition of Guido Valadares National Hospital as a hospital that provides secondary and tertiary healthcare services to patients forwarded by regional hospitals from all of the national territory. The hospital is endowed of legal personality and administrative, financial and asset autonomy, integrated in the indirect administration of the State.
The Council of Ministers also analysed:
1. Decree-Law on the Regime for Tobacco Control
The Council of Ministers analysed the Decree-Law that establishes the Regime for Tobacco Control. This law intends to include measures such as prohibiting smoking in enclosed public locations, workplace and public transport. Civic education and clinical support from the Ministry of Health, supported by a strong legal framework, will be fundamental to improve public health.
