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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of February 20, 2019
The Council of Ministers met in the Government Palace in Dili and discussed the proposal for the Code of Conduct for the members of the Eight Constitutional Government, which will be a self-regulatory instrument that provides clear guidance on the lawful and ethical behavior of members of the Government in the exercise of their day-to-day functions. The document was approved with the changes and suggestions of the members of the Council of Ministers.
The Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Timor-Leste (BCTL) submitted to the Council of Ministers the BCTL Regulation on general rules applicable to the credit guarantee system for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This system is a public program through which the State shares credit risk with commercial banks and aims to promote entrepreneurship and job creation, encourage the formalization and growth of SMEs, facilitate access to credit in priority sectors, and contribute to expanding access to banking and financial services.
The Council of Ministers has analyzed the presentation of telecoms operator Ceslink, a national consortium composed of Ceslink, a computer technology company, and the Oka-D’tel consortium, which will form the country’s fourth largest telecom operator. Ceslink intends to offer a quality, affordable and cheap telecommunications service with modern and efficient technology to guarantee high speed internet, quality communications in all areas of the country and guarantee security and confidentiality of communications.
The Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, presented the proposal for a Decree-Law, approved by the Council of Ministers, on the first amendment to the Scheme for Promotion of Public Administration Careers. With this amendment, article 7 of Decree-Law no. 1/2018, of January 24, is amended, establishing a maximum limit of ten percent of the total number of personnel that make up the category or professional group that qualify for promotion.
The Council of Ministers approved the Government’s proposal for a Resolution, submitted by the Prime Minister, on the promotion of measures for the general cleaning of population centers, with the aim of mobilizing civil society organizations to associate themselves with all the bodies and services of the public administration as well as schools in carrying out actions to clean public spaces, reaffirming the commitment and determination of the State in the realization of the right of all citizens to a healthy, ecologically balanced environment. The collective actions of general cleaning will be executed between the hours of 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM, of the last Friday of each month, beginning on February 22, 2019.
The acting Minister of Finance, Sara Lobo Brites, presented the proposal for a Government Resolution, approved by the Council of Ministers, regarding the rules and criteria for the selection, management and evaluation of the investment made by the Petroleum Fund. With this Resolution, the Government decides to express agreement and support the rules and criteria for the application of the Petroleum Fund in petroleum operations, through the conclusion of commercial transactions through the Timor Gap, EP, in accordance with the legislation in force and taking into account the nature of this type of investments and the respective strategic objectives for the State of Timor-Leste, which allows for the use of the PF to advance the development of this important and significant oil project, generating numerous financial, economic and social benefits for the people of Timor-Leste, and allowing the diversification and development of the national economy. ENDS