Meeting of the Council of Ministers of March 27, 2019

Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Eighth Constitutional Government

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Press Release

Meeting of the Council of Ministers of March 27, 2019

The Council of Ministers met in the Government Palace in Dili and approved the Government's Resolution on a donation to the Republic of Mozambique for support in the response to the destruction caused by Cyclone Idai, which hit the coastal city of Beira, capital of the Mozambican province of Sofala on March 14, killed more than 450 people and left more than 1,700 wounded and more than 100,000 displaced people. Given the seriousness of the situation and the historical and friendly ties between Timor-Leste and Mozambique, the Government expresses its solidarity with the people of Mozambique and approves the amount of one million US dollars to support the response to the needs caused by the passage of Idai.

The Acting Minister of Finance, Sara Lobo Brites, presented the proposal for a Government Resolution approved by the Council of Ministers on the creation of the Interministerial Commission for Fiscal Reform and Public Finance Management. The creation of this interministerial commission intends to give new political impetus to the fiscal reform and public finance management programs initiated in the 6th Constitutional Government, reinforcing the role and involvement of the members of the Government with responsibilities in these areas, aiming that by 2023 a significant part of the necessary legislation in this area will be drawn up. In this sense, the Government reaffirms the commitment made in its Program to comprehensively reform the area of public finances, with a view to increasing State revenues, strengthening and promoting sustainability, quality, transparency and responsibilities in fiscal policy and in financial management. The commission will be chaired by the Prime Minister, who will be assisted by the Ministers responsible for Finance, Coordination of Economic Affairs, Legislative Reform, Justice, State Administration, Strategic Planning and Investment and Petroleum and Minerals.

The Council of Ministers approved the proposal for a Memorandum of Understanding, submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and the Ministry of Justice, concerning the lease of the land of the United States Embassy in Timor-Leste. This memorandum of understanding will define the terms of the embassy's land lease and the rules for building and altering diplomatic facilities. ENDS

 

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