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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 4th, 2022
The Council of Ministers met, at the Government Palace, in Dili, and approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture, Longuinhos dos Santos, for the first amendment to the Organic Structure of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture. The purpose of this draft Decree-Law is to partially amend the organic structure of this Ministry, to allow the resolution of some service obstacles experienced during the last three years of governance, and to allow for a continuation of the work of growth and evolution of the higher education sector in Timor-Leste.
The draft Decree-Law, presented by the Vice-Minister of Finance, Mr António Freitas, referring to the new Legal Regime of Procurement, Public Contracts and Related Infringements, was also revised and approved. This draft Decree-Law had already been approved in the Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 16th, 2022, however, due to some amendments introduced in the final drafting phase, it became necessary to submit it to a new resolution. It is intended to create a new legal regime, clearer, simple, objective, rigorous and transparent, to promote the economic and social development of the country.
The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Petroleum and Minerals, Victor da Conceição Soares, to establish the Timor Mining Company, S.A.. The purpose of this national mining company is to carry out mining activities as defined by law, including reconnaissance, prospecting and research, evaluation, development, exploration, treatment, transport and marketing of minerals, as well as mine shutdown activities. It may also carry out complementary or ancillary activities to mining activities and provide services related to mining activities, including, in particular, technical, commercial and management consulting services in the mining sector.
Two draft Motions for Resolution to the National Parliament were also approved, presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Adaljiza Albertina Xavier Reis Magno, for the ratification, for accession, to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the ratification, for accession, to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This Convention is an instrument of international law, which aims to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.
The Council of Ministers decided to approve the annual effective to be incorporated in FALINTIL – Defence Force of Timor-Leste (F-FDTL) in 2022, according to the project presented by the Minister of Defence, Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus. Thus, it was approved a military recruitment process for the incorporation of six hundred recruits, of which 240 will be for the Naval Force component, 240 for the Land Force component and 120 for the remaining units.
According to the projects presented by the Minister of Public Works, Abel Pires da Silva, the Council of Ministers decided to authorize the opening of procurement procedures, through international public tender, for the public works regarding the repair works of the highway Suai-Beaço, Section 1: Suai-Fatucai/Mola and regarding the construction of the Municipal Road Uaica-Kelikai-Ossu.
Lastly, the Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Armanda Berta dos Santos, and the Minister of Health, Odete Maria Freitas Belo, as Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, of the Interministerial Committee for the Preparation and Coordination of the Execution of the Vaccination Plan against COVID-19, presented to the Council of Ministers the results of the vaccination and a set of amendments to the Plan.
Among the planned amendments, the Pfizer vaccine will now be administered to citizens aged 18 years or older, also as a first and second dose, in addition to the booster dose that already covered this age group. Those who received the first dose of AstraZeneca or Sinovac vaccines will now be eligible to receive the second dose with the Pfizer vaccine.
By May 2nd, 2022, nationwide, a total of 71.6% of youth between the ages of 12 and 17 have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Nationwide, 36.9% of young people have received both doses. In Dili, 74.4% of young people between 12 and 17 years have already received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
Regarding the individuals older than 18 years, 72.2% have received, at least, two doses, and 84.6% have received, at least, one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. END