Government of Timor-Leste

Media Releases

• 21 of April of 2026Government expresses deepest condolences on the passing of José Honório da Costa Pereira Jerónimo, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Culture

  Presidency of the Council of Ministers
  Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
  Ninth Constitutional Government
  .............................................................................................................................
  April 21st, 2026
  Press Release
  Government expresses deepest condolences on the passing of José Honório da Costa Pereira Jerónimo, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Culture
  The Government of Timor-Leste was deeply saddened to learn today, April 21st, 2026, of the unexpected passing of José Honório da Costa Pereira Jerónimo, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Culture.
  José Honório da Costa Pereira Jerónimo was born in Bazartete, in the municipality of Liquiçá, on February 15th, 1973. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Development Studies in 2001 from the Mandala Institute of Technology and Sciences in Indonesia and completed his master’s degree in the same field in 2010 at Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana in Salatiga, Indonesia.
  He has held academic positions at the National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL) since 2001, serving in various leadership roles across university administration, including Department Chair, Dean, Associate Dean, and Vice Rector. He was also a member of the UNTL General Council and served as Commercial Attaché at the Embassy of Timor-Leste in Jakarta from 2013 to 2015.
  Since 1994, he has been a member of the student organisation “National Resistance of East Timorese Students” (RENETIL – acronym in Portuguese) as part of the struggle for national liberation.
  On July 1st, 2023, he was sworn in as Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Culture in the 9th Constitutional Government, taking responsibility for the formulation and implementation of public policies in the areas of higher education, science, and technology, as well as for coordinating the institutions in the sector under his supervision.
  Agio Pereira, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and Government Spokesperson, expressed his “deep sorrow at the loss of José Honório da Costa Pereira Jerónimo, who leaves a significant legacy in the development of higher education in Timor-Leste and in the strengthening of national academic institutions, having dedicated his life to public service, education, and national development”. He added that “the Government extends its most sincere condolences to the bereaved family, friends, and all Timorese at this time of mourning”. END
   

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• 15 of April of 2026Meeting of the Council of Ministers on April 15th, 2026

  Approved:
  
  ✅ 1 - Establishment of the Interministerial Working Group to Oversee the Construction Project for the International Convention Centre;
  
  ✅ 2 - First amendment to the Organic Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation;
  
  ✅ 3 - Fees to be charged for laboratory tests performed at the laboratories of National Health Service institutions;
  
  ✅ 4 - Donation to Noble Timor to settle outstanding debts arising from the organisation of previous editions of the Tour de Timor, the Dili Marathon, and the Suai Extreme.
  
  ✅ 5 - Theme: “Deepening Economic and Trade Cooperation within the CPLP: Opportunities and Challenges” for the Meeting of CPLP Trade Ministers;
  
  ✅ 6 - Establishment and responsibilities of the negotiating team for Timor-Leste’s accession to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement;
  
  ✅ 7 - Theme “Together, we will build a homeland increasingly fair, inclusive, and resilient” for the official ceremonies marking the 24th anniversary of the Restoration of Independence.
  
  Analysed:
  
  ➡️ 1 - Presentation on preparations for the 79th meeting of the WHO Regional Committee for Southeast Asia;
  
  ➡️ 2 - Presentation on the ASEAN Health Unit;
  
  ➡️ 3 - Presentation on the Public Health and Food Safety Laboratory of the National Institute of Health of Timor-Leste.

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• 08 of April of 2026Meeting of the Council of Ministers on April 8th, 2026

  Approved:
  
  
  ✅ 1 - Architectural design for the new Dili Convention Centre;
  
  
  ✅ 2 - Executive Director of TradeInvest Timor-Leste;
  
  
  ✅ 3 - The Government’s general policy guidelines on the administrative division of the territory and the recognition of villages and hamlets.
  
  
  ✅ 4 - Authorisation to sign grant agreements with KOICA for projects on Forest Restoration Capacity Building and Sustainable Management in Timor-Leste (2026–2033) and the Integrated Program on Nutrition and Food Security, School Feeding, Food Fortification, and School Infrastructure (2026–2030).

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• 01 of April of 2026Meeting of the Council of Ministers on April 1st, 2026

  Approved:
  
  
  ✅ 1 - Dissolution of the Millennium Challenge Account – Timor-Leste, IP;
  
  
  ✅ 2 - Establishment of a new organisational model for services, management, and leadership positions in the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cússe Ambeno;
  
  
  ✅ 3 - Authorisation of expenditures and contracts for public works under Decree-Law No. 15/2024 of March 20th;
  
  
  ✅ 4 - Amendments to the Organic Laws of the 9th Constitutional Government and the Ministry of Tourism and Environment related to the dissolution of the National Authority Designated for Combating Climate Change;
  
  
  ✅ 5 - Maximum amount for expenses related to the transfer of the remains of Catholic prelates who served pastoral duties in Timor-Leste;
  
  
  ✅ 6 - Authorisation of expenditure and initiation of a procurement process for fuel purchase to ensure that a self-sufficient security reserve is established by the end of the year;
  
  
  ✅ 7 - Theme for the 14th Meeting of Ministers of Culture of the CPLP.

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• 26 of March of 2026Timor-Leste Calls for an End to the Embargo on Cuba and Reaffirms Its Solidarity with the Cuban People

  The Government of Timor-Leste affirms its solidarity with the people and Government of the Republic of Cuba in response to the impacts of the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America, which has been in place since the 1960s and has intensified in recent years, with particularly severe effects in 2026.

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• 26 of March of 2026Day Off On The Afternoon Of April 2nd And All Day On April 6th, 2026

  1. Day-off is granted:
  a) On April 2nd, 2025, starting at 12:00 p.m.;
  b) All day on April 6th, 2026.

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• 25 of March of 2026Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 25th, 2026

  Approved:
  
  ✅ 1 - Donation to the Permanent Mission of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in Timor-Leste.
  
  ✅ 2 - Appointment of the new PNTL Commander-General and Second Commander-General.
  
  ✅ 3 - Appointment of the new Executive Director of the Migration Service.
  
  ✅ 4 - Cancellation of the 2025 Public Recruitment Process for the National Police of Timor-Leste Officer Training Course and authorisation to open a recruitment process in 2026.
  
  ✅ 5 - Authorisation of expenditure for the project to rehabilitate the terminal at President Nicolau Lobato International Airport.
  
  ✅ 6 - Annual grant to the Timorese Episcopal Conference (CET) for 2026.
  
  ✅ 7 - Measures for the temporary stabilisation of fuel prices and security of supply.
  
  
  Analysed:
  
  ➡️ 1 - Conclusions of the final report of the Monitoring and Oversight Commission for the Public Recruitment Process for the PNTL Officer Training Course.
  
  ➡️ 2 - Audit Report on Movable and Immovable Assets and Workforce Recruitment at RAEOA.

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• 20 of March of 2026The government congratulates the Muslim community on the celebration of Eid al-Fitr

  The 9th Constitutional Government congratulates the Muslim community in Timor-Leste on the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

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