Media Releases
- 10 of March of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 10th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 10th, 2021
The Council of Ministers met, at the Ministry of Finance, in Dili, and approved the Law Proposal draft for the first amendment to Law 6/2016, of May 25th, on the Voters Registration Law, presented by the Minister of State Administration, Miguel Pereira de Carvalho. With this amendment, whoever loses or damages their electoral card three or more times is subject to the payment of a fee for the issuance of a new card. In order to ensure greater security in the voter registration, the possibility of cross-checking data with the Ministry of Finance is also legally provided for, in addition to the ministries previously provided for. The baptismal certificate and personal card of the Islamic community are no longer accepted for registration purposes and other elements are added to the voters card and voters registration database. In order to ensure correct voters identification, the possibility of collecting biometric data as voters identification data is now foreseen.
The Law Proposal draft for the third amendment to Law 5/2006, of December 28th, on the Electoral Administrative Bodies, also presented by the Minister of State Administration, was also approved. This Law Proposal draft intends to adapt to the content of new legal diplomas and to the specification of some existing ambiguous contents, as well as to ensure the coordination in terms of functions between the two electoral bodies, the National Elections Commission (CNE – Portuguese acronym) and the Technical Secretariat of the Electoral Administration (STAE – Portuguese acronym).
After the presentation, by the Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, on the epidemiological situation in the Municipality of Covalima, the Council of Ministers decided to remove the imposition of a health fence in this municipality, except in the Administrative Post of Fatumean, which will remain until March 21st. Public Administration services and schools in this municipality will remain closed until the March 13th, according to the determinations of the responsible Government members.
The Council of Ministers also decided on the first amendment to Government Resolution 12/2021, of March 8th, which imposes a health fence and lockdown in the Municipality of Dili, until March 15th, 11:59 a.m. With this amendment, it is also forbidden to travel, by land, sea, or air, into this municipality, except in cases duly based on security, public health, humanitarian or other reasons, that prove necessary for the realization of the public interest, authorized by the Minister of the Interior. It also clarifies that the disrespect to the orders and instructions issued by the competent authorities for the application of the rules contained in this resolution may import criminal liability of the infringer, in accordance with the Penal Code. During this resolution’s term, collective passenger transportation is suspended. The Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs and the Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry, through joint order, will define which economic activities and services should be closed, and what rules of operation for activities that may remain in operation.
Lastly, the Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs, Joaquim Amaral and the Secretary of State for the Environment, Demétrio do Amaral de Carvalho, made a preliminary presentation to the Council of Ministers on Timor-Leste’s National Adaptation Plan for climate risks and for the creation of climate resilience. This plan presents a set of measures that aim to address the threats caused by the climate change and to reduce the impacts of national vulnerabilities, such as sea level rise, floods, strong winds, extreme rainfall, drought and global warming. END
- 09 of March of 2021Members of the Council of Ministers test negative for COVID-19Members of the Council of Ministers test negative for COVID-19more
09 of March of 2021Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of March 8th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of March 8th, 2021
The Council of Ministers met, at the Ministry of Finance, in Dili, and, after analysing the presentation that the Integrated Crisis Management Centre’s Situation Room gave, on the status of SARS-CoV-2 in the country and the high probability of community transmission situations, the Government decided to impose a mandatory health fence and confinement in the municipality of Dili, for seven days, from March 9th, 2021, 00:00 a.m. until March 15th, 2021, 11:59 p.m., with the possibility of extension for another seven days.
Thus, it is forbidden to travel, by land, sea or air, outside this municipality, except in duly based cases for reasons of safety, public health, humanitarian or other that prove necessary for the accomplishment of the public interest, authorized by the Minister of the Interior.
General home confinement of the population residing in the municipality of Dili is imposed, without prejudice to travel outside the residence when this is justified by reasons of imperative need for medical assistance of the person itself or of family members who are in their custody or care; participating in judicial or police proceedings, for which they are notified; purchase of goods or payment of essential services, such as the purchase of food, payment of electricity supply or payment of telecommunications services and internet access; and compliance with professional obligations which have not been waived by their employer.
The members of the Government and the highest executive body of public legal persons of indirect administration shall identify officials, agents and public administration workers who are responsible for ensuring essential services and who are not exempted from the duty to show up at their workplace.
The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and the Minister for Tourism, Commerce and Industry approve, by joint order, the model for identifying private sector workers who are not exempted by their employer from the duty to show up at their workplace.
It is forbidden to hold any events of a social, cultural, sporting or religious nature that imply the agglomeration of people.
The compliance with the duties arising from the previously provided will be supervised by the police forces.
Finally, the Council of Ministers approved the Vaccination Plan Against COVID-19, presented by the Vice Prime-Minister and Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Armanda Berta dos Santos, and the Interministerial Commission for the Preparation and Coordination of the Implementation of the Vaccination Plan Against COVID-19. According to the roadmap presented, the first 33,600 doses are expected to arrive in Timor-Leste in the fourth week of March 2021, and the launch of the first vaccination phase will begin in the second week of April. All persons over 18 years of age are expected to be vaccinated by the end of 2021. The vaccination of minors under 18 is expected to be carried out in 2022, but their planning is still dependent on the technical recommendation of the World Health Organization. Planning and preparation activities for the implementation of the vaccination plan are underway, such as preparation of storage condition and training of teams. END- 02 of March of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 2nd, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 2nd, 2021
The Council of Ministers met, at Government Palace, in Dili, and approved four Government Decree drafts, presented by The Minister of Public Works, Salvador Soares dos Reis Pires, concerning the value of the remuneration of the members of the governing bodies of the Timor-Leste Electricity Public Company (EDTL,EP) and Bee Timor-Leste Public Company (BTL, EP) and of the National Authority for Electricity Public Institute (ANE,IP) and the National Authority for Water and Sanitation Public Institute (ANAS, IP). Together with these Government Decrees, are also approved the values of attendance vouchers that members of the Board of Directors and members of the Fiscal Council are entitled to receive for their participation in the meetings of the bodies of these public companies and public institutes. The approved values may be subject to amendment, in accordance with the approval of the future remuneration regime applicable to the indirect administration of the State.
It was also approved the Government Decree draft, presented by the Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, on the measures to implement the state of emergency, renewed by the Decree of the President of the Republic No. 15/2021, of March 1st, to respond to the pandemic of COVID-19. The state of emergency, now renewed, covers the entire national territory and is in effect between March 4th, 2021, 00:00 a.m. and April 2nd, 2021, 11:59 p.m.
Thus, the majority of measures already adopted and that are being implemented will remain, namely the ban on land border crossing for traditional or customary purposes and for access to regulated markets; the obligation of all international circulation to take place through border posts, which may be closed by decision of the Minister of the Interior, when security or public health reasons justify it; the subjection of all individuals who want to enter or leave the territory to sanitary control, preventing international circulation to all those who show symptoms of infection by SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19; the imposition of mandatory prophylactic isolation (quarantine) on all those who enter national territory; and subjection of all individuals to whom COVID-19 has been diagnosed, with therapeutic isolation.
During the term of the present diploma, all individuals residing in Timor-Leste are obliged to maintain a distance of, at least, one meter or three feet from other individuals with whom they do not live in a common economy; to wear a face mask that covers their nose and mouth when they have to access or stay in public or private premises for collective use, and to sanitize their hands when they intend to enter commercial, industrial or service establishments or buildings where public administration services operate.
It is now accepted the possibility of temporary suspension of the in-person teaching and learning processes, if the government department responsible for public health recommends it for the purpose of reducing the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
This Government Decree provides that the relatives of the staff of the diplomatic missions accredited in Dili may also comply with the period of prophylactic isolation in a place to be designated by the Ministry of Health or at their home.
The Council of Ministers also approved the Government Resolution draft that renews the imposition of a sanitary fence in the municipality of Covalima, with travel between this municipality and the other municipalities being prohibited between March 4th, 2021, 00:00 a.m. and April 2nd, 2021, 11:59 p.m. The Minister of the Interior may also authorize the movement of persons or goods, based on humanitarian, public health protection, public security or public interest reasons, and shall define under what conditions they are carried out.
Lastly, the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Planning , José Maria dos Reis, made a presentation on the planning and budgeting of new projects for the year 2022 and on the execution of projects for the year 2021 from the Infrastructure Fund. The main objective of the presentation was to analyse the process and mechanisms for preparing, submitting and implementing projects of the ministerial lines to be carried out through the Infrastructure Fund. END - 26 of February of 2021Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of February 26th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of February 26th, 2021
The Council of Ministers met, at the Government Palace, in Dili, and analysed a presentation given by the heads of the Integrated Crisis Management Centre’s Situation Room, on the current situation of the new Coronavirus in Timor-Leste. According to the data presented, in the context of the mass tests already performed, a total of 2648 samples were collected, in Bobonaro, Covalima and in the Special Administrative Region of Oé-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA), of which 7 (seven) had a positive result. The seven cases were found at the Administrative Post of Fatumean, in Covalima municipality, where, for the first time, local transmission was registered. However, it was already possible to determine the origin of the outbreak, and there is no indication that it has spread to other places. END 
25 of February of 2021Federal Reserve Bank of New York is a Trusted Partner of Timor-Lestemore
Central Bank of Timor-Leste
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
February 24, 2021
Press Release
Federal Reserve Bank of New York is a Trusted Partner of Timor-Leste
The Governor of Banco Central de Timor-Leste (BCTL), Mr Abraão de Vasconselos, said today that the BCTL had been following the public news circulating in Timor-Leste regarding the government’s access to the Petroleum Fund account held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. He said that some of the news had suggested the Federal Reserve or the Government of the United States of America had been preventing the Government of Timor-Leste from accessing the Petroleum Fund account.
Mr Vasconselos clarified that the news was completely unfounded and had no basis in fact. He further clarified that the account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is the State of Timor- Leste’s fund and registered in the name of the BCTL where the relationship between the BCTL and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is managed. The Law provides the Government has only one account at the BCTL. Whenever the Government wishes to withdraw money from the Petroleum Fund, the Minister of Finance simply sends a withdrawal instruction to the BCTL after all other political processes have been completed and published in the Journal da Republica while the remaining process with the Federal Reserve is the competence of the BCTL. The BCTL has never been prevented from accessing the Petroleum Fund account at the Federal Reserve, nor has the Federal Reserve ever indicated that it intended to take such action.
The Governor said that the actual situation was quite the opposite. The Federal Reserve has been and continues to be a valuable and trusted partner that has supported the BCTL in the management of the Petroleum Fund account since the inception of the Petroleum Fund in 2005. He said that since 2001 Timor-Leste has had an excellent relationship with the Federal Reserve, which has faithfully executed all valid instructions received from BCTL relating to the Petroleum Fund and other bank accounts.
Finally, Mr Vasconselos requested that the public and media should cease circulating the rumours and in future the public and the media should check the facts with the Central Bank or the Minister of Finance before repeating unfounded rumours about the Petroleum Fund’s management. END
24 of February of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on February 24th, 2021Analysedmore
1 - Coordination Committee for the Implementation of Industrial Parks;
2 - proposal to reform the Bolsa da Mãe program, through the pilot project “Preparasaun ba Jerasaun Foun” (Preparation for the New Generation).
19 of February of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on February 19th, 2021Approved:more
1 - Second Amendment to Law No. 11/2009, of October 7, on Administrative Division of the Territory;
2 - Request to renew the state of emergency.
Analyzed:
1 - political-legislative options underlying the legislative project for the creation of a financial guarantee for the Credit Line “Higher Education Quality +”.
