Media Releases
- 26 of June of 2024Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 26th, 2024Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 26th, 2024
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and began the meeting with a presentation by the Dili Development Company, part of the Jape Group, on the Expansion plan for the “Dili Central” shopping Complex, which includes the Timor Plaza Shopping Centre. The plan provides for the construction of several tourist and corporate buildings.
******
This was followed by a presentation by the Minister of Finance, Santina José Rodrigues F. Viegas Cardoso, on the Ministry of Finance’s Five-Year Plan.
The Plan aims to strengthen the Ministry's capacity to support other state institutions in efficiently managing public finances. Since its establishment during the UN administration in 2001, Timor-Leste's Ministry of Finance has developed its capacity to support other state institutions in managing public finances. The Five-Year Plan reflects not only the progress made but also addresses emerging challenges, such as the post-pandemic recovery from COVID-19 and the impacts of climate disasters, highlighting the need to strengthen public financial systems to promote Timor-Leste's sustainable development and economic resilience.
******
The Minister for Higher Education, Science and Culture, José Honório da Costa Pereira Jerónimo, gave a presentation on the background, objectives, and future actions for the development of the “Escola Superior de Educação (ESE) - Higher School of Education RAIZ” project. This project aims to train quality teachers in the Portuguese language to work in the education system to help improve teaching and learning processes at all levels of education.
******
The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Francisco da Costa Monteiro, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of TIMOR GAP, E.P. -Timor Gas & Petróleo, E.P. ("TIMOR GAP"), Rui Maria Alves Soares, presented Timor Gap's Activity Plan to the Council of Ministers.
The plan envisages strengthening and developing institutions and human resources and establishing strategic partnerships. One priority is developing the Greater Sunrise field and implementing a gas pipeline to Timor-Leste. Exploration and development projects for potential onshore and offshore blocks and planning for the infrastructure needed to support the Tasi Mane project were also discussed. General information on the Greater Sunrise project was also shared.
******
Lastly, the Minister of Finance, Santina José Rodrigues F. Viegas Cardoso, presented the meeting’s timetable for the Budget Revision Committee in the scope of preparation of the 2025 General State Budget. The meetings will take place from August 12th to 27th, 2024. END
- 21 of June of 2024Migration Attachés Now Authorized to Issue VisasFrom now on, migration attachés in the countries mentioned above are authorized to issue visas for work, business, temporary stay, establishment of residence, transit, tourism and airport stopovers.more
- 19 of June of 2024Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 19th, 2024Approved:more
✅ 1 - appointment of the members of the General Council of the Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL) within the competence of the Council of Ministers;
✅ 2 - first amendment to Decree-Law no.10/2020, of March 25th, the new regime for the training activities of the Legal and Judicial Training Centre;
✅ 3 - World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies ("2022 Fisheries Protocol");
✅ 4 - Recovery and Insolvency Code. - 12 of June of 2024Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 12th, 2024Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 12th, 2024
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and began the meeting with a presentation on “Developing the blue economy in Timor-Leste” by Álvaro Sardinha, a consultant specialising in the blue economy and sustainable development.
This initiative is part of Ocean Week, under the slogan of the national campaign “Ha’u-nia Tasi, Ha’u-nia Timor” (My Sea, My Timor), promoted from June 8th to 18th, 2024, by the Land and Maritime Boundaries Office, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão.
The presentation aimed to demonstrate the advantages of developing the blue economy on the country’s economic growth. The blue economy focuses on using maritime resources and promoting sustainable, restorative, and regenerative economic development, recognising the importance of marine spaces and the planet's sustainability.
The development of the blue economy in Timor-Leste could boost, among other things, opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, investment, and the development of professional careers.
The Council of Ministers thanked him for the presentation and reinforced the Government's intention to continue promoting the joint and dynamic efforts of various ministries and government agencies to successfully and sustainably develop the Blue Economy in the country.
******
The Council of Ministers has decided to propose to the National Parliament the appointment of Mr Rui Pereira dos Santos as Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission for a four-year term.
******
The Council of Ministers approved a draft Government Resolution approving the protocol between the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Portuguese Republic on the Portuguese School in Dili, signed on June 8th, presented by the Minister of Justice.
Under the terms of this protocol, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste cedes the right to a 15,000m2 plot of land in Caicoli to the Portuguese state for the construction of new facilities for the Portuguese School of Dili. END - 05 of June of 2024Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 5th, 2024Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 5th, 2024
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and discussed various issues, including the presentation by the Coordinator of the Justice Sector Reform Working Group, Dr Lúcia Lobato, on the action plan to improve the justice sector in Timor-Leste.
The Justice Sector Reform Working Group presented a roadmap for improving the justice sector, outlining priorities, and identifying a set of recommendations and measures for the Government to adopt to strengthen the judicial system.
The Council of Ministers discussed the recommendations presented and reiterated its support for the Justice Sector Reform Working Group to continue its work to adopt the necessary reforms.
******
The Minister of Transport and Communications also presented on the progress made in installing the submarine fibre optic cable, which is expected to be operational by the end of this year.
The Council of Ministers acknowledged the team’s commitment and decided to name the submarine cable repeaters after some of Timor-Leste’s martyrs, such as Maria Udu Bele “Maria Tapó”, Rosa Bonaparte Soares “Muki”, Dulce Maria da Cruz “We-we”, Fernando de Araújo “La-sama”, Agustinho do Espírito Santo, José da Silva, Venâncio Ramos Amaral Ferraz and Dinis Carvalho da Silva “Nelo Kadomi Timor”.
END
- 29 of May of 2024Meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 29th, 2024Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 29th, 2024
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and began the meeting with the appointment of the members of the Board of Directors of the National Centre Chega! I.P., from Memory to Hope, for a three-year term, as the respective positions are vacant.
Upon a proposal from the Vice-Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, acting on behalf of the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Council of Ministers appointed Mr Aniceto Guro-Bertini as a member and Mr Manuel Mesquita as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
*******
The Council of Ministers approved a draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of the Interior, Francisco da Costa Guterres, which aims to establish the new Statute for Police Officers of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL – acronym in Portuguese).
The new statute for police officers, approved by the Council of Ministers, includes significant amendments. These include reintroducing the oath of allegiance, defining incompatibilities, and establishing objective criteria for promotions. Additionally, new leadership positions have been created in the PNTL to address organisational needs.
This Decree-Law reflects the importance of guaranteeing a professional, well-trained, and structured national police force to consolidate the rule of law and promote democracy on national territory.
*******
A draft Decree-Law, also presented by the Minister of the Interior, which aims to establish a new PNTL organic law, was also approved. The aim is to restructure and modernise the institution to boost its capacity to respond to the current national challenges in line with strategic plans for development and national security.
END - 22 of May of 2024Meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 22nd, 2024Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 22nd, 2024
available soon - 15 of May of 2024Meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 15th, 2024Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 15th, 2024
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and began with a presentation by the Governor of the Central Bank of Timor-Leste (BCTL), Helder Lopes, on the operational management of the Petroleum Fund.
The presentation included information on investment strategy and implementation, portfolio allocation, investment performance, Petroleum Fund revenues and Petroleum Fund withdrawals.
The Petroleum Fund’s investment strategy is guided by clear objectives established by national legislation. The aim is to ensure that revenues from petroleum exploitation are invested in a way that guarantees sustainable benefits for both current and future generations.
*******
The Council of Ministers approved the Draft Decree-Law for the first amendment to Decree-Law no. 96/2022, of December 30th, which establishes the Millennium Challenge Account-Timor-Leste and approves the respective statutes, presented by the Minister of Finance, Santina José Rodrigues F. Viegas Cardoso.
Bearing in mind that the organisational structure of the 9th Constitutional Government establishes that the Millennium Challenge Account-Timor-Leste, I.P.(MCA-TL) is under the supervision of the Minister of Finance, it is necessary to amend Decree-Law no. 96/2022, of December 30th, to transfer the supervision and oversight of the MCA-TL from the Prime Minister to the Member of the Government responsible for finance.
On the other hand, it is also necessary to align certain provisions regarding the organisation of the MCA-TL to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of its underlying objectives, namely, guaranteeing a smooth transition of competences during and after the installation period and avoiding delays in decision-making regarding the MCA-TL.
****
The Draft Government Resolution on Reforming the Accounting System, also presented by the Minister of Finance, was also approved.
This reform aims to guarantee reliability and modernisation in the recording, classification, and registration of income and expenditure, promote transparency in public and private finances, and boost economic development.
The main objectives include the establishment, within 12 months of a new accounting standard and chart of accounts, applicable to the public and private sectors, in line with international standards, and the implementation of an integrated system that includes and ensures the relationship between budgetary accounting, based on budget classifiers, and financial accounting, based on the chart of accounts. It should also be simple, user-friendly, and suited to the national public and private sectors' needs, capacity, and resources.
A National Accounting Council will also be established within 24 months to issue standards and recommendations. In the medium term, a certification scheme and a professional association for accounting and auditing professionals will be established to guarantee the quality of accounting professionals. END
1 
