Government of Timor-Leste

Media Releases

• 19 of March of 2025Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 19th, 2025

  Approved:
  
  1 - Administrative supervision regime for public legal entities that are part of the Indirect State Administration;
  
  2 - Medical Prescription Regime.
  
  3 - Authorisation of expenditure to carry out additional work on the construction of the new Paediatrics and Intensive Coronary Care Unit at the Guido Valadares National Hospital.
  
  4 - Rules for the transitional promotion of PNTL police officers.
  
  
  Analysed:
  
  
  1 - Political and legislative options regarding the model for implementing polytechnic institutions in Timor-Leste.
  
  
  2 - Report on the Social Security Reserve Fund.

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• 12 of March of 2025Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 12th, 2025

  Approved:
  
  1 - Contribution allocated to the United Nations Resident Coordinator System Voluntary Fund;
  
  2 - Donation to the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe;
  
  3 - Export Promotion Law;
  
  4 - Organic Law on Migration Services;
  
  5 - Municipal Land Use Plans for Baucau, Viqueque and Lautém.
  
  
  Reviewed:
  
  1 - Report on Martial Arts activities.

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• 07 of March of 2025Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 7th, 2025

  Presidency of the Council of Ministers
  Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
  Ninth Constitutional Government
  .............................................................................................................................
  Press Release 
  Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 7th, 2025
  The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft government decree presented by the Minister of State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral, on the Conditions for Awarding the School Lunch Programme Subsidy.
  The Government recognises the importance of adequate nutrition for healthy growth, effective learning and the reduction of inequalities. The School Meals Programme has emerged as a strategic initiative to guarantee universal and equitable access to nutritious meals in the country's pre-school and basic education establishments.
  This programme aims not only to tackle food insecurity and improve school performance, but also to promote the sustainable development of local communities by encouraging the production and consumption of food from local agriculture. The implementation of the School Meals Programme is thus a commitment by the state to the well-being and future of children, contributing to the eradication of hunger, the strengthening of the local economy and the development of Timorese human capital.
  *****
  The Minister of Health, Élia A. A. dos Reis Amaral presented to the Council of Ministers the procurement procedure for the construction of a new building for the Ministry of Health, which began with the 8th Constitutional Government. However, the reasons behind the contracting by the previous Government were profoundly modified with the approval of the 9th Constitutional Government's programme, so its continuation would imply the use of financial resources without benefit to the Timorese, which goes against the public interest.
  Due to the aforementioned reasons, on October 3rd, 2024, the Minister of Health notified the company ASBALAN, Unipessoal, Lda of the decision to terminate the contract, following Article 138(1)(a) and (b) of Decree-Law No. 22/2022, of May 11th, which approves the Legal Framework for Procurement, Public Contracts and Related Infringements, as amended by Decree-Law No. 14/2023, of April 12th.
  ASBALAN, Unipessoal, Lda submitted a complaint on October 21st, 2024, although it was after the legal deadline (the 15-day deadline expired on October 18th, 2024).
  *****
  The Council of Ministers also approved the draft Government Resolution presented by the Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, concerning the dismissal of Mrs Agusta Antónia Gomes, from the position of Deputy Executive Director of the Business Registration and Verification Service, I.P. (SERVE, I.P.).
  *****
  Lastly, in accordance with the draft presented by the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Francisco da Costa Monteiro, the Council of Ministers decided to authorise expenditure on the programme on ‘implementation of the Tasi Mane project on the country's southern coast’ in the amount of US$ 40,500,000. END

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• 27 of February of 2025Day off in the morning of 5th March 2025 for the celebration of “Ash Wednesday”

  Day off in the morning of 5th March 2025 for the celebration of “Ash Wednesday”

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• 26 of February of 2025Meeting of the Council of Ministers on February 26th, 2025

  Approved:
  
  1 - Competition Law.
  
  2 - Authorization to sign a Financial Contribution Agreement with the European Union relating to the Multi-Year Action Plan for Timor-Leste for 2021-2027.
  
  3 - Authorize the complete proposals in the areas of trade in services and movement of natural persons, to be submitted as Timor-Leste's initial proposals to the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Member States.
  
  4 - Vacancies for the promotion by seniority of staff in the careers of the General Regime.
  
  5 - Donation to the Permanent Representation of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic in Timor-Leste.
  
  6 - Timor-Leste's voluntary contribution to the Special Fund of the CPLP, to finance the project “Lusofonia in Timor-Leste”.
  
  7 - Dismissal and appointment of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of RTTL, EP.
  
  8 - Authorize expenditure for an annual grant to the Timorese Episcopal Conference (CET).
  
  
  Analysed:
  
  1 - Report on the operational management of the Petroleum Fund.

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• 19 of February of 2025Meeting of the Council of Ministers on February 19th, 2025

  Approved:
  
  1 - Statutory Auditor of the National Press of Timor-Leste, IP
  
  2 - negotiation of a convention for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with regard to income taxes;
  
  3 - expenditure for the signing of the Subsidy Contract between the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and TIMOR GAP, EP in the amount of 16 million US dollars for the year 2025.

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• 12 of February of 2025Meeting of the Council of Ministers on February 12th, 2025

  Approved:
  
  1 - Industrial Property Code;
  
  2 - Expenditure for the subsidy contract for the transfer of a provision from the General State Budget (OGE), in the Ministry of Public Works Program “802 Electricity”, to EDTL, EP.
  
  Analysed:
  
  1 - Informative presentation on the cases of successive abstract review of unconstitutionality requested to the Court of Appeal by the PDHJ.

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• 05 of February of 2025Meeting of the Council of Ministers on February 5th, 2025

  Presidency of the Council of Ministers
  Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
  Ninth Constitutional Government
  .............................................................................................................................
  Press Release 
  Meeting of the Council of Ministers on February 5th, 2025
  The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Government Decree, presented by the Vice Prime Minister, Minister Coordinator for Economic Affairs and Minister for Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, which establishes the fees due under the environmental licensing procedure.
  This Government Decree aims to regulate the payment of fees associated with the issuing of environmental licenses, guaranteeing the application of the polluter pays principle and the sustainability of the services provided by the National Environmental Licensing Authority (ANLA, I.P.). The aim is to ensure a transparent and efficient licensing process to make project proponents responsible for the environmental impact of their activities. The fees set vary according to the category of project, considering the potential size of the environmental impact, as well as the stage of the licensing procedure.
  *****
  The draft Government Resolution for the dismissal of Elvira Manat from the post of Regional Secretary for Finance of the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA) Authority was also approved. The Government Resolution also states that the President of the RAEOA Authority will temporarily take over the Authority's financial responsibilities until a new Regional Secretary for Finance is appointed.
  *****
  The Council of Ministers approved the draft Government Resolution, presented by the Minister of Interior, to define the recruitment needs for 2025 of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) and to authorize the opening of a public competition for admission to the Agents ‘Training Course and the Officers’ Training Course.
  The aim of this measure is to reinforce the PNTL's personnel to ensure greater operational capacity and a more efficient police presence throughout the country. The recruitment of new agents and officers will make it possible to fill the current shortfall in human resources, improve patrol and surveillance levels and contribute to strengthening public security. It is also intended to promote the generational renewal of the institution, to ensure the continuity and modernization of the police structure. This recruitment also aims to strengthen the representativeness of the PNTL, to guarantee a police force that is even more representative of national diversity, which is fundamental to establishing a relationship of trust and proximity with the different communities.
  A total of 500 new personnel will be recruited, of whom 400 will join the Agents ‘Training Course and 100 Officers’ Training Course.
  *****
  In accordance with the projects presented by the Minister of Public Works, Samuel Marçal, the Council of Ministers decided to authorize expenditure for the:
  
    Installation of Gabion Boxes on the Laclo River, Suco Berloik - Alas Manufahi (P32), totaling US$396,249.46;
  
  
    Construction of a gabion protection wall on the Bolobu River, Samutuaben, Cailaco, the Municipality of Bobonaro (P34), totaling US$ 532,503.81;
  
  
   Rehabilitation of the road section between Remexio and Laclo - Package 2 (P36), totaling US$ 2,223,538;
  
  
    Construction of the Naiboruk River Protection Road section between Viqueque and Beaço - Package 1 (P41), totaling US$ 429,792.11;
  
  
   Construction of the Naiboruk River Protection - Viqueque - Beaço road section - Package 2 (P42), totaling US$ 484,602.09;
  
  
   Installation of transmission lines (medium voltage), distribution (low voltage), transformers and residential connections in the Haupu, Asi-Manukatilete, Kairia, Riatoni-Lekidasi sucos (P58), totaling US$ 637,190.35;
  
  
    Installation of transmission lines (medium voltage), distribution (low voltage), transformers and residential connections at the administrative post of Ermera, Suco Lauala (P59), totaling US$ 523,284.72; and
  
  
    Installation of transmission lines (medium voltage), distribution (low voltage), transformers and residential connections at the administrative post of Ermera, Tidibesi, Taklela, Lalimlau-Sakubesilima (P61), totaling US$ 765,589.16.
  
  *****
  The Council of Ministers approved the draft Government Resolution, presented by the Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Verónica das Dores, for the creation of the Interministerial Working Group responsible for drawing up Timor-Leste's Initial Report on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
  This Government Resolution reaffirms the IX Constitutional Government's commitment to promoting inclusion and defending the rights of people with disabilities, guaranteeing the preparation and submission of the initial report on the implementation of the Convention, ratified by Timor-Leste in January 2023. The document will present the measures adopted by the State to strengthen inclusion and the progress made in this area and should be finalized by April 2025.
  The Interministerial Working Group will be led and coordinated by the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion and will be made up of focal points from various relevant Government departments.
  *****
  The Vice Prime Minister, Minister Coordinator for Social Affairs and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino, and the President of the Institute for the Defense of Children's Rights (INDDICA) Dinorah Granadeiro, gave a presentation on the national commitment to eliminating violence against children.
  At the INDDICA’s invitation, Timor-Leste will receive a visit from the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Najat Maalla M'jid, from March 3rd to 5th 2025.
  The visit is part of the commitments made at the First Global Ministerial Conference to End Violence against Children, held in November 2024 in Colombia, which culminated in global and national commitments to strengthen child protection. Timor-Leste presented ten commitments and expressed its interest in joining the ‘Pathfinder 2.0’ Global Alliance to End Violence against Children.
  The commitments made by Timor-Leste include the approval of the Juvenile Justice Law by 2026, the integration of child protection into education policies, the strengthening of specialized justice for children and the professionalization of social workers in the area. There are also plans to expand parental education programs, increase the budget for child protection services, create legal frameworks for online safety and limit access to alcohol and tobacco, as well as implement a National Plan to Eradicate Violence against Children and an Information Management System for child protection policies. END

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