Media Releases
- 05 of November of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on November 5th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on November 5th, 2021
The Council of Ministers met in the Government Palace, in Díli and approved, with amendments, the draft Law Proposal for the Precedence and State Protocol, presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Adaljiza Albertina Xavier Reis Magno. The present draft Law Proposal aims at defining a legal regime related to the organization of official ceremonies, which regulates the protocol relationship of the high public entities in State ceremonies and disciplines the functioning of the State protocol.
Lastly, the Council of Ministers has deliberated to authorise the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation to carry out, in accordance with the law, the necessary acts to conclude the Assistance Framework Agreement between the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Government of the Republic of Korea. The objective of this Agreement is to establish the legal basis for a partnership that is intended to be diversified and long lasting, allowing, for the future, the execution of agreements regarding specific programmes and projects in the scope of assistance for the most varied sectors of Timor-Leste's activities, facilitating cooperation of the most diverse national entities with the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). END - 30 of Outubro of 2021Vote of Condolences for the Death of D. Basílio do NascimentoPresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Dili, October 30th, 2021
Press Release
Vote of Condolence on the death of D. Basílio do Nascimento
It was with great sadness and great consternation that the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste received the news of the passing away of Bishop Basílio do Nascimento, of Baucau, today, October 30th, 2021, at the Guido Valadares National Hospital, in Dili, due to a sudden cardiac stroke.
D. Basílio do Nascimento was born on June 14th, 1950, in Suai, capital of the municipality of Covalima.
He was consecrated priest on June 26th, 1977, in Évora, Portugal. He then went to Paris, France, to work in religious assistance to immigrants. He remained in Paris until 1982 and during this period he completed his Degree in Pastoral Theology and Catechesis at the Catholic Institute of Paris and obtained a Diploma in French Literature and Language.
In 1982 he returned to Évora where he was responsible for the parishes of Cano and Casa Branca in Sousel and Santa Vitória do Ameixial in Estremoz.
In Évora he was also appointed member of the pre-seminary formative team of Vila-Viçosa, Archdiocese of Évora. He was professor of Pastoral Theology at the Higher Institute of Theology, spiritual director of the Major Seminary of Nossa Senhora da Purificação in Évora and also diocesan responsible in the secretariat of the Pastoral Care of Vocations.
He returned to Timor-Leste in October 1994, being appointed parochial vicar of the Parish of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, in Ainaro. In December 1995, he was appointed Episcopal Vicar for Pastoral Affairs of the Diocese of Dili.
On November 30th, 1996, Pope John Paul II appointed him Apostolic Administrator of Baucau and Bishop of Septimunicia. He took possession of the Diocese of Baucau on March 19th, 1997, on the Feast of Saint Joseph, accompanied by the Apostolic Nuncio in Jakarta, Monsignor Pietro Sambi.
He was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Dili, a post he held from November 26th, 2002 to February 27th, 2004.
On March 6th, 2004, he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Baucau by Pope John Paul II.
In 1999, December 7th, Bishop Basílio do Nascimento was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Liberty of Portugal.
The Spokesperson of the Government, the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães, on behalf of the Council of Ministers and the entire Government, expressed that "we dedicate our thoughts and prayers in these difficult and suffering times and we express our deepest condolences to all the family of the dear Bishop Basílio do Nascimento, to all Catholics and to all Timorese People". END
- 29 of Outubro of 2021Day-off on November 3rd, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
October 29, 2021
Press Release
Day-off on November 3, 2021
Law No. 10/2005, of August 10th, amended by Law No. 3/2016, of May 25th, establishes the national holidays and commemorative official dates, and also sets the conditions for Day-off granting.
Among the commemorative official dates, November 1st and 2nd are included. These two dates are of great importance to the Christian community. On November 1st and 2nd are, respectively, All Saints Day and All Soul’s Day are celebrated in the Catholic Religion calendar.
Given that, this year, November 2nd, date which marks the All Soul’s Day, falls on Tuesday and that a large number of people will travel throughout country, in order to pay tribute to the memory for their deceased, and following the the article 7 (6) (d) of Law no. 10/2005, of August 10th, as amended by Law no. 3/2016, of May 25th, Government decides that:
Day-off is granted on November 3rd, 2021, throughout the day.
This order covers all employees, agents and workers of the direct administration of the State, whether central and decentralized , and in the bodies of indirect administration;
The human resources of public services that, due to the nature of the public activity they carried out, should remain in operation during that period, are excluded from the previous number;
Without prejudice to the continuity and quality of the public service to be provided, the senior managers of those services referred to in the preceding number shall provide the equal exemption from the duty of attendance of their personnel, on a date to be established in due course. END
- 28 of Outubro of 2021Vote of Condolences for the Death of Max StahlPresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Dili, October 28th, 2021
Press Release
Vote of Condolences for the Death of Max Stahl
With profound sadness, the Government of Timor-Leste received the news of the passing away of Max Stahl, journalist and director, responsible for filming the images of the Santa Cruz Massacre, in 1991, that drew attention to the situation in the Country and put Timor-Leste on the top of the international agenda, which became an important contribution for the self-determination of the Timorese People.
Max Stahl died today, October 28th, in Brisbane, victim of long-term illness, on the same day that marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Sebastião Gomes, which led to the tribute that culminated in the Santa Cruz massacre.
Christopher Wenner, better known as Max Stahl, was born on December 6th, 1954, in the United Kingdom.
After experiencing several conflict scenarios, mainly in Latin America, in August 1991, Max Stahl came to Timor-Leste to film the documentary that would later be called "In Cold Blood: The massacre of East Timor".
On November 12th, 1991, he accompanied the tribute march from Motael Church to the grave of Sebastião Gomes, which culminated in the Santa Cruz Cemetery Massacre, in which hundreds of young Timorese were killed by the Indonesian military. The images travelled around the world and made the Timorese drama known internationally.
His professionalism and extreme courage gave a fundamental boost to the diplomatic front of the Timorese Resistance, putting Timor-Leste on the front pages of the world media, after several years in which the Timorese situation had remained hidden from world public opinion.
Max Stahl interviewed several Timorese resistance leaders, such as Commander David Alex Daitula and Commander Nino Konis Santana.
He also created the Max Stahl Audiovisual Centre in Timor-Leste (CAMSTL), in order to preserve and disseminate the audiovisual collection documenting the resistance period, the events during and after the referendum and the first years of independence up to the present day. In 2013, this collection was recognised by UNESCO by being inscribed in the Memory of the World Register, a programme created with the aim of protecting and promoting the world's documentary heritage through conservation and access to documents.
In 2000, he received the Rory Peck Award, an award that honours independent video journalists. He has received many other awards in recognition of his work in conflict zones, such as the Balkan and El Salvador wars.
In 2009, he was awarded with the Order of Timor-Leste Insignia and in 2019 he received the Necklace of the Order of Timor-Leste, the highest national decoration.
Also in 2019, he was awarded with the Timorese nationality by the National Parliament, in an act that "represents the People of Timor-Leste's tribute to the humanistic spirit, selflessness and extraordinary courage of Max Stahl" and that "expresses gratitude and recognition of the exceptional deeds performed by an exceptional man".
The Spokesperson of the Government, Minister Fidelis Magalhães, on behalf of the Government and all the Timorese People, presented his most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the dear Max Stahl and stated that "the Timorese People will be forever grateful for his contribution to national self-determination" and that "his courage and the legacy of his work will last forever in the memory of all of us". END - 27 of Outubro of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on October 27th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on October 27th, 2021
The Council of Ministers meet, at the Government Palace, in Dili, and, after analysing the presentation of the country's epidemiological situation, held by the Integrated Centre for Crisis Management (CIGC - Portuguese acronym) Situation Room, approved the draft Government Decree on the implementation measures of the Declaration of the State of Emergency, made by the President of the Republic’s Decree No. 95/2021, of October 26th, to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The state of emergency, now renewed, covers the entire national territory and will be in force between October 30th, 2021, 12:00 a.m., and November 28th, 2021, 11:59 p.m..
Regarding the implementation measures of the previous state emergency declaration, there is only one change, establishing that the access to some public administrative services is now conditional on proof of full vaccination against SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 or, alternatively, proof of a negative SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 test result, carried out within five days.
The remaining rules remain unchanged, namely the obligation of all individuals residing in Timor-Leste to keep a distance of, at least, three feet from other individuals with whom they do not live in the same residence. They are also still obliged to wear a face mask that covers the nose and mouth when having access to or staying in public or private places of collective use and to sanitize their hands when they intend to enter commercial, industrial or service provision establishments or buildings where public administration services operate.
While the state of emergency is in force, licences, permits, visas, residence permits and other administrative acts and documents shall remain valid regardless of their period of validity.
The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law on Territorial Planning Instruments, presented by the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Territory, José Maria dos Reis. This decree-law, developing Law No. 6/2017, of April 19th (Framework law of Territorial Planning), establishes the legal regime of territorial planning instruments, which defines, namely, the regime of coordination, at national and municipal level, of the territorial management system and the regime for the approval, execution and evaluation of territorial management instruments.
The draft Government Decree, which creates the integrated management unit for the Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport development project, presented by the Vice Minister of Finance, Sara Lobo Brites, was approved. This unit will report to the Prime Minister and its mission is to provide technical support to the Government in the execution of the Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport development project, in coordination with the various government departments, services and Public Administration entities.
The Council of Ministers approved the draft Government Resolution, also presented by the Vice Minister of Finance, regarding to the first amendment to Government Resolution No. 31/2020, of September 2nd, which established the Interministerial Committee for Fiscal Reform and Public Finance Management. With this draft Government Resolution, the composition of the committee is changed, and now includes the member of the Government responsible for tourism, commerce and industry.
The composition of the technical units that function within the Interministerial Committee for the Reform of Public Finance and the Interministerial Subcommittee for the Reform of the State Property is also altered, now with the participation of representatives of the various services of the Ministry of Finance affected by the reform, and with the possibility of appointing substitutes, while other personalities may also participate.
The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Joaquim Amaral, on the implementation of the food security measure provided for in Law No. 8/2021, of May 3rd, which makes the first amendment to Law No. 14/2020, of December 29th, on the General State Budget for 2021 and approval of socio-economic support measures. The food security measure was approved by the National Parliament and aims, on one hand, to mitigate the fragilities of the national economy in the face of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and, on the other hand, to alleviate the food difficulties of the neediest Timorese individuals and families. CLN (National Logistic Centre) will be responsible for promoting the acquisition and distribution of food products from national agricultural production, preferably cereals, and may only resort to imports when the national supply is insufficient for this purpose.
Also approved was the draft Decree-Law presented by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture, Longuinhos dos Santos, introducing the first amendment to Decree-Law no. 12/2021, of 21 July, regarding the creation of the credit line "Ensinu Superior Kualidade +". The purpose of this draft Decree-Law is to extend the deadlines for implementation of the said credit line. Some improvements were also made in the wording of the document.
The Council of Ministers decided to authorize, through the Ministry of Finance, the negotiation with the Asian Development Bank for the necessary amendments to the loan agreements, in order to include in those agreements the financing of the implementation and supervision costs for the public works of a four lane road between the Nicolau Lobato International Airport roundabout and the Tasitolu area. The Council of Ministers also decided to authorise the start of procurement of the public contracts for the referred public work.
The Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Armanda Berta dos Santos and the National Commissioner for Children's Rights, Dinorah Granadeiro, gave a presentation on the implementation of child-related indicators (Markadór ba Labarik) in the public finance management system of the Dalan ba Futuru system. The development of these indicators is an integral part of the public finance management reform. One of their main objectives is to enable monitoring of resource allocation and implementation results of the national child action plan. The development of these indicators is the result of the joint effort of the National Commission for Children's Rights, the Ministry of Finance and UPMA, with consultations held across ministerial lines and with the support of UNICEF. END - 20 of Outubro of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on October 20th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on October 20th, 2021
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace, in Dili and, after analysing the presentation of the National Epidemiological Situation, carried out by the coordinators of the Situation Room of the Integrated Centre for Crisis Management (CIGC), decided to propose it to His Excellency, the President of the Republic, Francisco Guterres Lú Olo, the renewal of the state of emergency, for another thirty days, between October 30th, 2021, 12:00 a.m. and November 28th, 2021, 11:59 p.m..
Given that the determining causes that justified the declaration of the state of emergency and its renewals remain in place, in order to prevent and neutralize the risk of spreading of new strains of SARS-CoV-2, thus, to protect public health and the response capacity of the National Health System, the Government proposes to the President of the Republic that, with the renewal of the state of emergency, the suspension or restriction of some fundamental rights and guarantees be allowed.
Four draft Decree-Laws presented by the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Armanda Berta dos Santos, were approved, regarding:
First amendment to the Decree-Law no. 20/2017, of May 24th, which approves the registration and contributory obligation under the social security contributory scheme. The purposes of this draft Decree-Law are:
o to extend the scheme to new groups of workers;
o to correct some aspects of the contributory base and expand the number of optional membership levels;
o to ensure the protection and incorporation of workers temporarily working abroad ; and
o to ensure equal treatment of all workers, by eliminating the rule that imposes a ceiling on the contribution to be paid (and benefits to be received) for workers with fixed-term contracts in the Public Administration.
First amendment to Decree-Law no. 17/2017, of May 24th, and Decree Law no. 19/2017, of May 24th, which approve, respectively, the legal regime of invalidity and old age pensions and the legal regime of death benefits, under the contributory social security scheme. The purposes of this draft Decree-Law are:
o To guarantee the basic principle of the contributory scheme, associating the duty to contribute with the right to receive social benefits;
o To regulate the calculating formula for invalidity and old ages pensions for workers partially covered by the transitional regime (with rights in training);
o To ensure that whoever contributes to the general scheme will always be entitled to a pension worth more than the Support Allowance for Elders and Disabled; and
o To clarify the way presumed death is to be dealt with for social security purposes.
First amendment to Decree-Law No. 19/2008, of June 19th, which approves the Support Subsidy for Elders and Disabled. Given that when the aforementioned legal diploma entered into force, no other social security scheme had yet been created in Timor-Leste and, in the meantime, having been created a contributory social security scheme, it is intended with this draft Decree-Law to review and adapt the general rule on the accumulation of benefits, in order to make it socially fair.
First amendment to Decree-Law No. 55/2020, of October 28th, which approves the establishment of the Social Security Reserve Fund (FRSS) and the definition of the respective management model. With this draft Decree-Law, it is intended to make changes to investment limits in shares and private debt, in order to ensure a "reference portfolio" that effectively meets the objectives of the FRSS, as well as increasing the margin of freedom of Government action, annually, according to the behaviour of the economy and markets.
The Council of Ministers deliberated to approve the procurement procedures for the award of contracts related to the solid waste management project in Dili, according to the project presented by the Minister of State Administration, Miguel Pereira de Carvalho. The project has three components, as follows:
provision of solid waste collection and transportation services in the city of Dili, concerning to Lot 1 – East Zone and Lot 2 – West Zone;
concept/design, construction, rehabilitation and management of a landfill and waste treatment plan in Tibar; and
supply of equipment for waste collection in Dili and for the operation of the Tibar landfill and waste treatment plant, supply of waste containers and bins, supply of waste collection equipment and for landfill operations.
Lastly, the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães, presented the status of the execution of the Government’s Legislative Plan for 2021. The legislative plan was approved by the Council of Ministers at the meeting held on January 13th, and it was elaborated based on the proposals submitted by the members of the Council of Ministers. The Plan consists of a forecast of the Government’s legislative interventions and respective priorities, divided by sectors, for the year 2021. During the meeting, the members of the Council of Ministers analysed which of the 241 initiatives foreseen at the beginning of the year have already been finalized, which are in the finalization process and which are still to be presented to the Council of Ministers. END
- 13 of Outubro of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on October 13th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on October 13th, 2021
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and analyzed the presentation relating to the legislative policy options underlying the review initiative the Health System Law, presented by the Minister of Health, Odete Maria Freitas Belo.
The Minister of Health also made a presentation on the result of the vaccination campaign, which has been attended by all members of the Government, since September 30th.
During this period, the Members of Government went to all municipalities to share the information about the COVID-19 vaccine and to sensitize the population to the need of vaccination.
A total of 78,165 vaccines have been administered since the beginning of the campaign with the participation of Members of Government, which represents an increasing of 17% in the percentage of vaccination nationwide.
Bobonaro was the municipality with the highest growth in the number of people vaccinated, with an increasing of 303%. During the week of September 30th to October 10th, a total of 7487 people were vaccinated, 5629 more vaccines administered than in the previous week. The municipality of Baucau follows, with a growth of 122%, with 5286 more vaccinated than in the previous week. Ermera had an increasing of 97% compared to the week before the start of the vaccination campaign with members of the Government, with 3885 more people being vaccinated than in the previous period.
The first Pfizer vaccines, designed to allow the vaccination of young people between the ages of 12 and 17, are expected to arrive in Timor-Leste on October 16th, under the COVAX Mechanism. END
- 06 of Outubro of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on October 6th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on October 6th, 2021
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace, in Dili, and approved the Draft Law Proposal for the General State Budget (GSB) for 2022, presented by the Minister of Finance. The 2022 GSB has an amount of USD 1.675 billion and is composed of the Central Administration Budget, the Oe-Cusse Ambeno Special Administrative Region Budget and the Social Security Budget. The 8th Constitutional Government defined six national priorities for the 2022 GSB: 1) human capital development (education, vocational training and health); 2) housing and social inclusion; 3) productive sectors (agriculture and tourism), environment and connectivity; 4) private sector development; 5) rural development; and 6) good governance.
The draft resolution regarding the authorisation to enter into two financing agreements with the Asian Development Bank under the Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport Expansion Project was approved. This draft resolution had already been subject to resolution at the Meeting of the Council of Ministers of September 15th, 2021, however due to the introduction of some amendments in the final drafting phase, it became necessary to submit it to a new resolution.
The draft Government Resolution on the National Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities 2021 - 2030, presented by the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Armanda Berta dos Santos, was also approved. The National Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities 2021 - 2030 aims to ensure the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities in the decade 2021 - 2030, in accordance with the guidelines set by the National Policy for Inclusion and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, approved by Government Resolution No 14/2012 of May 9th, through a set of actions to be developed in an articulated manner by a wide range of public entities.
The Council of Minister deliberated to authorize the opening of procurement procedures to award two public contracts for the execution of works related to the Laivai irrigation projects, in the Municipality of Lautem, and of Galata, in the Municipality of Baucau, according to the deliberation project presented by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Pedro dos Reis. The Galata irrigation project will cover an area of 600 hectares and will benefit 750 families. The Laivai irrigation project will cover an area of 300 hectares, which includes 176 hectares of existing rice fields and will benefit 434 families.
The Council of Ministers decided to approve the procurement procedure for the award of a public contract for the acquisition of three x-ray machines for vehicle, hand luggage and people inspection for use by the Customs Authority in the Integrated Border Posts of Batugadé and Salele, according to the project presented by the Minister of Finance, Rui Augusto Gomes.
A presentation of the Third Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review of the application of human rights in the national territory was given to the Council of Ministers by the Vice-Minister of Justice, José Edmundo Caetano. The Universal Periodic Review is a mechanism of the Human Rights Council, established in 2006, which covers the 193 Member States of the United Nations. This will be the third time that Timor-Leste undergoes this evaluation mechanism, with the last Universal Periodic Review of Timor-Leste having taken place in November 2016. In each cycle, progress in the human rights situation in each country since the first review is analysed and each State has the possibility to highlight concrete actions and measures taken to implement the recommendations received in the previous review cycle. It is expected that in January 2022, Timor-Leste will submit the report regarding the progress and challenges of the human rights situation in the country for the period 2017 to 2021.
The Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, and the National Commissioner for the Rights of the Child, Dinorah Granadeiro, presented to the Council of Ministers the Fourth Periodic Report on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, on the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and on the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict. The report covers the period from 2015 to 2019 for the Convention and the period from 2008 to 2019 for the optional protocols. For the collection of information, present in this report, on the implementation of the various recommendations made by the Convention, a broad public consultation was carried out with relevant ministries and other State institutions. After finalizing the first draft of the document, the National Commission on the Rights of the Child also heard the views and comments of national and foreign civil society organizations and the various United Nations agencies.
The Minister of Petroleum and Minerals, Víctor da Conceição Soares and the heads of ANPM, Timor Gap and IPG made a presentation on the Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals for the period 2021 to 2030 and on the redefinition of the petroleum sector. The Plan presents a set of intentions for the strengthening of the national petroleum industry, namely with the efforts to optimize the Bayu-Undan field with new drilling and to accelerate new oil and gas exploration activities in the country.
Lastly, the Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak and the spokesperson of the inter-ministerial committee for the COVID-19 vaccination plan, Danina Coelho, made a general presentation on the COVID-19 vaccination. During the presentation, an update was given on the latest information on the vaccines against COVID-19 in terms of distribution, implementation, effectiveness, side effects and the need for a booster dose. The latest data on vaccination in the country was also presented. 463,644 people throughout the country have received at least one dose of the vaccine, which is equivalent to 61.4 per cent of the population over 18 years old. 38.3% of the adult population in the country has already completed the vaccination. Recommendations were also presented for strengthening prevention of severe cases of COVID-19 and increasing the national vaccination percentage. END
