Media Releases
- 22 of December of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on December 22nd, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on December 22nd, 2021
The Council of Ministers met, at the Government Palace, in Dili, and approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of State Administration, Miguel Pereira de Carvalho, replacing the Minister of Planning and Territory, José Maria dos Reis, which aims to establish the Legal Regime of Building and Urbanization, namely regarding allotment operations, urbanization and construction works, and use of buildings. This diploma guarantees legal support for the set of procedures essential to the prior control (licensing) and subsequent control (supervision) of private building and urbanization works.
Also approved was the draft Government Decree, presented by the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães, which sets the value of the monthly mobile communications subsidy for members of the Government, in accordance with the Remuneration Statute for Holders of Political Positions.
The Council of Ministers decided to approve a proposal foramendment to the grant and implementation agreement with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), as well as to empower the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães, to sign this amendment. With this, the grant to be provided by MCC, for the implementation of the development of the sanitation network and education sectorprojects, will be increased by three million US dollars, to total fourteen million and fifty thousand US dollars.
The draft Government Resolution, presented by the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Joaquim Amaral and the Secretary of State for the Environment, Demétrio do Amaral de Carvalho, approving the National Policy on Climate Change, was approved. This policy establishes a clear statement in accordance with the political principles that determine the mechanisms, in light of which the laws to be adopted in response to emerging situations of climate change, will be read and interpreted. The adoption of this policy will not only strengthen the coordinated articulation between Ministries and avoid the duplication of measures and the implementation of outdated policies, but will also allow the establishment of the basic structure on which future climate change policies (sectorial and transversal) will be identified and prioritized.
Lastly, the Council of Ministers, attendeda presentation by the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Joaquim Amaral, and the Executive Director of the National Agency for the Promotion of Investment and Exportation - TradeInvest, Arcanjo da Silva, on the state of play of the negotiation and approval process of the Special Investment Agreement between the State of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Pelican Paradise Group Limited. END
- 15 of December of 2021The Government welcomes the classification of Tais as Intangible Culture Heritage of Humanity by UNESCOTimor-Leste praises the approval of the classification of Tais, the national traditional textile, as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.more
- 15 of December of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on December 15th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on December 15th, 2021
The Council of Ministers met, at the Government Palace, in Dili, and approved the draft Decree Law establishing the organic structure of the Civil Protection Authority and makes the first amendment to Decree-Law No. 47/2020 of October 7th, which approved the Organic Law of the Ministry of Interior, presented by the Minister of the Interior, Taur Matan Ruak, and the Secretary of State for Civil Protection, Joaquim José Gusmão dos Reis Martins. This project aims to establish the structure of the entire Civil Protection System, headed by the Civil Protection Authority, as the national executive entity, regulating all Civil Protection activities, which will have the President of the Civil Protection Authority as its focal point for liaison at the political level, and which will carry out the operational, administrative-logistic and financial management of the entire Civil Protection System. With this project, the conditions are created for the harmonization of procedures and the definition of the competencies of each entity, in order to avoid overlaps or gaps and to provide the Civil Protection System with coherence, full articulation, rapid response, constant flow of updated information and robustness, opening the way for the establishment of a structured and organized Civil Protection, in accordance with the real needs of the country.
The Council of Ministers also approved two draft resolutions presented by the Minister of Finance, Rui Augusto Gomes.
The first project aims to approve the Project Agreement between the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Korean International Cooperation Agency, regarding the Project "Say No to the 5S (Hunger, Soil-borne Helminthiasis, Skin Diseases, Smoking and Sugar/Alcoholic Beverages) in Schools", as well as giving the Minister of Finance the power to sign this agreement. This four-year Project's main objectives are to provide school children with a Primary Health Package and health education in a safe and healthy school environment, in order to mitigate the risks of priority diseases in school, and to improve schools to provide a safe and healthy environment as well as safe and nutritious school meals. The implementation of this Project will take place in three municipalities: Baucau, Bobonaro and Manufahi, and will primarily involve the government departments responsible for the areas of education and health.
The second project aims to authorize the signing of the Financing Agreement between the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Asian Development Bank regarding the project to improve the reliability of power supply and the financial performance of Eletricidade de Timor-Leste, E. P., and to grant full powers to the Minister of Finance to sign this agreement on behalf of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. The four-years project's main objectives are to strengthen the provision of services to consumers, upgrade the distribution network and construction and/or rehabilitation of regional offices, and strengthen institutional and community capacity in the areas of electrical safety and operations. This project will be implemented by the state-owned company Eletricidade de Timor-Leste, E. P.
Lastly, the Council of Ministers approved the draft Government Decree approving the model of the special identification card of the members of the Government, presented by the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães. This project aims to comply with the provisions of paragraph d), No. 2, of Article 26th of the Statute of Holders of Sovereign Bodies, approved by Law No. 7 / 2007, July 25th, which establishes the right of members of the Government to a special identification card that will allow them to move freely in public places of conditional access, in the exercise of their duties or because of them. END
available soon - 10 of December of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on December 10th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on December 10th, 2021
The Council of Ministers met, at the Government Palace, in Dili, and approved the draft Government Decree that proceeds to the sixth amendment to Government Decree No. 2/2007, of August 1st, which regulates the Statute for Holders of Sovereign Bodies, presented by the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães. This project aims to clarify the regime of access to medical assistance for members of the Government, thus, facilitating, its practical implementation.
The Council of Ministers also approved the draft Government Resolution on National Policy for Higher Education, presented by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture, Longuinhos dos Santos. This project proceeds to the creation of a policy that aims to consolidate, stabilize and harmonize the national higher education sector, allowing, therefore, to fulfil the State's duty regarding the right to quality education and enhancing a more sustainable growth of this sector for the future development of the country. It is, therefore, essential to promote a higher education policy that can pursue the principles of equality, universality and, above all, the achievement of the national public interest. END - 01 of December of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on December 1st, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on December 1st, 2021
The Council of Ministers met, at the Government Palace, in Dili, and approved, with amendments, the draft Government Decree on the Internal Regulation of the Sea Affairs Committee, presented by the Minister of Defence, Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus.
This draft Government Decree follows the approval of Decree-Law No 39/2020, of September 23rd, which created the Maritime Authority System (SAM), and provides for the Sea Affairs Committee, as a body endowed with powers to exercise effective political control over the actions of the National Maritime Authority.
The Council of Ministers approved the draft deliberation presented jointly by the Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak and the Minister of Defence, Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus, regarding the dismissal and appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CEMFA) and the Commanders of the F-FDTL Components.
These proposed dismissals and appointments shall be submitted to His Excellency the President of the Republic for approval.
Lastly, the Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law on Multifunctional Shelter Centres (CAMF) presented by the Minister of State Administration, Miguel Pereira de Carvalho. These shelters are intended for the temporary accommodation of victims of serious accidents and catastrophes. END
- 24 of November of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on November 24th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on November 24th, 2021
The Council of Ministers met, at the Government Palace, in Dili, and approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Defence, Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus, regarding the Organic Statute of the F-FDTL.
The present law aims to proceed with the organic reform of the Armed Forces, thus enabling them to provide a more adequate response to new challenges and missions that require increasingly integrated responses together with our strategic partners at regional and global level. The diploma clarifies the competences of the respective bodies and services and promotes the improvement of political-military articulation with regard to National Defence.
This draft Decree-Law also aims to make the organization of the F-FDTL compatible with the current legal context, namely the National Defence Law and the Maritime Authority System, as well as with a set of structuring documents in the area of Defence, namely the Strategic Concept of Defence and National Security, the Strategic Military Concept, the National Force System, the Missions of the Armed Forces and the F-FDTL System.
Also approved was the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture, Longuinhos dos Santos, establishing the legal regime of the national standard curriculum for higher education and regulates the binary system, the legal regime of degrees and diplomas of higher education, the conditions for their attribution, the corresponding credit system, the academic calendar, the system of assessment of course units and the completion of a study programme. The purpose of this draft Decree-Law is to::
• Regulate and develop the diplomas and degrees that the binary education system can offer to higher education students and ensure a system of mobility between them;
• Guarantee the basic knowledge and skills necessary for the exercise of a given profession;
• Define an assessment system for higher education;
• Make students more entrepreneurial and competitive in today's national and international job market, equipping them with knowledge and skills for the 21st century;
• Allow higher education students and teachers to enjoy a national and international mobility framework for their study plans, as well as to have their competences recognised on the international labour market; and
• Facilitate the process of recognition of degrees obtained by our students in national higher education institutions, at international level, as well as allow the recognition of degrees obtained abroad, at national level.
The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree Law for the creation of the credit line “Fasilidade Garantia Crédito Suave” (Soft Loan Guarantee Facility). The draft Decree-Law was presented by the Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, José Lucas do Carmo da Silva and aims to promote and stimulate social entrepreneurship and investment in innovative projects, which allow the strengthening of the national business and industrial fabric. The Credit Line "Fasilidade Garantia Crédito Suave" (Soft Loan Guarantee Facility) aims to support the capitalisation of companies and facilitate access to financing for micro, small and medium enterprises, especially focused on social entrepreneurship and innovation in the trade, tourism and industry sectors.
The Minister of Finance, Rui Augusto Gomes, presented the draft Decree-Law, approved by the Council of Ministers, on the extraordinary payment of an additional month's salary to civil servants, agents and fix-term contract employees of the Public Administration. All Public Administration employees and agents are covered by this extraordinary payment, except foreign fix-term contract employees.
Also approved was the draft Government Decree, presented by the Minister of Finance, regarding the supplementary payment to employees and agents involved in the preparation of the General State Budget for 2022 and the closing of the General State Account for 2021. This supplement aims to compensate the extraordinary workload of the employees and agents of the Ministry of Finance assigned to these processes, which require a working day much longer than the normal period provided by law.
The Council of Ministers approved, with amendments, the draft Decree-Law, also presented by the Minister of Finance, for the first amendment to the Decree-Law on the Legal Regime of the Public Private Partnership for the Port of Tibar. With this decree-law it is now foreseen that the State must provide the land necessary for the implementation of the measures foreseen in the environmental license, environmental impact statement and environmental management plans and that the concessionaire may access, transit and perform works on those lands.
After the analysis of the presentation of the national epidemiological situation, by the coordinators of the Situation Room of the Integrated Centre for Crisis Management (CIGC – Portuguese acronym) and taking into account the recent promulgation of the first alteration to Law no. 10/2004, the Health System Law, the Council of Ministers has decided:
not propose the renewal of the state of emergency, which ends on November 28th.
approve the draft Decree-Law on exceptional and temporary sanitary surveillance measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Compared to the measures in force, the decree-law maintains most of the imposed measures and introduces some changes, namely that entry to national territory is no longer subject to authorisation granted by the Prime Minister, while entry to the country continues to be subject to sanitary control and presentation of a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result.
Licences, permits and other administrative acts and documents shall remain valid until January 31st, 2022, provided that these time limits are not fixed by international agreement or by a law passed by the National Parliament under reservation of absolute jurisdiction.
The obligation to perform compulsory prophylactic isolation under the terms previously defined, remains. END
- 17 of November of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on November 17th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on November 17th, 2021
The Council of Ministers met, at the Government Palace, in Dili and, approved the draft Decree-Law that aims to create the Ataúro Municipal Administration and proceeds to the third amendment to Decree-Law No. 3/2016, of March 16th, amended by Decree-Laws No. 9/2018, of April 9th and No. 54/2020, of October 28th, rectified by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers Rectification Declaration No. 4/2020, of December 16th.
This Decree-Law was presented by the Minister of State Administration, Miguel Pereira de Carvalho, and proceeds with the creation and establishment of the Ataúro Municipal Administration, to which additional competences are transferred to add to those already delegated by the Statute of Municipal Administrations and Authorities, in the areas of environment and tourism, as well as defines a special regime for organizing the Ataúro Municipal Administration services.
The Council of Ministers approved the agreement project between Timor-Leste and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) for digitization the Chega! National Centre, authorizing its signature by the Minister of Finance, Rui Augusto Gomes.
Under this agreement, KOICA will make a financial contribution in the amount of five million US dollars to build a sustainable management system for the Chega! National Centre.
The project aims to improve the archive preservation system and the management of the centre, by establishing a National Centre for quality Education on History and Peace. Training modules for history teachers will be developed. The project also aims to strengthen national and regional capacities and partnerships for conflict reconciliation, peace building and State building for sustainable development, by organizing national and international reconciliation and peace building meetings.
Lastly, the Council of Ministers decided not to object to the modification of the price and deadline for handover of the construction, provided that it is done in accordance with the law and the contract, regarding the contract for the execution of rehabilitation and maintenance works on the Ermera-Fatubesi road.. The draft deliberation was presented by the Minister of Public Works, Salvador Soares dos Reis Pires. END
- 11 of November of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on November 11th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on November 11th, 2021
The Council of Ministers met, at the Government Palace, in Dili, and approved the draft Resolution Proposal of the National Parliament for the ratification of Timor-Leste's accession to the 1973 Convention on the International Regulation to Prevent Collisions at Sea. The draft Resolution Proposal was presented by the Minister of Transport and Communications, José Agustinho da Silva. This Convention, designed to ensure the safety of navigation, establishes the navigation rules to be followed by ships and other vessels at sea, to prevent collisions between two or more vessels.
The draft Government Resolution, presented by the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Armanda Berta dos Santos, regarding to the National Strategy for Social Protection (ENPS - Portuguese Acronym) for the period 2021 – 2030, was also approved.
The aim of the approval of this strategy is to promote the integrated evolution of the social protection system, in order to extend its coverage and reach, and to maximize its impact on reducing poverty and vulnerability.
The strategy also aims to consolidate the rights to social security and social assistance, as well as inclusive access to social services, education and health. The ENPS sets, as strategic objectives, poverty reduction, improvement and expansion of social security for workers and institutional development.
The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Social Communication (MAPCOMS), Francisco Martins da Costa Pereira Jerónimo, for the establishment of an allowance for professionals who developed journalistic activities, requested by the Government, to provide news about the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the state of emergency.
These professionals performed their duties in an exemplary way, actively contributing to the dissemination of credible and necessary information on preventing and fighting the pandemic in our national territory.
The list of professionals who will benefit from this allowance will be approved by MAPCOMS’s dispatch, based on information provided by the Situation Room of the Integrated Centre for Crisis Management or by the National Directorate for Dissemination of Information.
Lastly, the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Armanda Berta dos Santos and the Minister of Health, Odete Maria Freitas Belo, as President and Vice-President, respectively, of the Interministerial Commission for the Elaboration and Coordination of the Implementation of the COVID-19 Vaccination Plan, gave a presentation to the Council of Ministers on the state of play of the vaccination campaign against COVID-19.
The vaccination of young people aged between 12 and 17 years old began on October 27th and, until yesterday, November 10th, a total of 15,002 young people under 18 years of age had already received their first dose of the vaccine.
For those over 18 years of age, 76.4% have already received at least one dose and 51% of the population has completed the vaccination.
The three municipalities with the highest percentage of vaccination are Covalima (93%), Viqueque (90.7%) and Dili (83.4%).
The municipalities with the lowest percentage of vaccination are Ermera (59.8%), Liquiçá (63.1%) and Bobonaro (63.6%). THE END
