Media Releases
- 05 of February of 2020Expression of Grief for the Death of James Stanley DunnPresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Dili, 5 February 2020
Press Release
Vote of Condolences for the Death of James Stanley Dunn
It was with great dismay and great regret that the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste received the news of the death of James Dunn, Australian consul in Dili between 1962 and 1964. James Dunn died on January 31, aged 92, in Canberra, Australia.
James Dunn was a staunch supporter of the self-determination of the Timorese people, with his February 1977 report and his 1983 book, Timor: A People Betrayed, in which he detailed serious human rights violations which occurred during the Indonesian occupation, and which served as a basis and inspiration for activists and advocates of the Timorese cause and allowed to attract the attention of the international community, especially the Australian Parliament, American Congress and the United Nations.
His work in defense of the rights of the Timorese people was recognized in his country in 2001, having become a Member of the Order of Australia and in Timor-Leste on 30 August 2009, with the award of the Medal of the Order of Timor-Leste, by the then President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta.
The Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, on behalf of the Timorese People, sends condolences to James Dunn's family and the thanks of a nation forever grateful.
The Minister of State and Government Spokesman, Agio Pereira, said that James Dunn will not be forgotten in Timor-Leste and will forever be remembered with great affection, admiration and respect. In this moment of sadness, we mourn his death, but we celebrate his contribution. ENDS 
05 of February of 2020Meeting of the Council of Ministers of february 5, 2020Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of February 5, 2020
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and heard a presentation of the Minister of Legislative Reform and Parliamentary Affairs, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães, on the Public Administration Reform Program. This program presents a set of administrative reforms aimed at strengthening the management and improvement of the functioning of the Ministries and Agencies of the Central Government.
The Minister of Legislative Reform and Parliamentary Affairs also made a presentation to the Council of Ministers on the Draft Law on the approval of the Legal Regime of Social Security of Holders of Organs of Sovereignty. This legal regime seeks to promote the exercise of the right to social security on an equal footing, valuing the contributory career of former members of sovereignty institutions.
The Council of Ministers also heard a presentation on a Draft of Law presented by the Minister for Legislative Reform and Parliamentary Affairs regarding Legislative Authorization on the General Bases of the Organization of Public Administration.
The Acting Finance Minister, Sara Lobo Brites, presented the government deliberation project, approved by the Council of Ministers, on the budget ceiling for February under the duodecimal regime. The total amount of expenditure for salaries and salaries will be USD 17 852 076, for goods and services will be USD 38 614 980, for public transfers will be USD 26 591 048 and for development capital will be USD 33 390 953, totaling USD 116 449 057.
The Council of Ministers approved the Draft Resolution, presented by the Minister of Justice, Manuel Cárceres da Costa, on the allocation of residence to former holders of sovereignty bodies, former President of the Republic and former Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, former Prime Minister Marí Bim Amude Alkatiri and former President of the National Parliament, Vicente da Silva Guterres.
The Minister of Public Works, Salvador Soares dos Reis Pires, presented the Draft Deliberation, approved by the Council of Ministers, on the First Amendment to the Subcontract Nº ICB/099/MOPTC-2016 with Shanghai Construction Group Co. Ltd., for the Road Network Improvement and Maintenance Project, Dili-Ainaro: C16/17, Package 1, Aipelo-Bazarte,in the amount of USD 5 083 690.14, dated December 29, 2017.
The Council of Ministers approved a proposed Decree-Law, presented by the Acting Minister for the Affairs of National Liberation Combatants, Gil da Costa Monteiro 'Oan Soru', which approves the 6th amendment to Decree-Law No. 15/2008, of June 4, which regulates the pensions of combatants and martyrs of national liberation. With this amendment, part of the pension of combatants and martyrs of national liberation is withheld, except in cases where there is express opposition to such retention. The amounts retained by the State are intended to be deposited into a bank account under title and administered by the Council of National Liberation Combatants.
Finally, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Dionísio Babo Soares, presented a draft Government Resolution, approved by the Council of Ministers, which regulates the implementation of temporary measures to interdict and restrict the entry of foreign citizens who travelled from the People's Republic of China into the national territory, considering the risk associated with the rapid spread of Coronavirus 2019-nCoV. Through this Resolution, the measure of interdiction of entry into national territory is applied to foreign citizens who have been in transit in the last four weeks in the province of Hubei, People's Republic of China, to foreign citizens who have been out or transited in the People's Republic of China in the last four weeks, and may be allowed entry into the national territory by submitting a medical report with photo, issued by a medical institution internationally recognized. The measures to prohibit and restrict the entry of foreign citizens from the People's Republic of China, defined in accordance with this Resolution, will be reviewed fortnightly with a view to their maintenance or elimination. Under this Government Resolution, the Acting Minister of Health was mandated to instruct the competent services of the Ministry of Health to, in coordination with the relevant ministries, act in accordance with the protocols established by the World Health Organization. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation was also mandated to ensure frequent diplomatic communication with the authorities of the People's Republic of China in a show of solidarity with the Government and people of the People's Republic of China, taking into account the strong relations of cooperation and friendship between the two peoples and their continuity as well as instructing diplomatic missions to establish proper communication with the relevant authorities of neighboring countries on the restrictive measures set out in the this resolution. ENDS
29 of January of 2020Meeting of the Council of Ministers of January 29, 2020Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of January 29, 2020
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the proposal for a Government Resolution, presented by the Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion, Maria José da Fonseca Monteiro de Jesus, on the implementation of the Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls. The Spotlight Initiative is an initiative launched by the European Union and the United Nations to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls around the world. The initiative puts the issue of violence at the heart of global efforts for gender equality and women's empowerment. The Programme will be implemented in Timor-Leste as a joint action between the Government, Civil Society, the European Union and the United Nations.
The Council of Ministers approved the proposal for a deliberation, presented by the Minister of Legislative Reform and Parliamentary Affairs, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães, on the amendment to the Grant and Implementation Agreement between the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste for the Development and Facilitation of implementation of a Compact Millennium Challenge. This programme specifically aimed at responding to the economic challenges of the country, as identified jointly by Timor-Leste and the MCC, aims to combat poverty and increase national economic growth and its four components are: clean water supply, sanitation and drainage; education; nutrition; and resolution of trade disputes.
The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture, Longuinhos dos Santos, presented a draft Decree-Law, approved by the Council of Ministers, which regulates the Human Capital Development Fund. This Decree-Law aims to change the composition of the Board of Directors, in order to include the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture, to regulate the organic and functioning of this support body and establish rules and criteria for programs, projects or activities that may be financed by the Fund.
The Council of Ministers approved the Government Resolution, presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Dionísio da Costa Babo Soares, which defines a set of measures to prevent and control the Coronavirus 2019-nCoV outbreak in Timor-Leste and protection of the Timorese community residing in Wuhan city, Hubei Province, in the People's Republic of China. With this Government Resolution, money will be allocated to support expenditure on the acquisition of equipment and clothing, as well as the preparation of specific physical space for the diagnosis of possible clinical cases, for the prevention and control of the risk of propagation of Coronavirus 2019-nCoV in national territory, as well as to support expenses with the withdrawal of Timorese citizens residing in the critical areas of the affected Chinese province and with their travel to the cities of Beijing or Shanghai, their accommodation and related expenses. The Acting Minister of Health was mandated to instruct supply services for the urgent acquisition of body temperature measurement equipment and personal protective equipment to strengthen the control and identification of suspicious cases at border crossing stations. The Government resolution approved, also states that in the response to a suspected case of illness, there will be restricted areas of isolation at border posts, with exclusive bathrooms, furniture, water and some non-perishable food, until the activation of transport from the border post to the Reference Hospital.
The Acting Minister of Petroleum and Minerals, Agio Pereira, and the President of the National Petroleum and Minerals Authority, presented the proposal for a Government Resolution, approved by the Council of Ministers, which approves the extension of the area of Block A and Block C onshore, and partially amends Government Resolution No. 39/2016 of November 23. The adopted Government Resolution will allow the development and exploitation in areas adjacent to Blocks A and C, in which evidence of the existence of geological formations with development and exploration potential have been identified.
Finally, the Minister of Defense, Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus, received full powers for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and an Agreement between the Ministries of Defense of Timor-Leste and China. The Memorandum of Understanding will be signed for the development and strengthening of cooperation relations between the two countries in the arrea of defense, optimizing the use, sustainability and development of the defense capabilities of the two countries. Under this memorandum, exchanges of defense and military delegations, cooperation in military training and exercises and cooperation in military health will be carried out. The Agreement between the Ministries of Defense of the two countries aims to provide free military assistance by China to Timor-Leste, to supply equipment to the national armed forces, including protective equipment, light weapons, vehicles and transmitters. ENDS
22 of January of 2020Meeting of the Council of Ministers of January 22, 2020Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of January 22, 2020
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the Government Resolution, presented by the Acting Minister of Health, Élia António de Araújo dos Reis Amaral, on the Adoption of the International Health Regulation, an international legal device created within the Framework of the World Health Organization (WHO) that establishes health procedures and measures for the protection of public health, in order to prevent the international spread of diseases. An Interministerial Commission will also be set up to be responsible for the implementation, coordination, evaluation and monitoring of the International Health Regulation. ENDS
14 of January of 2020Government expresses solidarity with AustraliaPresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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January 14, 2020
Press Release
Government expresses solidarity with Australia
On behalf of the people of Timor-Leste, the Government expresses its deep solidarity with the People and Government of Australia who have faced numerous and violent fires for more than three months.
The flames that have been ploughing almost uninterruptedly since the end of September 2019 across the country have already consumed a vast area of forest, covering millions of hectares, causing at least 25 dead, dozens of missing, isolated populations, thousands of destroyed dwellings, hundreds of thousands of dead animals and various endangered species.
The Government of Timor-Leste offers its most heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and praises the work of the authorities in firefighting and rescue actions, in conditions of extreme difficulty.
The Spokesperson of the Eight Constitutional Government, the Minister of State, Agio Pereira, said that "our feelings go to families who have lost loved ones and we salute those who remain determined in fighting fires and supporting the populations affected by this catastrophe”. ENDS
13 of January of 2020Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of January 13, 2020Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of January 13, 2020
The Council of Ministers met at the Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão Auditorium at the Ministry of Finance in Dili and approved the Government Decree, presented by Acting Finance Minister Sara Lobo Brites, on budgetary implementation in a duodecimal regime. Given that the procedure for passing the 2020 State General Budget Law is not yet complete, this Government Decree approves, under Law No 13/2009, amended by Laws Nº 9/2011 and Nº 3/2013, the set of rules to discipline the application of the duodecimal regime. This diploma takes effect on 1 January 2020 and ceases automatically after the entry into force of the State General Budget law for 2020. ENDS- 19 of December of 2019Meeting of the Council of Ministers of 19 December 2019Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of 19 December 2019
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the Draft Law of the General State Budget (OGE) for the fiscal year 2020, presented by the Acting Minister of Finance, Sara Lobo Brites. The OGE 2020 was prepared on the basis of five key principles: medium and long-term fiscal sustainability, alignment with national priorities, budgetary implementation capacity, the absorption capacity of the local economy and the quality of the budget. In this regard, the Council of Ministers approved a budget for 2020 with an estimated public expenditure of around US$ 1,668 million (one billion, six hundred and sixty eight million US dollars), including revenue stemming from the RAEOA/ZEEMS, the European Union (EU) and Loans, to cover the needs of the program and national priorities defined by the VIII Constitutional Government. This new OGE Proposal for 2020 will be submitted to the National Parliament on 19 December 2019.
The Prime Minister thanked the working team, created on December 4, that carried out the review of the OGE, which was led by the Minister of State of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira; the Minister of Finance, Sara Lobo Brites; the Minister of Transport and Communication, José Agustinho da Silva and the Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, Dulce de Jesus Freitas. ENDS
- 18 of December of 2019 Tolerance Days-Off on December 24, 26, 30, and January 2, 2020Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release Correction dated 18 December 2019
Tolerance Days-Off on December 24, 26 and 30, 2019 and January 2, 2020
Law No. 10/2005 of 10 August, in the wording given by Law No. 3/2016 of 25 May, establishes the days which are national holidays and commemorative official dates, while also setting the conditions under which tolerance/-days off are granted.
Christmas is one of the solemnities that is of the utmost importance in the Christian community, in which the birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated, with a Christmas Mass.
Considering that Christmas is still associated with a family celebration, traditionally devoted to the gathering of all its members.
Considering that New Year's Day, a day of thanks for the year that has passed and of welcome to the coming year, it is also marked with festivities and religious ceremonies.
Considering article 7, in paragraphs a) and (c) of nº 2 and paragraph d) of nº 6 of Law nº 10/2005 of 10 August, in the wording set out by Law Nº 3/2016 of 25 May, the Prime Minister determines:
1. Tolerance Days-Off are granted on 24, 26 and 30 December 2019, throughout the day;
2. Tolerance Days-Off are granted, too, on January 2, 2020, throughout the day.
This order covers all officials and agents of their dependent ministries or services, as well as institutes and bodies integrated into the indirect administration of the State. ENDS
