Media Releases
29 of May of 2020Meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 29, 2020Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of May 29, 2020
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili, and the meeting started with the message of the Prime Minister welcoming the new members of the Government and thanking the outgoing members of Government and those who replaced non-sworn-in members of the Government for their effort and dedication during the exercise of their duties in the VIII Constitutional Government.
The Council of Ministers approved the draft Government Decree, presented by the Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, on the measures to implement the renewal of the declaration of the state of emergency enacted by the Decree of the President of the Republic No. 35/2020 of May 27, to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The state of emergency covers the entire national territory and is in force between 00.00 hours on May 28, 2020 (Thursday) and 23.59 hours on June 26, 2020 (Friday).
The set of measures adopted by the Government to prevent and control a possible outbreak of COVID-19 in Timor-Leste contributed to the fact that, currently, there are no people infected with the SARS-Cov-2 virus in the national territory. Nevertheless, it is now important to control any risks of re-importing the new coronavirus.
As such, as considering the Government Decree No. 8/2020 of 30 April, measures relating to international circulation are maintained, and the Prime Minister can now also exceptionally authorize, in addition to the cases previously set out, the entry of foreigners into national territory, in duly substantiated cases, related to the work of companies.
All measures previously applied with regard to the sanitary control at the entrance and exit points of the national territory, circulation in national territory and establishment of residence are maintained.
The Minister of the Interior may, through a Ministerial Order, determine the temporary closure of border posts.
With regard to measures applying to public administration, the Government Decree states that public services should operate normally, while ensuring a minimum distance of one and a half meters between individuals, the use of a protective mask and hand washing before entering public spaces.
Pre-school, primary education, secondary education, higher education and vocational or technical-vocational training institutions can now carry out school activities on a face-to-face basis, provided that they meet the technical criteria to be approved by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture.
With this Decree-Law, the rules of access and permanence in market premises are maintained and the limitations related to private economic activities are removed. There are also no limitations on religious, sporting activities and the right to strike and demonstration.
For the duration of the state of emergency, licences, authorisations and other administrative acts and documents remain valid regardless of the expiry date.
The Secretary of State for Civil Protection, Alexandrino de Araújo, gave a presentation to the Council of Ministers on the recovery plan, support already provided and the need for intervention to cope with the damage caused and to support the population affected by the floods that affected the east and south coast of the country last week. ENDS
- 27 of May of 2020Meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 27, 2020Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of May 27, 2020
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Government Resolution, presented by the Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak, for the reappointment of Faustino Cardoso Gomes, as Commissioner and President of the Civil Service Commission for a five-year term. They are also appointed as Commissioners of the Civil Service Commission, Maria de Jesus Sarmento and Carmeneza dos Santos Monteiro, to serve a five-year term. In addition to the three commissioners appointed by the Government, two Commissioners will also be appointed by the National Parliament.
The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs in Office, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães, presented the draft Government Resolution, approved by the Council of Ministers, for the renewal of the mandate of Arcanjo da Silva, as Executive Director of the Investment and Export Promotion Agency of Timor-Leste, IP – TradeInvest Timor-Leste.
The Minister of Public Works, Salvador Soares dos Reis Pires, made a presentation to the Council of Ministers on the data related to the interventions already carried out and the needs of intervention for the recovery of the damage caused by the floods that occurred in recent months in several municipalities and that caused damage to housing, public buildings, roads, bridges and various other infrastructure of the State. ENDS
25 of May of 2020Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 25, 2020Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of May 25, 2020
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and decided to ask the President of the Republic to extend the State of Emergency which ends on May 27 for another thirty days. The need to extend the state of emergency is due to the worrying evolution of the epidemiological situation and the proliferation of recorded cases of COVID-19 contagion in the neighboring country, Indonesia, particularly in West Timor, which also require the maintenance of the application of some extraordinary measures, although mitigated, to stop the pandemic, avoiding the transmission of new cases of infection by the new coronavirus in national territory. The state of emergency was enacted on 27 March 2020 and was renewed on 27 April 2020 and the measures that have been possible since that decree have greatly contributed to the fact that there are currently no active cases of COVID-19 in national territory. The new Coronavirus, first reported in December 2019 in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has affected more than 5.4 million people worldwide and caused the deaths of more than 300,000 people.
The Minister of Public Works, Salvador Soares dos Reis Pires and the Secretary of State for Civil Protection, Alexandrino de Araújo, presented to the Council of Ministers the state of affairs of the intervention to support those affected and to recover from the damage of floods, which occurred last week in several municipalities and caused damage to housing, public buildings, roads and bridges. ENDS
23 of May of 2020Celebration of Idul FitriPresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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May 24, 2020
Press Release
Celebration of Idul Fitri
The Government presents its congratulations and solidarity to the Muslim community of Timor-Leste at the celebrations of Idul Fitri, which marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan.
This festive moment for Muslim families, not only in our country, but in all Islamic communities around the world, in which we are all reminded of the importance of family and friends, as well as the value of unity and tolerance, is this year lived under unique circumstances due to the pandemic of the new coronavirus.
Idul Fitri gives us the opportunity to strengthen the bonds of friendship and respect for other peoples, cultures and religions, as well as the opportunity to reflect on the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation in order to contribute to a more just and peaceful world.
The people of Timor-Leste continue to embrace a variety of traditions, cultures, and religions, which characterize the nation and the universal values of forgiveness, friendship, tolerance and peace. ENDS- 21 of May of 2020Clarification on air transport Dili - DarwinPresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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May 21, 2020
Press Release
Clarification on air transport Dili - Darwin
Following a report from a national media outlet and its dissemination on social media, the Government reports that under the agreement signed between the Ministry of Transport and Communications and Airnorth, the airline has been operating three flights a week between Dili and Darwin since April 10, 2020, in response to large-scale travel restrictions enacted to slow the spread of COVID-19, which have left Timor-Leste isolated without global connectivity for the movement of goods, medical supplies or passengers in emergencies.
In this regard, this agreement allows the transport of medical supplies, medical emergencies and the supply of essential goods and services to citizens and companies in the national territory. The Government also informs that any revenue generated, up to the total amount paid by the agreed air service, for the sale of passenger seats or the transport of goods will be paid by Airnorth to the Government of Timor-Leste, which in this way reduces the total cost of the operation. ENDS
- 21 of May of 2020Meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 21, 2020Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of May 21, 2020
The Council of Ministers met at the Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão Auditorium, at the Ministry of Finance, in Dili and approved the draft deliberation, presented by the Minister of Justice, Manuel Cárceres da Costa, on the exceptional authorization of the use of smaller capital funds in duodecimal regime. This resolution aims to allow the payment of services provided for the supply of computer equipment and furniture to the Ministry of Justice.
The Council of Ministers approved the draft deliberation, presented by the Acting Minister of Finance, Sara Lobo Brites, on the authorisation for the conclusion of an agreement between the Governments of Timor-Leste and Australia on a direct financial contribution to be made by the Government of Australia, worth seven million Australian dollars, to support community resilience and economic recovery in Timor-Leste during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Council of Ministers delegated the competence to sign the agreement to the Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Government of Timor-Leste.
The Acting Minister of Finance also presented the draft resolution, approved by the Council of Ministers, concerning the authorisation to conclude an agreement between the Government of Timor-Leste and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on a grant under the "Leaving no one behind in Timor-Leste's COVID-19 response - Financial Support for the Implementation of the cash transfer scheme for low-income households". Under the terms of this agreement, the ILO will donate to the Government of Timor-Leste the amount of US$748,000 to finance the operational costs of implementing support to Timorese households, approved by Decree-Law No. 15/2020 of April 30. The Acting Minister of Finance was given full powers to sign this agreement.
The Council of Ministers approved the authorization for the conclusion of the contract for the purchase of 30,000 tons of rice from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, presented by the National Supply Commission of Timor-Leste, the Ministry of Planning and Strategic Investment and the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry to strengthen the existing rice stock in the country and to cope with a possible shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Council of Ministers delegated to the Administrator of the National Logistics Center (CNL), representing the Government of Timor-Leste, the competence to sign the contract.
The Council of Ministers approved the Organic of the Eight Constitutional Government, introducing two amendments, in relation to the diploma approved at the last meeting of the Executive. The first amendment concerns the hierarchy of the members of the Government. Thus, the Prime Minister precedes the two Deputy Ministers, followed by the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, who precedes the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, followed by the other ministers according to the structure approved last week. The approved Decree-Law also provides for a change in the powers conferred on the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, who is responsible for organising, boosting or participating in any type of activities that are necessary for the establishment and operation of a sub-regional integrated economic cooperation and development platform between Timor-Leste, Indonesia and Australia.
In accordance with the amendment introduced in the organic law, the Council of Ministers also approved the draft Decree-Law on the extinction of the ad hoc mission unit for integrated sub regional economic development and its organic structure. This law is repeals the Decree-Law No. 17/2014, of July 16, with the duties of this unit now continued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.
The Council of Ministers approved the timetable for preparing the General State Budget for fiscal year 2020. According to the approved timetable, the proposed Law should be considered at the Meeting of the Council of Ministers on 22 July 2020 and submitted to the National Parliament on 30 July 2020. ENDS 
13 of May of 2020Meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 13, 2020Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of May 13, 2020
The Council of Ministers met in the Auditorium Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, at the Ministry of Finance, in Dili and approved the Draft Law presented by the Minister of Defense, Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus, regarding the first amendment to Law Nº 3/2010, of April 21, National Defense Law. This amendment aims to promote better harmonization between the National Defense Law and a set of central documents in the definition of the National Defense Policy and the formulation of the state's strategic-military action, namely the Strategic Concept of National Defense, the Military Strategic Concept, the National Forces System, the Missions of the Armed Forces and the F-FDTL Force. This amendment enshrines the competence of the Prime Minister to propose to the Council of Ministers, together with the member of the Government with competence in the field of Defence, the appointment and dismissal of the Head of the Armed Forces. The composition of the Superior Council of Military Defense is also modified, the process of appointing and exonerating the General Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces is clarified, the General Support Forces are removed from the general organization of the F-FDTL, the Support Agencies and the General Support Forces are integrated into the General Staff of the Armed Forces. The composition of the organic structure of the F-FDTL is also amended and the Government is expected to approve the Military Discipline Regulation.
The Council of Ministers approved the framework for cooperation for sustainable development, between the Government of Timor-Leste and the United Nations, for the period between 2021 and 2025, presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Dionísio da Costa Babo Soares. This cooperation agreement provides for six strategic priorities: 1 - Nutrition, Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture; 2 - Sustainable economic opportunities and decent work for all; 3 - Child development and lifelong learning outcomes and skills; 4 - Quality health care and well-being; 5 - Responsible, inclusive and participatory governance and quality public services; 6 - Sustainable management of natural resources and resilience to climate change. The Council of Ministers has given the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation full powers to sign the agreement.
The Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, presented the draft Decree-Law, approved by the Council of Ministers, concerning the first amendment to Decree-Law No. 14/2018, of August 17, on the Organic of the VIII Constitutional Government. Through this law, it is now envisaged the existence of two Deputy Prime Ministers who will assist the Prime Minister in the exercise of his powers, a Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Communications, a Minister of Planning and Territorial Land Use, a Deputy Minister for Cultural and Community Tourism, a Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry and a Deputy Minister of the Interior. The government positions of Minister of Legislative Reform and Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment are extinguished. It also removes the role of a Minister of State. With this Decree-Law, the tasks on legislative reform, legislative process and administrative reform are placed under the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. The Ministry of Justice will concentrate all the Government's tasks on judicial reform. The Ministry of Planning and Territorial Land Use, which follows the defunct Ministry of Planning and Strategic Investment, will be responsible for government tasks in the field of planning and territorial land use management, leaving the Ministry of Public Works to pursue any tasks in urban planning. It is also no longer foreseen in the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the existence of the G7+ Secretariat with the National Procurement Commission becomes part of the Ministry of Finance. ENDS
08 of May of 2020Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers May 8, 2020Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of May 8, 2020
The Council of Ministers met at the Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão Auditorium, at the Ministry of Finance, in Dili and approved a draft Decree-Law, presented last Wednesday by the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães, on the moratorium on compliance with obligations arising from credit concession contracts under the economic policy of response to COVID-19. This Decree-Law aims to respond to the constraints and difficulties resulting from the decrease in revenues and incomes inherent in the slowdown of the economy due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the risk of a spiral of non-compliance, which could have negative effects on the financial system and consequently on the real economy. The approved Diploma establishes a moratorium on the fulfillment of capital and interest obligations arising from credit agreements, delaying their maturity by three months. There is also a reduction to 40% during three months following the entry into force of the diploma, of the obligation to pay interest in the debtor's charge, with the remaining 60% being financed by the State.
The Council of Ministers also approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, regarding the first amendment to Decree-Law No. 12/2020 of April 14, which regulates the COVID-19 Fund. In order to respond to the difficulties encountered and to ensure faster processing of procurement procedures and the conclusion of public contracts aimed at responding to urgent situations, this decree confers on the Council of Ministers the competence, through a Government Decree, to allow, in duly justified and transitory cases, the bodies of a particular governmental department or public legal person to perform acts whose competence would, in principle, be included in the framework of tasks of another governmental department or public legal person. With the approval of this Decree-Law, the Directors-General, responsible for the financial services of the various government departments, are also granted the competence to authorize the performance of procurement procedures for the award of public contracts, the expenditure of which is financed by the COVID-19 Fund, and which do not exceed ONE million US dollars, as well as to sign the contracts awarded following the performance of these procurement procedures. ENDS
