Media Releases
06 of December of 2019Lighthouse vs Timor-Leste Court of Appeal (Supreme Court of Victoria)Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
December 13, 2019
Lighthouse vs Timor-Leste Court of Appeal (Supreme Court of Victoria)
The Supreme Court of Victoria Court of Appeal today handed down judgment on the government of Timor-Leste’s appeal against a decision of the Supreme Court of Victoria in May 2019 to grant Lighthouse Corporation Pty Ltd and Lighthouse Corporation IBC (together Lighthouse) the right to hear their case against the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and its electricity department (EDTL) in Victoria. The dispute relates to events that took place in Timor-Leste in 2010 and 2011 in respect of an alleged contract for the supply of fuel and generators in Timor-Leste. The government of Timor-Leste believes no binding contract was entered into.
The Court of Appeal found that it was open to the trial judge to find as he did, that Victoria was not a clearly inappropriate forum in which to hear the dispute. The Court of Appeal found that the judge did not err in his approach to determining the issue, and therefore refused leave to appeal.
Timor-Leste had argued that the trial judge erred in two important ways in reaching his finding on the issue of “forum non conveniens”. This was not accepted by the Court of Appeal.
In particular, Timor-Leste had argued that the dispute’s connections to Victoria were insubstantial, tangential to the main issues, and tenuous, and that there were a number of very substantial connections with Timor-Leste. Timor-Leste argued that the primary judge, Almond J, should have found Victoria was a clearly inappropriate forum for the dispute to be heard, given the relevance of Timorese law to determining the existence of a contract (an issue in dispute in the case) and other factors connecting the case with Timor-Leste.
The case involved complex legal issues, and the government of Timor-Leste will now consider the detail of the judgment and review its legal options. The government of Timor-Leste remains confident in its legal position regarding the lack of contract between the parties, regardless of where the case is heard.
The dispute over whether Victoria was the appropriate forum for the case followed an unsuccessful attempt by Lighthouse in 2015 to have the dispute heard by the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). On the 23 December 2017 the Tribunal determined that ICSID had no jurisdiction to hear the case. ENDS- 20 of November of 2019Meeting of the Council of Ministers of 20 November 2019Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of 20 November 2019
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and he heard a presentation by the Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion, Maria José da Fonseca Monteiro de Jesus, on the State Report for the CEDAW Committee (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women). CEDAW was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 1979 and entered into force on 3 September 1981. With 185 State- Parties and having been ratified by Timor-Leste in 2003, it is one of the most ratified human rights treaties. The report presents the national situation, challenges and progress since 2015 with a view to eliminating discrimination against women in different areas in order to ensure the principle of equality between women and men at legal, social, political, economic and cultural levels, as provided for in Article 17 of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. The Report to be sent to the CEDAW Committee was adopted.
The Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, presented the draft Decree-Law, approved by the Council of Ministers, referring to the sixth amendment to Decree-Law Nº 10/2005 of 21 November on the Legal Provisioning Regime. This amendment determines that international public tender announcements will no longer be published in printed newspapers of international circulation, determining that it is required they be published on at least two electronic platforms internationally used for this purpose, as well as in a newspaper with national circulation.
The Minister of Justice, Manuel Cárceres da Costa, presented two draft Decree-Laws, approved by the Council of Ministers, on the Organic Structure and the New Regime of Training Activities of the Center for Legal and Judicial Training (CFJJ). These diplomas aim to reorganize the structure of the CFJJ, through a diploma of higher hierarchy, reinforcing its identity as an institution of excellence for legal and judicial training, and by endorsing it with the organic and organizational conditions appropriate to the fulfilment of this important mission. It is also intended to remove all conflicting rules with other diplomas, namely statutory diplomas from other professional careers in the justice sector, while introducing new solutions in this regime, correcting procedures and practices that needed changes or improvements.
The Minister of Justice also presented the draft Government Decree, approved by the Council of Ministers, regarding the Updating of the Staff Framework of the Public Prosecutor's Office. This Government Decree creates conditions for the regular development in the career of the judiciary of the Public Prosecutor's Office and extends the vacancies for the places of entry into this same career, in compliance with legally established requirements and in compliance with the objectives set out in the Eight Constitutional Government’s Program, with a view to consolidating the Justice sector, supporting it with competent, independent and professional human resources.
The Interim Minister Coordinator for Economic Affairs, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães and TradeInvest gave a presentation to the Council of Ministers on the Special Investment Agreement between the State of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and Pelican Paradise Group, Lda. The project provides for an investment of US$700 million for the development of a tourism complex, in an area of about 550 hectares, in the Tasi Tolu area, which includes hotel units, a golf course, residential lots, a youth development center, an international school, an international hospital and shopping centers. This tourism complex will allow the creation of approximately 1500 jobs in the construction phase, 1300 permanent jobs after the construction and reforestation of 80% of the project area.
The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Defense, Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus, which approves the Statute of the Military in Peace and Humanitarian Missions abroad, within the framework of international commitments undertaken by Timor-Leste, defining the terms of their participation in the missions.
Finally, the Acting Finance Minister, Sara Lobo Brites, presented a draft Decree-Law, relating to the extraordinary payment of one month of additional salary to the public administration and a draft Government Decree regarding the additional payment to officials and agents of the Ministry of Finance allocated to the process of preparing the General Budget of the State for 2020 and closing the 2019 State Account. The two diplomas were approved by the Council of Ministers. ENDS - 08 of November of 2019Timor-Leste Welcomes the Statement from the 35th ASEAN SummitPresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
November 8, 2019
Timor-Leste Welcomes the Statement from the 35th ASEAN Summit
Timor-Leste, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, welcomes the Chairman's statement from the 35th ASEAN Summit on 3 November 2019 in Bangkok.
We recognise that the outcome of the Summit continues to build clear momentum towards our accession to ASEAN, and would like to thank the member states for their dedication to considering the Timorese application for membership, and their sincere engagement in the substantive matters.
Our special appreciation also goes to Thailand for its chairmanship, and for leading the recent Fact-finding Mission to Timor-Leste on the APSC pillar.
The Government of Timor-Leste remains strongly committed to achieving a smooth accession process, and will continue to enhance coordination with ASEAN at bilateral and regional levels, to build on the great strides towards technical preparedness over coming months.
As confirmed in the Summit Chair's Statement, Timor-Leste looks forward to receiving the Fact-finding Missions on the remaining two pillars: AEC and ASCC.
Lastly, we congratulate Vietnam for taking over as the new Chair, and look forward to working together to “boost ASEAN solidarity and unity.” ENDS - 06 of November of 2019Meeting of the Council of Ministers of November 6, 2019Analyzed:more
1 - Report on Natural Disasters;
2 - State Report for the CEDAW Committee.
Approved
1 - Government resolution on the appointment of the President of the Authority of the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cusse Ambeno;
2 - Decree-Law on the regime of concession by the State of direct support to the media
3 - Memorandum of understanding between the Republic of Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste for Disaster Management;
4 - Reappointment of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Executive Board of Timor Gap. - 31 of Outubro of 2019Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Statement on the Situation in Guinea-Bissauavailable soonmore
- 30 of Outubro of 2019Tolerance Day-Off on 31 October, 2019Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
October 29, 2019
Tolerance Day-Off on 31 October, 2019
Law No. 10/2005 of August 10, in the drafting given by Law No. 3/2016 of May 25, establishes the days that are national holidays and commemorative official dates, while still setting the conditions under which point tolerance is granted.
Commemorative official dates include November 1 and 2. These are two dates that are of great importance to the Christian community. November 1 and 2 are respectively All Saints Day and All Souls’s Day are celebrated in the calendar of the Catholic religion.
It has been a tradition of the Timorese people to watch over the graves of their deceased loved ones, which means many public servants need to travel to their municipalities of origin to participate in these religious celebrations.
Taking into consideration paragraphs b) and c) and No 2 of Article 7 as well as paragraph d) of the same Article, of the Law No 10/2005 of 10 August, in the wording set out by Law No 3/2016, of 25 May, the Government determines:
To grant a tolerance day-off on October 31, 2019, during the whole day.
This order covers all officials and agents of the ministries, secretariats of State and services dependent on them, as well as institutes and bodies integrated into the Indirect Administration of the State. ENDS
- 23 of Outubro of 2019Message of congratulation for the swearing-in of the President and Vice-President of the Republic of IndonesiaPresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
October 23, 2019
Message of congratulation for the swearing-in of the President and Vice-President of the Republic of Indonesia
The Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste addresses warm congratulations to His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo and His Excellency, the Vice-President of the Republic of Indonesia, Ma'ruf Amim, on heir swearing-in, expressing its wish for the greatest success in the tasks their high positions call on both to perform.
Timor-Leste and Indonesia share a close relationship of cooperation, solidarity and proximity, in a exemplary climate of truth and friendship, which has been essential for the consolidation of the stability and security necessary for the development of the two Nations, based on strong historical, economic and cultural ties, and in the presence, in both societies, of dynamic and fully integrated communities.
Timor-Leste reaffirms its conviction in deepening the relationships of fraternal friendship that unites the peoples of both countries, in the various bilateral and multilateral spheres, in the course of the mandate that now begins. ENDS - 23 of Outubro of 2019Meeting of the Council of Ministers of October 23, 2019Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of October 23, 2019
The Council of Ministers met at the government Palace in Dili and analyzed the master plan for the requalification of the Dili International Airport, presented by the Interministerial Commission for the negotiation of financial support for the requalification of the President Nicolau Lobato International Airport. Established on 24 May 2019, the Inter-ministerial Commission is chaired by the Minister of State of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and includes the Interim Minister of Finance, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the Minister of Public Works and by the Minister of Transport and Communications. The Interministerial Commission, together with the Interministerial Working Group for the President Nicolau Lobato International Airport Development Project, has worked on the analysis of technical, social, environmental and financial requirements of the options for the extension of the runway and for the requalification of the airport terminal.
The Council of Ministers also heard a presentation by TNA Solution regarding a private investment proposal in the urban waste management sector. This consortium intends to invest in a waste collection and treatment management program in the municipality of Dili, in a project that does not require any governmental investment, and which aims to transform Tibar's dump into a waste treatment plant, which includes water treatment, recycling and fertilizer production.
The Minister of Legislative Reform and Parliamentary affairs, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães, presented two draft laws, approved by the Council of Ministers, concerning the Legal Regime of Voluntary Arbitration and the legislative authorization for the Amendment of the Civil Procedure Code. The draft laws aim to improve and strengthen the justice administration system, so that it offers all citizens a judicial service that ensures the objective, impartial, equitable, useful and efficient resolution of disputes.
The Minister for Legislative Reform and Parliamentary Affairs also presented a draft resolution to the national Parliament for the accession of Timor-Leste to the New York Convention of 1958 on the recognition and execution of foreign arbitral sentences. As the New York Convention constitutes an essential pillar of international arbitration and has already been ratified by 161 States, the accession of Timor-Leste constitutes an important incentive to intensify foreign trade relations and to help promote foreign investment.
The Council of Ministers approved the proposal for a Government resolution, presented by the Minister for Legislative Reform and Parliamentary Affairs, approving the rules of procedure of the Council of Ministers. The revision of the rules of procedure seeks to reinforce the moment of the decision to legislate, properly guiding the legislative process, in order to fulfill the plans of the Government's Organic to reinforce the political control of the Council of Ministers on the activities of legislative reform, especially of the Prime Minister in exercising the powers of leadership of Government action.
The Minister of Defense, Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus, presented a resolution of the Government, approved by the Council of Ministers, concerning the total amount of recruits to be hired for FALINTIL - Defense Forces of Timor-Leste (F-FDTL). As such, in te year 2020 a total of 600 people will be recruited to join F-FDTL.
The Minister of Public Works, Salvador Soares dos Reis Pires and the Director of the National Procurement Commission (CNA), Aniceto do Rosário, presented a proposal for deliberation, approved by the Council of Ministers, for the reopening of the public tender for the light fuel supply to the Hera power plant for the years 2019 and 2020, due to the withdrawal of one of the companies that was part of the consortium which won the first the first tender.
The Director of the CNA also presented a proposal of deliberation for the award of the construction contract of the new District Court of Dili, with the procurement process completed with impartiality and transparency and confirmation that winning company has fulfilled all the necessary requirements. This project will be financed with budget from the Infrastructure Fund.
The Council of Ministers approved a message in which it addresses warm congratulations to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo and the Vice-President of the Republic of Indonesia, Ma'ruf Amin, on their swearing-in, wishing both the greatest success in the performance of the high positions for which they have been called.
Finally, the Acting Minister of State Administration, Abílio José Caetano, gave a presentation on the natural disasters and destruction of houses and other properties that have affected several areas of the country and the Council of Ministers deliberated the attribution of humanitarian support to the affected population. The Ministry of State Administration, together with other relevant ministries, will identify all the necessary details for the distribution of this support. ENDS
