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The 19th episode of the “Government Page” TV show, featuring the return of Minister of Public Works Samuel Marçal, will broadcast this Friday, March 27^th, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. on Radio and Television of Timor-Leste (RTTL) and across the official social media channels.

In this new episode, Samuel Marçal returns to the TV Show — having been a guest on the first episode, which aired on March 14^th, 2025 — to discuss the work being carried out in the infrastructure sector and address public interest issues related to the Ministry of Public Works’ priorities.

The interview discusses, among other topics, the 2025 budget implementation, the main strategic projects currently in progress, the impact of public investment in infrastructure, the master plan for Dili’s development, the expansion and upgrading of the road network, the monitoring of construction quality, and the outlook for projects through 2028.

During the interview, the Minister emphasises the importance of investing in roads, water, and electricity, highlighting the crucial role these infrastructures play in supporting economic development, improving mobility, boosting agricultural activities, promoting tourism, and enhancing living conditions across the country.

The episode also discusses the importance of urban planning in the capital, highlighting the phased expansion of several roads in Dili and the planned measures to manage urban growth, improve traffic flow, and enhance infrastructure resilience.

Toward the end of the interview, Samuel Marçal also addresses the public about the impacts of the rainy season, emphasising the need for environmental conservation, protection of high-risk areas, and everyone’s cooperation in reducing the factors that worsen flooding, landslides, and sedimentation in riverbeds.

Sponsored by the Government Spokesperson’s Office, led by Agio Pereira, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the “Government Page” TV show is produced in partnership with RTTL and national media outlets, with the aim of enhancing government transparency, accountability, and citizens’ access to information about the Executive’s key decisions and public policies.

Hosted by Nélia Chaves, with Ika Moniz serving as the executive producer and technical support provided by the communications teams of the Council of Ministers, the Office of the Prime Minister, and the office of the government official being interviewed, the “Government Page” TV Show establishes itself as an institutional communications platform focused on the public interest and on bridging the gap between the Government and citizens.

The Government invites all citizens to tune in to this new episode of the “Government Page” TV Show on Friday, March 27^th, 2026, at 8:00 p.m., on RTTL and social media.

All previously aired programs are available on the YouTube channel @PCMPAGINADOGOVERNOTIMORLESTE

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Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste

Ninth Constitutional Government

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Press Release

Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 25^th, 2026

The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Government Resolution to grant US$60,000 to the Permanent Mission of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in Timor-Leste, presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas.

The main aim of this Government Resolution is to support the activities of the Permanent Mission of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in Timor-Leste and to demonstrate Timor-Leste’s support for the Sahrawi people, recognising the historical bonds of friendship and the shared struggle for self-determination.

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Following the proposal of the Minister of the Interior, Francisco da Costa Guterres, the Council of Ministers approved the draft Government Resolution appointing Afonso dos Santos as Commander-General of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) and Natércia Eufrásia Soares Martins as Second Commander-General of the PNTL, for a three-year term on secondment.

The Council of Ministers also expresses its appreciation for the dedication and hard work of the outgoing Commissioner-General and Second Commissioner-General, Henrique da Costa and Pedro Belo, respectively.

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Additionally, following the proposal of the Minister of the Interior and in accordance with the previous decision, a draft Government Resolution was approved to remove Natércia Eufrásia Soares Martins from her position as Executive Director of the Migration Service and to appoint PNTL Chief Superintendent Jorge Monteiro to that position, on a three-year secondment.

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The Council of Ministers reviewed the presentation by Minister of the Interior Francisco da Costa Guterres regarding the conclusions of the final report by the Commission for Monitoring and Oversight of the Public Recruitment Process for the PNTL Officer Training Course, established under Government Resolution No. 10/2026 of February 11^th, which identified substantial evidence of serious irregularities in this recruitment process.

The report also outlines structural measures to be adopted in future recruitment processes. It proposes the potential development of protocols to determine liability for conduct that may have breached official duties or legal regulations.

Considering the irregularities identified, the Council of Ministers approved a draft Government Resolution to partially cancel the 2025 Public Recruitment Process for the National Police of Timor-Leste Training Course and ordered the opening of a new competition in 2026.

The government resolution mandates that all candidates who have passed the initial phase (document review) of the recruitment process must retake the selection tests (cultural, psychological, and medical).

Furthermore, the Minister of the Interior has been instructed to appoint a new jury with an expanded membership that includes both national and internationally recognised experts, and to establish an independent Oversight and Monitoring Commission with the participation of international partners to ensure transparency, legality, and impartiality at every stage of the process.

The Government Resolution also recognises the Monitoring and Oversight Commission’s dedication and efforts, emphasising its role in maintaining the credibility of public institutions and citizens’ rights.

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According to the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu, the Council of Ministers approved expenditure totalling US$13,786,887.95 for the project to upgrade the terminal at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport, covering the part of the cost to be paid by Timor-Leste. The project is co-financed by the Government of Japan.

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In accordance with the proposal presented by the Vice Prime Minister, the Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs, and the Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino, the Council of Ministers decided to authorise expenditure of US$15 million for an annual grant to the Timorese Episcopal Conference (CET), to be disbursed during 2026.

This annual grant to the Timorese Episcopal Conference is provided under the agreement signed on August 14^th, 2015 between Timor-Leste and the Holy See, as well as the Framework Agreement signed on June 16^th, 2017 between the Government and the CET, which stipulate an annual contribution, subject to the Government’s financial capacity, for the social, educational, and ecclesiastical governance activities of the Catholic Church.

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The Council of Ministers approved a draft Decree-Law submitted by Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Francisco da Costa Monteiro, regarding measures to stabilise fuel prices and temporarily ensure supply security.

The primary aim of this legislation is to mitigate the impact of current international instability on the energy sector, keep fuel prices stable domestically, and ensure an uninterrupted fuel supply.

Among the key measures approved, the most significant is the introduction of maximum limits on fuel prices, above which the Government provides subsidies funded by the General State Budget. As a result, prices must not exceed US$1.50 per litre for petrol, US$1.65 per litre for diesel, US$2.50 per litre for jet fuel, and US$4.20 per kilogram for LPG. Coordination mechanisms between public entities and industry operators have also been established to ensure supply, along with exceptional market control measures, increased oversight, and penalties for breaches, including efforts to combat the illegal diversion of subsidised fuels.

With this decision, the Government aims to protect households’ purchasing power, mitigate the impact of possible price increases on the economy, and ensure the smooth functioning of economic activity, while also securing fuel availability during this period of international instability.

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Lastly, the Minister of State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral, and the Civil Service Commission presented the Report on the Audit of Movable and Immovable Assets and Workforce Recruitment in the Oe-Cússe Ambeno Special Administrative Region (RAEOA) to the Council of Ministers, covering the period from June 1^st, 2025, to March 1^st, 2026.

The report provides an overview of the management of human resources, assets, and administrative activities at the RAEOA and highlights areas for improvement in planning, internal organisation, and control mechanisms.

The audit provided up-to-date information on the functioning of the services. It helped improve understanding of existing challenges and highlighted the need to strengthen public management practices, aiming to ensure greater efficiency, transparency, and compliance with applicable standards. END

At its meeting on March 25^th, 2026, the Council of Ministers approved a draft Decree-Law presented by the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Francisco da Costa Monteiro, establishing temporary measures to stabilise fuel prices and ensure the security of fuel supply in Timor-Leste.

The legislation aims to mitigate the effects of current international instability on the energy sector, safeguard households’ purchasing power, reduce the impact of potential price increases on the economy, and ensure the smooth operation of economic activities, while maintaining fuel availability across the country.

The Decree-Law establishes maximum retail prices, setting the cap for gasoline at US$1.50 per litre, diesel at US$1.65 per litre, aviation fuel (jet fuel) at US$2.50 per litre, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at US$4.20 per kilogram.

To ensure compliance with these limits, importers are now required to report their actual import costs, which form the basis for calculating the subsidy to be granted by the Government, funded through the General State Budget.

The Decree-Law also provides measures to ensure supply continuity, including developing strategies for importing essential fuels through cooperation between public bodies and industry operators, as well as the option to implement exceptional market regulation mechanisms.

As part of enforcement efforts, the authority of the competent agencies is being bolstered, with a particular focus on preventing the diversion of subsidised fuel outside the country and on applying penalties for non-compliance.

These measures are temporary and will remain in force until the end of the year; they may be reviewed, extended, or terminated depending on developments in the international market.

 

 

9.00 am, Government Palace

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On March 23^rd, 2026, in Dili, the National Parliament approved Draft Resolution No. 51/VI (3rd), which ratifies Timor-Leste’s accession to the ASEAN Extradition Treaty, with 53 votes in favour, one against, and no abstentions. 

The proposal was approved by the Council of Ministers at its meeting on February 20^th, 2026, following a presentation by the Minister of Justice, Sérgio de Jesus Fernandes da Costa Hornai, as part of the process of aligning the national legal framework with the commitments made by Timor-Leste in the context of its accession to ASEAN. The ASEAN Extradition Treaty was signed on November 14^th, 2025, in Manila, Philippines, by Minister of Justice Sérgio Hornai and his counterparts during the sector’s ministerial meeting.

This instrument establishes a shared legal framework for extradition among ASEAN Member States, outlining the principles and procedures for surrendering persons sought for prosecution, trial, or sentence enforcement. The Treaty addresses eligible offences for extradition, mandatory and discretionary grounds for refusal, and includes procedural and humanitarian safeguards.

During the plenary debate, the parliamentary groups voiced their support for the proposal, highlighting the Treaty’s importance in strengthening regional cooperation and tackling organised and transnational crime, including cybercrime, human trafficking, and money laundering.

In presenting the proposal, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation highlighted that accession to the Treaty “marks Timor-Leste’s first participation as a full member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)” and that the instrument “establishes a unified legal framework for extradition proceedings among ASEAN member states, with a view to strengthening regional cooperation and combating transnational crime.”

The Minister also highlighted that “the Government supports ratification, with a favourable opinion based on key legal principles, in line with the commitments made for accession to ASEAN, to strengthen regional legal cooperation, and to combat cross-border crime effectively.”

The ratification of the ASEAN Extradition Treaty signifies another step in the process of integrating Timor-Leste into the organisation’s legal and institutional frameworks.