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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on September 11th, 2026
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, and the Chair of the Civil Service Commission (CFP), Agostinho Letêncio de Deus, on the Extraordinary Step Progression for Staff in the General Civil Service Career.
The legislation establishes a scheme for the extraordinary step progression for staff in the general Civil Service career, aiming to promote motivation, professional development, and improved performance among civil servants, and to enhance the efficiency and quality of service delivery by public administration bodies.
Under this scheme, civil servants in grades D to A are entitled to advancement by one salary step, whilst those in grades G to E are entitled to advancement by two salary steps, except those in the penultimate step, who are entitled to advancement by one salary step.
The scheme does not apply to staff on probation, those serving a disciplinary period of suspension or inactivity, those on unpaid leave, those who received a rating lower than ‘Good’ in their last performance appraisal, and those who are already at the top step of their respective grade. Nor are civil servants eligible for this extraordinary progression if they benefited in 2026 from the general civil service career promotion scheme.
The extraordinary progression provided for in this legislation shall have retroactive effect from August 1st, 2026.
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The draft Government Decree, presented by the Minister for State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral, approving the timetable for electoral registration abroad as part of preparations for the 2027 presidential elections, was also approved.
The legislation stipulates that the registration and updating of electoral registration records abroad will take place between October 8th, 2026, and January 22nd, 2027. Additional material and human resources will be deployed at the main diplomatic missions and consular posts, and the possibility of setting up mobile registration posts will be considered. The extended period is also intended to allow voters to update their details for the new biometric system and to facilitate the exercise of the right to vote by Timorese citizens living abroad.
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According to the presentation by the Minister for Public Works, Samuel Marçal, the Council of Ministers decided to authorise expenditure and to launch the procurement procedure for the construction and installation of the Hybrid Energy Supply System for the island of Ataúro, with an estimated cost of US$13.5 million.
The project involves installing a system that integrates solar photovoltaic power, battery storage, and modern diesel generators to ensure a more stable and efficient 24-hour electricity supply, reduce production costs, and support the island’s development and improved living conditions.
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The Council of Ministers also approved the draft Government Resolution, presented by the Minister of Justice, Sérgio de Jesus Fernandes da Costa Hornai, to terminate the appointment of Alexandre Gentil Corte-Real de Araújo and to appoint Nelinho Vital in his place as an effective member by the Government on the Superior Council of the Judiciary for a four-year term.
This Council is responsible for overseeing and disciplining the work of judicial magistrates, as well as for appointing, placing, transferring and promoting judges in Timor-Leste. The Superior Council of the Judiciary is chaired by the Judge President of the Supreme Court of Justice and comprises four members, one of whom is appointed by the Government.
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Minister Sérgio de Jesus Fernandes da Costa Hornai also briefed the Council of Ministers on the process for renewing the passports of Timorese citizens living and working in Israel, which was carried out for the first time directly in that country, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. The Council of Ministers also watched a video sent by the Timorese community in Israel, in which they expressed their gratitude to the Government for the initiative, which had facilitated the renewal of travel documents and avoided the need to travel to other countries for that purpose. END
The Minister of Transport and Communications, Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu, took part on September 9th, 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in the Ministers-Regulators Roundtable Meeting (MRRM 2026), which focused on online safety, child protection in the digital environment, the accountability of digital platforms, and regional regulatory cooperation.
The Timor-Leste delegation also included Flávio Cardoso Neves, President of the National Communications Authority (ANC, I.P.).
The MRRM 2026 was organised by Malaysia’s Ministry of Communications, in partnership with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), and chaired by Malaysia’s Minister of Communications, Ahmad Fahmi bin Mohamed Fadzil. The meeting brought together ministers, regulators, policymakers, and international partners to share experiences and examine policies and regulatory mechanisms in the digital sphere.
Discussions focused on online safety and child protection, including age verification mechanisms and age restrictions for accessing social media, as well as digital platform accountability and cooperation among regulatory authorities across countries.
Participants also examined regulatory enforcement mechanisms, including the implementation of Malaysia’s Online Safety Act 2025, and the need to strengthen international cooperation to address digital issues that transcend national borders.
In his address, Minister Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu expressed Timor-Leste’s support for efforts to promote a safe and trusted digital environment, highlighting the challenges smaller countries face in coordinating with major global digital platforms that lack a direct presence in the country.
“Timor-Leste’s challenge is not limited to regulation or policy. A major challenge is ensuring effective coordination with global platforms such as Google, Meta, and TikTok when issues arise. Timor-Leste can enact sound laws and policies, but their implementation and enforcement require the cooperation of these platforms,” stated the Minister.
Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu argued that the physical presence of platforms in Timor-Leste is not the only solution, pointing to the possibility of establishing regional focal points or specific mechanisms, namely through structures located in Singapore, to facilitate communication with smaller ASEAN and Pacific nations.
“We need not only physical representation in Timor-Leste. We need a focal point capable of responding to the concerns of smaller countries, particularly within ASEAN and the Pacific. This will help ensure faster coordination when issues arise and guarantee that our citizens can use digital platforms safely,” he declared.
The meeting also addressed digital trust, cybersecurity, data protection, and Artificial Intelligence governance in the context of expanding infrastructure and access to digital technologies.
Participation in MRRM 2026 enabled Timor-Leste to follow regional discussions on digital environment policies and regulation and to present its national challenges in engaging with global digital platforms.
The Vice-Prime Minister, Mariano Assanami Sabino, in his capacity as Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing, signed on September 8th, 2026, an agreement with a consultancy firm valued at US$5 million to support the implementation of the Sectoral Project for Strengthening Resilience and Improving Livelihoods in Rural Areas in the municipality of Manatuto.
The project aims to improve living conditions and strengthen rural communities’ capacity to respond to economic, social, and environmental challenges through interventions in agriculture, food security, access to water, rural infrastructure, and livelihood diversification.
The signed agreement forms part of a broader US$16 million financing package agreed in 2024 between the Government of Timor-Leste, through the Ministry of Finance, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to implement the project over an estimated period of five to six years.
The intervention is expected to benefit around 46,000 people across approximately 30 villages in the municipality of Manatuto, where a large proportion of the population lives in rural areas and relies on small-scale agriculture as their primary livelihood.
Planned interventions include improving access to water, roads, and other rural infrastructure, boosting agricultural productivity, and promoting agroforestry systems adapted to climate change impacts.
The project also encompasses measures to strengthen food security, facilitate farmers’ access to markets, and support the commercialisation of agricultural produce. It also provides for the diversification of household income streams by developing new economic activities and employment opportunities within the targeted communities.
These initiatives seek to address the vulnerability of rural communities to prolonged droughts, floods, and other climatic phenomena that affect agricultural production, including crops such as maize and rice.
The project also foresees capacity-building actions for communities and local authorities, designed to enhance skills in planning, implementing, and managing rural development initiatives.
Improvements in agricultural production, food security, and access to water are also expected to help address nutritional challenges affecting families, particularly children, in the covered communities.
With the signing of this agreement, the project enters a new implementation phase, paving the way for the rollout of planned interventions across rural communities in the municipality of Manatuto.
Yesterday, September 9th, 2026, in Dili, the Government and the Timorese Episcopal Conference (CET) inaugurated the Monument and Garden of Remembrance, honouring the prelates and religious figures who contributed to the history of Timor-Leste, located on the grounds of Dili Cathedral, as well as the restored Monument and Garden of St John Paul II in Tasi Tolu.
The two inaugurations are part of the programme of official ceremonies organised by the Government and the Timorese Episcopal Conference from September 1st to 10th, in honour of Bishop Jaime Garcia Goulart, Bishop José Joaquim Ribeiro, Monsignor Martinho da Costa Lopes, and Bishop Alberto Ricardo da Silva, recognising their pastoral dedication and contributions to the people and history of Timor-Leste.
The ceremonies began on September 1st with the arrival in Dili, from Portugal, of the remains of Bishop Jaime Garcia Goulart, the first Bishop of the Diocese of Dili; Bishop José Joaquim Ribeiro, the second Bishop of the Diocese of Dili; and Monsignor Martinho da Costa Lopes, former Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Dili. The remains of the three prelates were laid to rest alongside those of Bishop Alberto Ricardo da Silva, who served as Bishop of Dili from 2004 to 2015.
As part of this programme, commemorative tributes were also held in Dili, Laleia, and Manatuto, including the renaming of the Manatuto Bridge to the “Mons. Martinho da Costa Lopes Bridge” on September 3rd.
On the morning of September 9th, the Monument and Garden of Remembrance was inaugurated on the grounds of Dili Cathedral in memory of the prelates, priests, and religious men and women who served the Church and the people of Timor-Leste and contributed to the nation’s history.
Prior to the inauguration, the Minister of State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral, representing the Government, received the project documentation from the construction company and handed it over to the Catholic Church, represented by Cardinal Virgílio do Carmo da Silva, Metropolitan Archbishop of Dili and President of the Timorese Episcopal Conference.
The monument incorporates elements associated with the Church’s pastoral mission and commemorates the contributions of prelates and members of religious congregations across the pastoral, educational, and social spheres, as well as their roles at different periods in the history of Timor-Leste.
The ceremony was blessed by Cardinal Virgílio do Carmo da Silva, who was accompanied by the Bishop of Baucau, Leandro Maria Alves, and the Bishop of Maliana and Acting President of the CET, Norberto do Amaral.
In the late afternoon, the restored St John Paul II Monument and Garden in Tasi Tolu was inaugurated and blessed at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Government members, Catholic Church leaders, representatives of the F-FDTL and PNTL, traditional authorities, religious leaders, and the faithful.
The joint initiative by the Government and the Catholic Church aimed to restore and highlight the significance of this historic site, where Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass during his 1989 visit to Timor-Leste.
The ceremony began with a Liturgy of the Word, presided over by Cardinal Virgílio do Carmo da Silva, who then blessed the monument and garden.
In his remarks, the Prime Minister recalled the Catholic Church’s role throughout the history of Timor-Leste, particularly in education, the preservation and use of the Tetum language, and community development across the territory.
The Tasi Tolu site preserves the memory of St John Paul II’s visit to Timor-Leste and of the Pontiff’s meeting with the Timorese people during a landmark period in the country’s history.
The official tribute programme concludes today, September 10th, with the closing ceremonies marking the transfer of the remains of the four prelates.
At 5:00 p.m., Cardinal Virgílio do Carmo da Silva will preside at a Holy Mass in Tasi Tolu. Following the Mass, a decree from the Timorese Episcopal Conference is scheduled to be read, followed by remarks from the Acting President of the CET and the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta.
After the final blessing, the remains of Bishop Jaime Garcia Goulart, Bishop José Joaquim Ribeiro, Monsignor Martinho da Costa Lopes, and Bishop Alberto Ricardo da Silva will be taken to Dili Cathedral, where the burial ceremony will be held.
The programme concludes with a visit to the new Monument and Garden of Remembrance on the grounds of Dili Cathedral, bringing the official ceremonies to a close. These ceremonies began on September 1st under the theme “Portraits of Faith and Eternal Memory of the Church and Timor-Leste – Celebrating the Legacy and Sacrifice of Our Beloved Prelates”.
The 27th edition of the “Government Page” TV show, featuring the Secretary of State for Forestry, Fernandinho Vieira, will be broadcast this Friday, September 11th, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. on Radio and Television of Timor-Leste (RTTL) and on social media.
In this edition, the Secretary of State sets out the vision and priorities of the 9th Constitutional Government for the management and conservation of Timor-Leste’s forest resources and biodiversity, with a focus on reforestation, the restoration of degraded areas, community-based management of natural resources, and the role of forests in environmental protection, sustainable development, and the improvement of the living conditions of rural communities.
During the interview, Fernandinho Vieira discusses seedling production and distribution programmes, which currently produce more than 200,000 seedlings per year through permanent and community nurseries across various municipalities. He also explains how agroforestry systems and community involvement can balance natural resource conservation with creating economic opportunities for families.
The programme also highlights reforestation projects developed with international partners, measures to address the effects of climate change, and the challenges of protecting forest areas. The conversation covers protected areas and their potential for nature-based tourism, as well as opportunities to generate economic value from forests through mechanisms such as carbon credits.
Among the highlighted topics is the inclusion of the Nino Konis Santana National Park in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in June this year, which Fernandinho Vieira describes as “a historic milestone for Timor-Leste”. During the programme, the Secretary of State explains the importance of this recognition for the conservation of natural heritage and for the communities living within the park.
The interview also analyses the main challenges facing the sector, particularly the need to strengthen the protection of forests and protected areas. In his message to the public, Fernandinho Vieira emphasises that “protecting and conserving forests is not only the responsibility of the Government, but a collective duty of all citizens”, and, in view of the dry season, calls for fire prevention and the protection of biodiversity.
“This land is ours, and we all have a responsibility to care for it,” said the Secretary of State.
The “Government Page” TV show is an initiative of the Government Spokesperson’s Office, led by the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, in partnership with RTTL, national media outlets, and digital platforms. It aims to strengthen government transparency and ensure citizens’ access to information on the Executive’s key actions and decisions. The TV Show features Nélia Chaves as interviewer and Ika Moniz as executive producer. Technical support is provided by the communication teams of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, and the office of the Government member being interviewed.
The Government Spokesperson, Minister Agio Pereira, reaffirms that the “Government Page” TV show is an important instrument for promoting accountability and dialogue between the Executive and citizens.
The Government invites the public to tune in to the 27th episode of the “Government Page” TV show this Friday, September 11th, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. on RTTL and on social media.