The Secretary of State for Social Communication (SSSC) from the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM) and the Radio Television Timor-Leste (RTTL) signed a protocol on the budget transfer for the 2016 fiscal year, in a total of $1,716 million American Dollars. This transfer will allow the public Media institution to set in motion its schedule, in an efficient and effective way.

At the signing ceremony, were present the Secretary of State for Social Communication, Nélio Isaac Sarmento, and the President for the Radio Television Board, Milena Abrantes.

In his speech, the Secretary of State recalled that this budget transferring process is a legal act, as RTTL is an entity independent from the State.

“Once the protocol is signed, the Director-General for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers can start the budget transferring process to the RTTL, in full, in order to execute the operational tasks. Management is the responsibility of the Radio Television, according to the legal mechanisms and the presentation of budget use reports”, highlighted the Secretary of State.

The State Secretariat for Social Communication will conduct an audit to RTTL, if it detects any irregularity. The Radio and Television Board has, therefore, to act responsibly on budget use.

“2016 is a crucial year for RTTL. The State Secretariat for Social Communication has the responsibility to convey to the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers the need to make decisions in situations where the budget is not well executed”, he stated.

Nélio Isaac asked the workers of the Radio Television, from general staff to directors, to show unity of thought about the services of the organization, which has its hierarchy, based on the law and regulations.

“I understand that, on Radio Television of Timor-Leste, everyone enjoys their freedom as social communication. But I urge you to recall that public Social Communication acts as a State agency, with already defined rules, procedures and responsibilities”, he added.

Took part in the ceremony the General Director of the PCM, Victor Maia, the National Director for Dissemination and Information (DNDI in Portuguese), Orlando da Conceição, several Directors of the Radio Television of Timor-Leste, national and international advisors and staff.