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Dili, October 5th, 2016
Press Release
Council of Ministers meeting of October 5th, 2016
The Council of Ministers met on Wednesday, at the Government Palace in Dili, and approved the 7th addendum to the contract for the construction of new homes, for the “Millenium Development Goals (MDG) – Villages” program. Under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Planning and Strategic Investment, this program has played a vital role in poverty reduction by making a positive impact on the most disadvantaged of the population. Goals of “MDG – Villages” include the reduction of infant mortality, empowerment of women, eradication of malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS and environmental protection. The first housing complex of the “MDG – Villages” was inaugurated in December 2012, in Batugadé, in the municipality of Bobonaro.
The Cooperation Protocol with Portugal on the project for the training of media professionals called Consultório da Língua para Jornalistas (Language Clinic for Journalists) was also approved. This protocol is between the Secretary of State for Social Communication (SECOMS) and the Support Programme to the Consolidation of the Rule of Law – Media Component, of Camões – Institute for Cooperation and Language, IP, The project aims to. train to Timorese media professionals in order to improve the transmission of reliable information in the Portuguese language, thus contributing to the quality of media, economic-financial and legal literacy and the promotion of the general knowledge of the population.
The Council of Ministers approved the draft law on the State General Budget for 2017 which will be submitted to the National Parliament.
The Decree on the legal regime of passports was also approved, adapting it to the changes introduced with the new electronic passport of Timor-Leste (EPTL), which is now in the implementation phase. According to the Ministry of Justice, this new measure aims to make this document more secure, modern and compatible with the systems adopted by most countries, facilitating the movement of Timorese citizens.
Following the official visit of the Prime Minister of Cambodia to Timor-Leste, last August, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation adopted two proposals: the General Agreement with the Kingdom of Cambodia on Technical and Economic Cooperation and the Agreement with the Kingdom of Cambodia on exemption from visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and service passports.
The consortium Fulton Hogan Desousa presented a project that sets out a plan for maintaining national roads. This company, from New Zealand, has experience both in its country of origin, in Australia and other islands in the South Pacific. END