IV CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

PRESS RELEASE

The Meeting of the Council of Ministers, on September 30th 2009

 

The Council of Ministers held a meeting on this Wednesday, September 30th. 2009, in its Meeting Room, in the Government House, in Díli, and approved:

1. The Decree-Law which approves the Special Procurement Regime for the Prioritized Projects

The Government of Timor-Leste pledges to improve the procurement system of physical projects in course, especially in the districts and sub-districts. It is also making effort to promote the capacity building for national private sector, by empowering and entrusting the businessmen from the district with the facility and ability to set up relationship with local enterprises (from sub-districts).

The “Referendum Package”, as an especial initiative, is consisting of the small projects undertaken in sub-districts, giving priority to the districts, which are already identified by the Government and to be implemented by the local enterprises. Through this Decree-Law, the Government establishes an especial procedure of requesting the quotations for the projects being identified in this diploma based on the criteria of priority and importance for national development which allows the Government to promote the appearance and reinforcement of the small and middle average of Timorese entrepreneurs. It was also identified the prioritized activities in the scope of controlling of flood and urgent rehabilitation of parts of roads which are in very bad conditions.

2. The Decree-Law on Allowances for Official Travel in the Country

The diploma, which is in force on January 1st. 2010, will regulate the attribution of allowances for official travel in Timor-Leste, and to update the respective amount. These allowances have an exclusive conditions and objective for covering the accommodation, foods and other kinds of expenses, due to the extra official duty.

3. Licensing and accreditation of the Tertiary Education Institutions

After hearing the reports of the Ministry of Education and its conclusions, the Council of Ministers decided to review the resolution on the admission of new students by the tertiary education institutions which could not satisfy the requirements for its accreditation. Thus, the UNDIL (Universidade de Díli) and UNITAL (Universidade Oriental) are allowed to precede their academic process, including the admission of new students.
However, the testing period, of one year, remains as already decided, as well as the possible supports by the government, through the Adviser Office of the Prime Minister for Civil Society, to both institutions so they can achieve the minimum requirements for their revalidation and accreditation, in the next year.
It remains, equally the decision on AKAKOM (Academia Computer Klik) to coordinate with the Secretary of State of Vocational Training and Employment and to adjust the courses to the level of professional capacity building, according to the criteria and parameters fixed by the Secretary of State of Vocational Training and Employment. To make these adjustments, the AKAKOM can, at the same time, get access to Government’s help, as provided by the Office of the Adviser to the Prime Minister for Civil Society. Secretary.

 

4. Financial support to the Philippines due to the Floods

Replying to the appeal launched by the Philippines Government to the international community to deal with the catastrophe faced by the country since Saturday morning, the Government of Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, in solidarity with the people and the Government of the Philippines, decided to provide financial support for helping the country to overcome one of the worse floods in the last 40 years.

The Council of Ministers also analyzed:

1. Discussion on the Costumes Procedure

The process of the implementation of the investment projects, related to delaying faced by Costumes Office, especially the projects in connection with the foreign investments.

2. Resolution on the Creation of Youth Parliament/ FOINSA’E

More than a half of the population of Timor-Leste is less than 30 years old. An important portion of the society which has demonstrated to be fundamental for the development of the Country, and deserved to obtain an especial focus in National Youth Policy of Timor-Leste (PNJ) leading to incentivise the youth to exercise their rights and duties that are inherent as citizens of clearly and responsible form. This is the fundamental basis for the sustainable development.
Considering that the role of youth is essential for the future of the Country, the Timor-Leste State, through its prominent leaders of organs of sovereignty, intended to create a space of learning and practicing the democracy with the main objective to sensitize and initiate the youth in the democratic and civic participation, by encouraging them to exercise their political rights and duties in the future, through the identification and understanding of the problems of timorese society