Meeting of the Council of Ministers of October 31, 2018
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of October 31, 2018
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and began with a presentation by the Ministry of Finance of the National Human Development Report, based on a survey carried out in partnership with Flinders University of Australia and the United Nations Development Program. The aforementioned report focused on the current situation and welfare of the younger generation. Recommendations include investment in quality of health care, education and the economy, development of opportunities for young people, with a view to increasing the well-being of young people in Timor-Leste in general.
The Ministry of Finance then presented the Baucau-Viqueque Road Rehabilitation and Improvement Project through a loan to be granted by the Asian Development Bank. The project will run for 3 years starting in 2019 and ending in 2021. The main objective of the project is to provide a more secure, reliable and high-quality road network. This new network of roads will have a very positive impact, because it will strengthen and increase the efficiency of mobility of people and goods, will give great support to economic growth and consequent reduction of poverty in rural areas.
Representatives of the National Bank of Commerce of Timor-Leste (BNCTL) presented a capitalization proposal through Government financing for the year 2019. They showed by graphs the evolution of the growth of deposits and credits, from 2011 to the present date, as well as other variations related to loans, deposits and capital adequacy during this period, as well as the projections for the year 2019.
The Council of Ministers approved a Government Resolution on the contribution of Timor-Leste to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Fund for State Assistance in the amount of USD $ 250,000.00. This decision follows a request made by the Chief Negotiator, Xanana Gusmão, in the framework of Timor-Leste's position to support "fragile states", with similar border problems, but with major financial obstacles which hinder access to mechanisms of international law for the settlement of disputes concerning the delimitation of borders.
The Government approved the granting of a contribution of USD $ 180,000.00 to the Secretariat of State for Youth and Sport to support "Suai Extreme", a sports, music, culture and adventure festival, which will have the duration of 6 days and will culminate with the official inauguration of the motorway on the southern region of the country. Thousands of people, both Timorese and international, are expected to participate in recreational activities, some of which will occur for the first time in Timor-Leste.
The Acting Finance Minister also made a brief presentation of the draft General State Budget for 2019, which should be presented to the National Parliament for discussion and approval.
The Government approved the proposal for a Decree-Law, submitted by the Minister of Public Works, Salvador Eugénio Soares dos Reis Pires, on the organic law of the Ministry of Public Works, the government department responsible for designing, executing, coordinating and evaluating the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, in the areas of public works, urban planning, housing, water supply, distribution and management, sanitation and electricity.
The Government approved the proposal for a Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Transport and Communications, José Agustinho da Silva, on the organic law of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the governmental department responsible for the design, execution, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, in the areas of civil, maritime and air transport, auxiliary services, communications, postal services, telegraph, telephone and other telecommunications and meteorological and geophysical services.
The Government approved the proposed Decree-Law, presented by the Acting Minister of Health, Élia A. dos Reis Amaral, on the organic law of the Ministry of Health, the government department responsible for the design, execution, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, in the areas of health and pharmaceutical activities.
The Government approved the proposed Decree-Law, submitted by the Minister of Defense, Brigadier General Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus, on the organic law of the Ministry of Defense, the government department responsible for the design, execution, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, regarding the areas of national defense and the Armed Forces of Timor-Leste.
The Government also approved the proposal for a Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture, Longuinhos dos Santos, on the organic law of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture, the governmental department responsible for the design, execution, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, concerning the areas of higher education and qualification, as well as for the areas of science, technology, arts and culture.
The Government also approved the proposed Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Dulce de Jesus Soares, on the organic law of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the government department responsible for the design, implementation, coordination and policy evaluation, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, for the areas of education, excluding the higher level, for the consolidation and promotion of official languages, youth and sport.
The Ministry of Tourism briefed members of the Council of Ministers on international events related to the commemorations of the Chinese New Year in which Timor-Leste will participate, as well as Expo Dubai 2020. In relation to this last event, Timor-Leste will officially present its tourism logo - "Timor-Leste, Explore the Undiscovered".
