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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 10th, 2023
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace, in Dili, and approved the draft Government Resolution, presented by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture, referring to the definition of monetary amounts for compensation for land use resulting from the implementation of the construction project of the Betano Polytechnic Institute facilities, in Manufahi.
This project constitutes critical work for improving the national public higher education sector, pursuing the objectives of capacitating and improving the quality of human resources in Timor-Leste at a technical level.
Extensive public consultations were held to seek understandings and agreements to ensure that a peaceful release of the land selected for the construction of this project could be obtained.
Data collection procedures were also carried out regarding the land, the improvements on it, verification of the existence of dwellings or work buildings and the identity of the affected households.
The maximum amounts set out in the table attached to this Government Resolution vary by the type of constructions/buildings, agricultural tree crops and other improvements existing in the lands covered by the project for the construction of the Betano Polytechnic Institute facilities.
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The draft Government Resolution, also presented by the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Culture, for the first amendment to Government Resolution No. 36/2022, of December 28th, on the appointment of members of the General Council of the National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL) was approved.
With this amendment, the appointment of João Baptista Fernandes Alves as President of the General Council of UNTL, as a personality of recognised merit within the private sector, is added to the aforementioned Government’s Resolution.
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The Council of Ministers decided to approve, as per the project presented by the Minister of Finance, the second amendment to the financial Contribution Agreement for the sustainable development goals between the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the United States of America, through the USAID agency, signed on May 18th, 2021.
The purpose of this amendment is to increase the value of the financial contribution, to be made by the United States of America, from USD 36.6 million to USD 53.6 million.
The Council of Ministers designated the Minister of Finance to sign this agreement on behalf of the Government of Timor-Leste.
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The Council of Ministers decided to approve, also per the project presented by the Minister of Finance, the eighth amendment to the financial Contribution Agreement for the sustainable development goals between the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the United States of America, through the USAID agency, signed on March 27th, 2014.
This amendment intends to revise the agreement’s expiration date from September 30th, 2023, to September 30th, 2025, to allow for the completion of activities financed by the financial contribution.
The Council of Ministers designated the Minister of Finance to sign this agreement on behalf of the Government of Timor-Leste.
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The Council of Ministers decided to authorise, as per the projects presented by the Minister of Public Works:
l the expenses for starting the procurement procedures and subsequent formalisation of the public works contract for the construction of the Soibada-Soibada Vila Road (9,791 kms), in the Municipality of Manatuto, with an estimated value of US$ 10.1 million;
l the expenses for starting the procurement procedure and subsequent formalisation of the public works contract for the construction of the water supply in Baucau city, with an estimated value of US$ 27.1 million; and
l The expenses for the construction of the road between Laclúbar junction – Laclúbar, in the municipality of Manatuto, with a length of 10,360 kms and an estimated value of US$ 5.8 million.
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Lastly, the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers presented the 8th Constitutional Government Mandate Report.
The 8th Constitutional Government [2018-2023] Mandate Portrait is a publication that will describe the main activities and results of this Government since its inauguration, as well as the challenges faced and recommendations for the future. It will mention the social, institutional, economic and infrastructure advances. END