Meeting of the Council of Ministers on September 27th, 2023
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Ninth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on September 27th, 2023
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Government Resolution, presented by the Minister of the Interior, Francisco da Costa Guterres, to reinstate police personnel in the Timor-Leste National Police.
Given that dignifying the sense of service of PNTL police officers is extremely important for the effective functioning and maintenance of public confidence in the institution, for strengthening the morale and commitment of police officers, positively influencing the quality of the service they provide to the community, this Government Resolution aims to settle the issue of the retirement of 158 PNTL police officers, effected during the previous Government through a procedure affected by various irregularities.
The Government is therefore reinstating these PNTL police officers and resuming their compensation for their retirement time, which corresponds to the sum of their basic monthly pay and the remuneration supplements they would have been entitled to receive if they had not been retired. The amounts the compensation beneficiaries have received as an old-age pension will be deducted. The period during which these professionals remained in retirement status is counted as being served in active status for pay, holidays, progression, promotion and retirement.
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The Government's draft Resolution, presented by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Agio Pereira and the Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Maria da Costa Rangel, on the Voluntary Contribution of US$ 100,000 to the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre), was also approved.
Given the work carried out by the AHA Centre for Disaster Management, this fund aims to support disaster monitoring activities among ASEAN member states and other international organisations to respond to regional emergencies.
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The Council of Ministers decided to authorise the signing of three agreements with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the United Nations International Trade Centre and the Ministry of Communications and Informatics of the Republic of Indonesia.
The first agreement, between the Governments of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, aims to exempt holders of diplomatic, official or service passports from visa requirements in their respective countries. This agreement reflects the solid and friendly relations between both nations, with a mutual desire to simplify the entry process for nationals holding valid diplomatic, official or service passports in strict accordance with the laws and regulations of both countries.
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The second agreement, between the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the United Nations International Trade Centre (ITC), aims to sign a Headquarters Agreement to allow the ITC to formalise its establishment in Timor-Leste. This agreement grants the ITC, a United Nations agency, the same status that Timor-Leste grants the United Nations, its agencies and entities in the country.
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The third agreement, between the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Ministry of Communications and Informatics of the Republic of Indonesia, aims to expand and improve bilateral coordination and cooperation in the area of communications and informatics between the parties, providing, following the laws and regulations in force in both countries, a framework for the development of cooperation in the area of communications and informatics in Timor-Leste.
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The Council of Ministers, following the project presented by the Minister of Justice, Amândio de Sá Benevides, decided to grant land in the Caicoli area for building the new facilities of the Portuguese School of Dili.
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The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law approving the temporary intervention measure to stabilise the price of rice on the market by awarding a cash subsidy to importing companies.
This decree also provides for the establishment of an additional rice security stock of around 30,000 tonnes, to be kept in the warehouses of the National Logistics Centre (CLN) for social intervention in emergencies, namely floods, natural disasters, health reasons, social solidarity and for supply to wholesale companies in case of need.
The price of imported rice, for sale in the warehouses of importing companies and for resale to consumers in the shops selling the most widely consumed rice, is stabilised at 50 cents per kg.
Beneficiaries of this measure, wholesale companies or economic operators who can prove, by means of a copy certified by the Customs Authority, that they have already imported and received quantities of rice with the characteristics defined in the decree, will receive the value of US$ 5 for every 25kg of rice imported or on sale.
The implementation of this measure aims to help meet the population's food needs at a more affordable price, compensate importing companies for import costs and build up a minimum stock of 30,000 tonnes of rice for emergencies.
This measure will be in force for 180 days from the day following the publication of the decree-law approving it.
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The government also approved a Government Resolution project regarding the need for surveillance and preservation of the water supply system.
Therefore, the Ministry of Public Works and Bee Timor-Leste will continue to prioritize the swift resolution of the supply issue. This involves assessing and rehabilitating existing pipeline infrastructures, as well as potentially reconstructing them, ensuring an adequate water supply for the population. Competent public authorities have also been tasked with coordinating awareness initiatives about the importance of conservation and responsible use of water and pipeline infrastructures.
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The Council of Ministers approved the urgent intervention plan presented by the Minister for Public Works, Samuel Marçal, for the urgent rehabilitation and reconstruction of infrastructure affected by the disaster that occurred in eight municipalities across the country between July 2 and 7, 2023.
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Lastly, the Council of Ministers decided to approve an urgent direct procurement procedure with Thales DIS Singapore PTE LTD for the supply of 73,150 units of ePassport booklets. END
