Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 20th, 2024
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 20th, 2024
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Government Decree, presented by Minister Tomás do Rosário Cabral. The draft Government Decree sets the dates for Hamlets (Aldeias) Assemblies and Village (Suco) Councils as part of the procedures for electing community leaders.
On the 28th of October 2023, the electoral acts corresponding to the vast majority of Sucos were carried out. However, elections in ten Sucos, whose mandates were still ongoing until the current year, remained to be held. It is now important to schedule their realization regarding the Sucos of Lequitura (Aileu), Bocolelo (Aileu), Ailoc (Díli), Bebonuc (Díli), Madohi (Díli), Manleu-Ana (Díli), Mantelolão (Díli), Sicone-Dilole (Manatuto), Laicore (Manatuto), and Builo (Viqueque), in addition to the election for the Village Chief of Rebutic Eon, in the municipality of Manatuto.
According to the approved timetable, setting up the Village (Suco) electoral board and nominations for the election for the Village (Suco) Head and respective litigation will take place on April 12th, 2024. The public information and voter education period on the community leadership election process will run until April 24th, 2024.
The election of Village (Suco) Heads is scheduled for April 27th, and the results should be tabulated by April 28th, 2024. If none of the Village (Suco) Head candidates alone obtains more than half of the votes validly cast, a second vote will be held between the two candidates with the most votes on May 13th, 2024.
Voting for the election of the Lian na'in and Youth Representatives to the Village (Suco) Council will take place until May 8th or 24th, 2024.
On the 28th of October 2023, the electoral acts corresponding to the vast majority of Sucos were carried out. However, elections in ten Sucos, whose mandates were still ongoing until the current year, remained to be held. It is now important to schedule their realization regarding the Sucos of Lequitura (Aileu), Bocolelo (Aileu), Ailoc (Díli), Bebonuc (Díli), Madohi (Díli), Manleu-Ana (Díli), Mantelolão (Díli), Sicone-Dilole (Manatuto), Laicore (Manatuto), and Builo (Viqueque), in addition to the election for the Village Chief of Rebutic Eon, in the municipality of Manatuto.
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The Council of Ministers approved the support for waste collection in Dili.
The Government recognises the urgent need to combat waste, including marine waste, through various actions such as raising awareness, cleaning up beaches and coastal areas, and other initiatives to monitor, control, reduce and mitigate waste.
The purpose of this decision is to promote coordination between the various ministries and public entities, especially those responsible for the environment and state administration, to achieve the objectives of this support, as well as to determine the completion of the necessary procedures for approving and financing these operations, up to a maximum amount of US$1.88 million.
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The Council of Ministers approved the draft Law Proposal for the third amendment to Law no. 3/2006, of April 12th, on the Statute of National Liberation Combatants, presented by the Minister of National Liberation Combatants Affairs, Gil da Costa Monteiro "Oan Soru".
This law Proposal aims to promote the official recognition of National Liberation Veterans and Combatants by awarding decorations and other acts of recognition to all those who fought for the country during the most troubled period of the struggle for independence and national sovereignty, specifically between 1975 and 1978, which corresponds to the period of the Support Bases.
The proposal also aims to correct gaps in the current legislation relating to the granting of pensions to the relatives of the Martyrs of the Liberation of the Country, as well as resolving problems in the implementation of the single cash pension and changing the representative structure of the National Liberation Combatants to contribute to social harmony and national political stability.
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The Draft Law Proposal regarding the Industrial Property Code, presented by the Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs, and Minister of Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, and the Vice Minister of Commerce, Augusto Júnior Trindade, was also approved.
Although Law 14/2022 approved the Code of Copyright and Related Rights, the country's legislation on industrial property is still not regulated. Article 1223 of the Civil Code addresses this gap, recognising the need for special legislation on industrial property rights.
Industrial property protects inventions, industrial designs, and trademarks, among others, and plays a crucial role in national development by encouraging innovation and creativity. Regulating this sector is critical to promoting the economy and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It is important to emphasise that industrial property is not only limited to traditional industries but also agricultural and extractive industries and all manufactured or natural products, as follows from the Paris Convention on Industrial Property.
The protection of these rights promotes a favourable business environment for innovation and ensures competitiveness in the global market. Timor-Leste's participation in the world economy requires the adoption of international industrial property standards, as required by its membership in the World Trade Organisation. This draft law aims to harmonise national practices with international standards, providing a modern and effective code.
The Industrial Property Code consists of 282 articles inspired by comparative law and the international commitments made by Timor-Leste. It comprehensively addresses all issues related to industrial property, facilitating its understanding and use by all those who need to use it in the exercise of their scientific, creative and economic activities.
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The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law for the first amendment to Decree-Law no. 33/2020, of September 2, regarding the Statute of the Military of FALINTIL - Forças de Defesa de Timor-Leste (F-FDTL), presented by the Minister of Defence, Donaciano do Rosário Gomes.
As established in the Programme of the 9th Constitutional Government, to achieve the objectives outlined, it is essential to continue developing measures and implementing actions that lead to a fair and dignified retirement process for veteran military personnel who are still on active duty. In this regard, the Government intends to remove the restriction previously imposed on military personnel who reach retirement age, at 60, of no longer being able to perform military duties.
Thus, this legislative intervention aims to ensure that military veterans can, after retirement, continue to fulfil non-operational military functions for a fixed period if they wish. These functions include administrative positions, military social support, teaching and training activities, research, development and innovation, and other areas that preserve Timor-Leste's military history. This measure aims to preserve the legacy of military veterans, passing on values such as patriotism, courage, and sacrifice to future generations.
The draft Law Proposal also promotes modifying the duration of the positions of Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (CEMGFA—acronym in Portuguese) and Vice-CEMGFA, limiting the term of office to three years, with the possibility of renewal for a further two years, under the proposal approved by the Superior Council of Military Defence.
This amendment, approximately four years after implementing the F-FDTL Military Statute, is intended to valorise the contribution of retired military veterans and establish new terms for military leadership positions.
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Lastly, the Council of Ministers analysed the presentation by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers on the remuneration of the members of the bodies of public legal persons that are part of the State's indirect administration. END
