Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 27th, 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 27th, 2024
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Law Proposal for the second amendment to Law No. 8/2009, of July 15th, on the Anti-Corruption Commission, presented by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
Since the Anti-Corruption Commission was set up, the requirement for an enhanced quorum to elect its Commissioner has hampered the normal and regular electoral process, thus compromising the functioning of this criminal police body specialising in the fight against corruption. With this law, the Commissioner can be elected or dismissed by an absolute majority of the Members of the National Parliament, and the requirement that at least three-quarters of the Members in office be present will be removed.
This Law Proposal also stipulates that the Commissioner whose mandate expires will remain in office until the new incumbent takes office, thus guaranteeing the continuity of public service and the fulfilment of the mission for which the Anti-Corruption Commission was created.
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A draft Decree-Law on the special scholarship scheme for the justice sector, presented by Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, was also approved.
The scholarships are intended to fund higher education courses in the civil system to obtain bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in legal sciences, training in forensic medicine, professional training actions, specialised training for trainees at the Legal and Judicial Training Centre, and professional internships for the exercise of a profession. The programme will be financed by the Human Capital Development Fund and managed by the Justice Sector Reform Working Group under the direction of the Prime Minister.
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The Council of Ministers, by the drafts presented by the Minister for Public Works, Samuel Marçal, decided to approve the addenda to the following contracts:
- ICB/046/MOPTC/2017 - To extend the construction period of the project to improve and maintain the road between Baucau - Venilale - Viqueque: Lot 2 Venilale - Viqueque (Sta 27+120 - 62'101), which will involve extending the contractual term until June 29th, 2025;
- RFP/003/MOP-2018 - To extend the contract for the supervision services for the works to improve the road between Baucau - Venilale - Viqueque: Lot 2 Venilale - Viqueque (Sta 27+120 - 62'101), which will entail an additional cost to the contract value of US$903,000 and the extension of the contract term until June 30th, 2025;
- LIB-001-MOPTC-2018—For the construction of a further 2.5 kilometres of road in the District Road Rehabilitation and Maintenance Project—Package 2 Section: Bazartete—Tokoluli (Sta. 16+02—Sta. 32+045), which will entail an additional US$1.55 million and an extension of the contractual term by 184 days.
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Lastly, the Council of Ministers decided to give full powers to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture, José Honório da Costa Pereira Jerónimo, to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia in the area of higher education and science. END
