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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on January 15th, 2025
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Secretary of State for Social Communication, Expedito Dias Ximenes, regarding the Organic Structure of the Secretariat of State for Social Communication (SECOMS).
This legislative initiative stems from the approval of Decree-Law no. 36/2024, of November 6th, which introduced the first amendment to Decree-Law no. 46/2023, of July 28th, which created the Secretariat of State for the Media. The main objective is to provide SECOMS with a functional organic structure suitable for carrying out its duties and ensuring the effective implementation of the programs and activities defined in the Strategic Plan 2024-2028 and in the Program of the 9th Constitutional Government for the media area.
SECOMS comprises the set of bodies and services that support the Secretary of State for Social Communication in the exercise of his powers. SECOMS’ main functions include designing, implementing, coordinating and evaluating the media policy defined and approved by the Council of Ministers. SECOMS is also responsible for proposing policies, drafting the necessary legislation and regulations for the media area, and coordinating the dissemination of information on government programs and actions.
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Also approved was the draft Government Resolution, presented by the Minister of State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral, for the implementation of the Strategy for Administrative Decentralization and the Installation of Local Government Representative Bodies 2025-2028.
This measure aims to reaffirm the government’s determination to consolidate the strategy of administrative decentralization and to continue the process of installing the representative bodies of Local Government.
The current Government Resolution establishes the annual plans, from 2025 to 2028, which include the installation of One-Stop Shop services throughout the country, the institutional strengthening of municipal authorities, the regulation of laws related to local government and the updating of the voter registration database. In subsequent stages, the creation of conditions for holding municipal elections, training the elected mayors and evaluating the progress of decentralization will be promoted.
Coordinating the implementation of the strategy will be the responsibility of the Ministry of State Administration, which will have to submit biannual reports on the progress made, and the challenges faced, ensuring the continuity and effectiveness of the process.
This resolution repeals the previous Government Resolution no. 45/2020, of December 9th, and enters into force on the day following its publication. END