Meeting of the Council of Ministers on February 5th, 2025
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 February 5th, 2025
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Government Decree, presented by the Vice Prime Minister, Minister Coordinator for Economic Affairs and Minister for Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, which establishes the fees due under the environmental licensing procedure.
This Government Decree aims to regulate the payment of fees associated with the issuing of environmental licenses, guaranteeing the application of the polluter pays principle and the sustainability of the services provided by the National Environmental Licensing Authority (ANLA, I.P.). The aim is to ensure a transparent and efficient licensing process to make project proponents responsible for the environmental impact of their activities. The fees set vary according to the category of project, considering the potential size of the environmental impact, as well as the stage of the licensing procedure.
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The draft Government Resolution for the dismissal of Elvira Manat from the post of Regional Secretary for Finance of the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA) Authority was also approved. The Government Resolution also states that the President of the RAEOA Authority will temporarily take over the Authority's financial responsibilities until a new Regional Secretary for Finance is appointed.
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The Council of Ministers approved the draft Government Resolution, presented by the Minister of Interior, to define the recruitment needs for 2025 of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) and to authorize the opening of a public competition for admission to the Agents ‘Training Course and the Officers’ Training Course.
The aim of this measure is to reinforce the PNTL's personnel to ensure greater operational capacity and a more efficient police presence throughout the country. The recruitment of new agents and officers will make it possible to fill the current shortfall in human resources, improve patrol and surveillance levels and contribute to strengthening public security. It is also intended to promote the generational renewal of the institution, to ensure the continuity and modernization of the police structure. This recruitment also aims to strengthen the representativeness of the PNTL, to guarantee a police force that is even more representative of national diversity, which is fundamental to establishing a relationship of trust and proximity with the different communities.
A total of 500 new personnel will be recruited, of whom 400 will join the Agents ‘Training Course and 100 Officers’ Training Course.
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In accordance with the projects presented by the Minister of Public Works, Samuel Marçal, the Council of Ministers decided to authorize expenditure for the:
- Installation of Gabion Boxes on the Laclo River, Suco Berloik - Alas Manufahi (P32), totaling US$396,249.46;
- Construction of a gabion protection wall on the Bolobu River, Samutuaben, Cailaco, the Municipality of Bobonaro (P34), totaling US$ 532,503.81;
- Rehabilitation of the road section between Remexio and Laclo - Package 2 (P36), totaling US$ 2,223,538;
- Construction of the Naiboruk River Protection Road section between Viqueque and Beaço - Package 1 (P41), totaling US$ 429,792.11;
- Construction of the Naiboruk River Protection - Viqueque - Beaço road section - Package 2 (P42), totaling US$ 484,602.09;
- Installation of transmission lines (medium voltage), distribution (low voltage), transformers and residential connections in the Haupu, Asi-Manukatilete, Kairia, Riatoni-Lekidasi sucos (P58), totaling US$ 637,190.35;
- Installation of transmission lines (medium voltage), distribution (low voltage), transformers and residential connections at the administrative post of Ermera, Suco Lauala (P59), totaling US$ 523,284.72; and
- Installation of transmission lines (medium voltage), distribution (low voltage), transformers and residential connections at the administrative post of Ermera, Tidibesi, Taklela, Lalimlau-Sakubesilima (P61), totaling US$ 765,589.16.
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The Council of Ministers approved the draft Government Resolution, presented by the Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Verónica das Dores, for the creation of the Interministerial Working Group responsible for drawing up Timor-Leste's Initial Report on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
This Government Resolution reaffirms the IX Constitutional Government's commitment to promoting inclusion and defending the rights of people with disabilities, guaranteeing the preparation and submission of the initial report on the implementation of the Convention, ratified by Timor-Leste in January 2023. The document will present the measures adopted by the State to strengthen inclusion and the progress made in this area and should be finalized by April 2025.
The Interministerial Working Group will be led and coordinated by the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion and will be made up of focal points from various relevant Government departments.
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The Vice Prime Minister, Minister Coordinator for Social Affairs and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino, and the President of the Institute for the Defense of Children's Rights (INDDICA) Dinorah Granadeiro, gave a presentation on the national commitment to eliminating violence against children.
At the INDDICA’s invitation, Timor-Leste will receive a visit from the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Najat Maalla M'jid, from March 3rd to 5th 2025.
The visit is part of the commitments made at the First Global Ministerial Conference to End Violence against Children, held in November 2024 in Colombia, which culminated in global and national commitments to strengthen child protection. Timor-Leste presented ten commitments and expressed its interest in joining the ‘Pathfinder 2.0’ Global Alliance to End Violence against Children.
The commitments made by Timor-Leste include the approval of the Juvenile Justice Law by 2026, the integration of child protection into education policies, the strengthening of specialized justice for children and the professionalization of social workers in the area. There are also plans to expand parental education programs, increase the budget for child protection services, create legal frameworks for online safety and limit access to alcohol and tobacco, as well as implement a National Plan to Eradicate Violence against Children and an Information Management System for child protection policies. END
