East Timor Legal Information Site
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS JUNE 2008 
The Economic Stabilisation Fund is an important tool that the AMP government  created to tackle the economic recession that is felt worldwide, including the food crisis and rising cost of food in the world and, as well as combating the negative effects that the increase in fuel prices and materials of construction reflect at the national level.

The Government is in a situation where it need not wait for urgent support from development partners while the population suffers!

With the creation of the Economic Stabilisation Fund, the IV Constitutional Government follows the recommendations of the Rome Declaration on Food Security, which recently met in the Italian capital  - 180 countries plus the European Union and takes measures to prevent a possible economic crisis and ensure the strengthening of National Stability, which could be jeopardised by a serious economic and social crisis.

Strengthening National Stability is therefore another major concern of the AMP Government, which is also reflected in increases in spending for the development of pilot projects which were successful, allowing these to not be suspended for lack of money and ensuring that the population benefits from the results in a shorter space of time that was originally planned.

These are pilot projects in areas such as agriculture - particularly in the production of rice - the repair of roads, through labour-intensive ( "cash for work") and vocational training.

These are projects that can not stop and have been increasing the economic power of local communities.

Other increases are targeted for development in key areas, especially in the electricity sector.

The additional money in the state general budget for 2008 will also provide an extraordinary payment equivalent to one month's salary to all employees of the state, the extraordinary change of subsidies and the creation of other allowances for members of the F-FDTL and the PNTL; and the creation of funds to support the professionals in the public sector, including magistrates, senior officers of health, educational and other technical superiors.

The proposed amendment to the state general budget for 2008 also provides for an increase in public transfers to cope with the increased number of beneficiaries of pensions to the elderly, the payment of pensions to Combatants and the National Liberation Martyrs; assistance to IDPs; additional assistance to the petitioners; support the organization of sports competitions at regional and national levels; support for organizations providing assistance in priority areas of work and strengthening of the "cash for work".

The amending budget allows the creation of funds for, among other things, the implementation of the first phase of studies on alternative sources of energy and needs assessment for the infrastructure of the country, a pilot program of intensive training of teachers, the purchase of medicines and supplies services to hospitals; costs related to the Embassies, present and future; fuel for the generation of electricity; subsidize the costs of operating the Berlin-Nakroma and training of troops of the F-FDTL in China, which will integrate the garrison of Patrol Vessels protection of territorial waters and prevent illegal fishing.

Preparing the future of the nation today, the proposed amendment to the state general budget for 2008 ensures, among others, the first payment of two Patrol Ships to protect territorial waters, the initial payment of the construction of infrastructure for production and distribution of electricity throughout the country and the rehabilitation of over 200 km of rural roads in all districts; funds for the first phase of construction of a complex for recycling of waste oil, construction of eight Regional Agricultural Facilities and Maintenance Centers in the districts, improvement of irrigation systems and other support measures for farmers; temporary facilities for the Customs and Excise and projects of the new design of Comoro Bridge.

In order to implement more effectively the policies that the IV Constitutional Government proposes to implement, the Council of Minister sapproved a change to the regime of General Supplies and Public Procurement, which the competent authorities to authorise the start and award in the procedures of supply.

The Government considers it important to implement some measures of decentralisation of the Ministry of Finance to other ministries and agencies, permitting them to procure supplies themselves. 

The AMP government chose the year 2008 as the Year of Reform, preparing the state and its institutions for the challenges that it faces.

This amendment to the state general budget of 2008 prepares today the future of the nation.

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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF EAST TIMOR
IV Constitutional Government
PRESS RELEASE

Meeting of the Council of Ministers on 25  June 2008
 
The Council of Ministers meeting is held this Wednesday, June 22, 2008, in Meeting Room of the Council of Ministers, at the Government Palace in Dili, and adopted:

Decree Law Amendment to the regime of General Supplies and Public Procurement
This law, which the Council of Ministers approved in its meeting today, is changing the Legal Regime on Public Procurement and Supply, defining, in particular, what are the competent authorities to authorise the start and award procedures in supply.

It is understood that it is important to implement some measures of decentralisation of the Ministry of Finance to other ministries and other entities, allowing them to promote some of the procedures already in the supply of their own service.

Resolution on Supply of Essential Goods The supply of food from local production in East Timor is clearly insufficient to meet domestic demand, so it has come to rely on imports of large quantities of basic foodstuffs, particularly rice and cooking oil to meet the needs of consumption of the population.

In this context, the Council of Ministers approved in its meeting today a resolution to elect as effective measure to combat rising prices on market intervention by launching significant quantities of basic goods, capable of meeting the immediate needs and cover stocks that families and traders are as a precautionary measure, the reduced or subsidized prices.

The Government is aware that the market should operate freely, adjusting prices through the mechanism of supply and demand, and the administrative practice of fixing prices or establishing a mechanism of price caps limited to extremely difficult situations. The goal is the state bear the high costs of financial assets related to the acquisition and maintenance of stocks, not substitute for the traders.

Decree-law approving the System Utilities, and Key Assets Control Prices
The Council of Ministers approved in its meeting today a decree-law establishing the System of Public Supply of Goods and Control of Key Rates.

East Timor is a net importer of basic foodstuffs, particularly rice and cooking oil, given the lack of domestic production to meet the consumption needs of the population.

This law considered the need to create and maintain a stock of food security and others, particularly those that are essential to the construction and public works crucial in the reconstruction and development of the country, and ensure proper management of market intervention , Capable of correcting the deficiencies and risks of supply and prices.

The bill was still under consideration the specific case of prices in public transport of passengers, where there is an economic situation of generalised rise as a result of the persistent rise of fuel prices. In that sense, this Decree Law establishing a transitional measure to prevent the uncontrolled increase in prices and distortions in public transport of passengers.

Decree of the Government that regulates the intervention in Utilities
This regulation applies to procedures to be followed in the systems of market intervention of public supply of essential goods through the establishment of stocks security and stabilization of prices, with and without recourse to subsidies.

Resolution that approves the creation of the National Commission on Prevention of Avian Disease
The Council of Ministers approved in its meeting today a resolution that creates the National Avian Commission, being appointed its fifteen members. It is for members to disclose information, epidemiological research, surveillance and reporting of disease outbreaks of bird flu that might occur in the territory of East Timor, within an integrated communication system.
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TLGov: Meeting of the Council of Ministers on 18 June 2008

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF EAST TIMOR
IV Constitutional Government
PRESS RELEASE

Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 18, 2008


The Council of Ministers meeting is held this Wednesday, June 18, 2008, in Room for meetings of the Council of Ministers, at the Government Palace in Dili, and approved:

1 - Proposed Law to adopt the amended budget

The Council of Ministers approved in its meeting today a Proposed Law Approves that the amending budget. This law shall first amendment to Law No. 10/2007, of December 31, which approved the general budget the rule in 2008, for consideration and approval by the National Parliament. This amended budget provides the most recent estimates of revenue and domestic oil revenues, plus additional costs of State.

The draft law amending budget shows an increase of budgetary provisions for 2008. The original budget approved on 31 December 2007 was $ 347.8 million. The amending budget now approved by the Council of Ministers is USD 425.6 million, so the total amounts to $ 773.3 million.

The updated estimates of government revenue show an increase in projected revenue from oil revenues in 2008, compared with the established position in the documents of the annual budget.

The original estimate was $ 1379.3 million, and that the proposal Now it is estimated presented the value of U.S. $ 2025.6 million, meaning, thus, an increase of USD 646.3 million.

This increase is primarily due to the increase in oil revenues. As the Government stated in the annual budget documents, prices world oil are historically very volatile and subject to large and rapid fluctuations.

2 - Decree Law creates the National Petroleum Authority (NPA)

The Council of Ministers approved in its meeting today a Decree Law It creates the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), the body that will award institution to act as regulator of the oil sector and natural gas and its derivatives, and that integrate the skills of vai Designated Authority in the Timor Sea, which will be extinguished by June 30.

3 - Resolution of transfer of management of monuments "Christ-King" and "Pope John Paul II" to the diocese of Dili

The government decided, through a resolution to this effect adopted by Council of Ministers at its meeting today, giving way to the Diocese of Dili management of areas where the statues evocative of "Christ-King" in Fatu Kama, and Pope John Paul II in Tasi Tolu.

The Government will support the Diocese of Dili for costs of maintenance and restoration of monuments and spaces assigned.
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TLGov: Special Meeting of the Council of Ministers 16 June 2008

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF EAST TIMOR
IV Constitutional Government
PRESS RELEASE

Special Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 16, 2008

The Council of Ministers met on this extraordinarily Monday, June 16, 2008, in the Meeting Room of the Council of Ministers, at the Government Palace in Dili, and adopted:

1 - Decree Law Approves Creation of the Fund for Economic Stability

Creating a Fund for Economic Stability appears to tackle the economic recession that is felt worldwide, particularly in the food crisis and the increase in the price of food, and follows the recent Declaration on World Food Security by Representatives of 180 countries and the European Union in Rome.

Moreover, it is time to take the necessary measures to combat the negative effects of rising fuel prices and materials of construction.

In the medium term the Fund for Economic Stability will be used to rebuild the capacity of the economy and develop programs to help the population cope with the effects of the crisis.

This law, which the Council of Ministers approved in its meeting today, provides for the materialization of technical and financial mechanisms to ensure food security and sovereignty of East Timor, the social-economic development and meet the needs of the Timorese.

The Council of Ministers also looked at:

2 - Proposed Law to adopt the amending budget

The Council of Ministers reviewed the Draft Act that Approves amending the budget and decided on further discussion at the next meeting.
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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF EAST TIMOR
IV Constitutional Government
PRESS RELEASE

Meeting of the Council of Ministers on 11 June 2008
 
The Council of Ministers meeting is held this Thursday, June 11, 2008, in the Meeting Room of the Council of Ministers, at the Government Palace in Dili, and adopted:

Decree-Law that gives petitioners an allowance of integration into civilian life
With this law, approved today by the Council of Ministers, the Government aims to establish and regulate the integration of the petitioners into the civil segment, sponsoring those incorporated in the process of Aitarak Laran.

Through the assignment of a financial benefit of the implementation and improvement of mechanisms of interaction with society, such as employment of cooperation programmes, the Government projected
thus assimilate the petitioners back into civilian life.

Decree approving the Organic Law of the National Health Laboratory The Council of Ministers approved in its meeting today a Decree Law establishing an organic structure of the National Health Laboratory

This body is managed by the Ministry of Health, is responsible at national level for ensuring provision of laboratory quality for the population and the technical supervision of the work performed by laboratories integrated into the national health system, working with reference to the centre for laboratory examinations.
 
The Council of Ministers ratified:

Agreement on financing between the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the International Development Association in the area of Health

The Council of Ministers also ratified an agreement on financing between the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the International Development Association (IDA) in the area of Health

The agreement, signed on April 16 last, provides that the IDA fund, by counterparts, a development project in the area of Health (Health Sector Strategic Plan Support Project).
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TLGov: Meeting of Council of Ministers of 04 June 2008

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF EAST TIMOR
IV CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT
PRESS RELEASE

MEETING OF COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF 04 JUNE 2008

The Council of Ministers meeting is held this Wednesday, 04 June 2008, in the Meeting Room of the Council of Ministers, at the Government Palace in Dili, and adopted:

1 - Decree Law amending the Organic Law of Government

The Council of Ministers at its meeting today, approved a Decree Law on Amendment to the Organic Law of the Government, aiming to strengthen links and collaboration with the National Parliament.

This law changes, specifically, the jurisdiction of the Deputy Prime Minister regarding the area of parliamentary affairs. This is attributed to the new post of Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs, established in order to enhance the exclusivity of institutional relations with the National Parliament.

2 - Resolution approving the decommissioning of the Joint Command

The Council of Ministers also approved at its meeting today a resolution to Disable the Joint Command composed of elements of PNTL and F-FDTL, the government established by Resolution No. 3/2008, February 17 (now repealed) in order to implement the operations of security arising from the then state of emergency in force following the attacks against the life of the President and the Prime Minister.

In the diploma is praised the commitment and actions of the Joint Command and underlined in a coordinated manner as the operations took place, now completed, with the restoration of constitutional normalcy and end the state of emergency. An experience considered so positive that the Government decided to create even shortly a coordination structure within the Ministry of Defence and Security which can plan and respond effectively in case of natural disasters or political and social crises that threaten the national stability.

In this context, the Organic Ministry of Defence and Security recently approved by the Council of Ministers provides for the establishment of the Centre for Integrated Management of Crisis in order to provide national forces with the means needed for a rapid and effective response where appropriate.

3 - Resolution approving the award of the contract completion of the work of the Palace of Lahane to the company Ensul

The Council of Ministers ratified in its meeting today a resolution that grants the contract of works of construction of the Palace of Lahane to the company Ensul, which replaces the City Council in Lisbon in the finalisation of the works.

The Council of Ministers also looked at:

4 - Easing of some procedures of the system of supply in the Implementation of Public Works

The Council of Ministers also reviewed and approved at its meeting today, the lines that will guide the revision of the law of supply and procurement in order to streamline and decentralize the procedures and thus easing the Ministry of Finance huge bureaucratic burden it faces.

5 - Policy Creation of Municipalities

After a presentation made by the Minister of State Administration and Spatial Planning addressing the policy of creating districts in East Timor, the Council of Ministers recommended to the holder of that folder the formation of an Establishment Commission. That body will be responsible for preparing the administrative reorganisation of the national territory and the resulting creation of municipalities, which will be subsequently submitted to the National Parliament, to legislate in this area.

6 - Compensation to religious organizations that hosted Displaced

The Council of Ministers decided to financially compensate about twenty religious organizations that hosted displaced persons following the crisis of 2006, a total of $ 147500.00.

7 - Program of International Scholarships of East Timor

The Council of Ministers heard a presentation made by the Minister of Education about the programme of International  Scholarships of East Timor.

Through this programme, the Government of Timor-Leste Timorese men and women with the opportunity to study abroad in accredited institutions of higher education. The program, starting in mid-2008, approximately one hundred offer scholarships to study full-time and one of the priority areas of development set by the Constitutional Government of RDTL IV.

Scholarships will aim to university graduation which does not exist in East Timor or to levels of post-graduate, master's and doctorate.
IV CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT
SECRETARIAT OF STATE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

Information General

State Budget of 2008 Strengthens National Stability  & Prevents  Possible Economic Crisis


Dili 25 June 25 2008


The new expenditure of the State General Budget for 2008, submitted by the AMP to the National Parliament, is the result of the government's future policies, particularly the creation of mechanisms for the prevention of a possible economic crisis and the strengthening of current national stability.


The government proposed the amendment of the 2008 budget amounting to 347.7 million USD - approved by the National Parliament on December 31, 2007 - to $ 773.8 million, giving an additional value of 425.5 million USD, 240 million of which is intended directly to the Economic Stabilisation Fund.