MIL OSI Translation. Timor-Leste Portuguese to English –
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
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Press release
Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers on October 10, 2024
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the Government Resolution project, presented by the Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs and Minister for Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino, and by the Executive Director of the Mission Unit to Combat ‘Stunting’, Joel Maria Pereira, which approves the National Multisectoral Annual Plan to Combat ‘Stunting’ for the period 2024 to 2030.
The National Multisectoral Annual Plan to Combat Stunting for the period 2024 to 2030 has as its main objective to provide a framework for coordinated and multisectoral action to combat stunting. Among the main goals are to increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding, improve children’s diets and reduce the stunting rate from 47% to less than 25% by 2030. The plan also aims to reduce anemia rates in children and women of reproductive age, as well as improve the coordination of nutrition programs and promote social behavior changes to improve nutritional health.
The implementation of the plan will be led by the Mission Unit for Combating Stunting, in collaboration with several ministries and development partners. The process will be subject to continuous monitoring to ensure its effectiveness, with the aim of creating a sustainable and resilient environment that promotes improved nutrition and well-being of the Timorese population.
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The draft Decree-Law, also presented by the Deputy Prime Minister, Mariano Assanami Sabino, referring to the Community Housing Program, was also approved.
The programme aims to ensure the right to housing as a condition for the integrated and sustainable development of the community, through the planning and construction of housing and the corresponding complementary infrastructure and collective equipment, intended to be allocated to beneficiaries, in accordance with established criteria, as well as subsequent ongoing community support for maintenance and access to services. The implementation of the programme will be led by the Ministry of Rural Development and Community Housing, in conjunction with local administrations and with the active participation of communities. Housing is allocated to beneficiaries according to their financial capacity, and is classified under one of the following schemes: commercial, subsidised, community or social. Under the commercial scheme, the beneficiary pays a consideration defined by market conditions. Under the subsidised scheme, the amount to be paid is adjusted to be more affordable in light of market conditions. Under the community scheme, the allocation of housing is free of charge at an initial stage, with a set amount to be paid after that period. Under the social scheme, housing is allocated free of charge.
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The Council of Ministers assessed the preliminary report on the expenses of activities related to the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis, presented by the Minister of State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral.
At its meeting on 28 February 2024, the Council of Ministers authorized expenditure of up to USD 12 million for the Coordinating Committee for the Organization of the Visit of His Holiness Pope Francis, which took place from 9 to 11 September 2024. Of this amount, USD 9,978,658.12 was spent, resulting in a positive balance of USD 2,021,341.12, which will be returned to the State coffers.
The Timorese Episcopal Conference (CET), through the Church Coordinating Commission team, will hold an internal evaluation meeting on November 23, 2024 and the Joint Commission, composed of the Government, the Church team and the representative of the Holy See in Timor-Leste, will conclude the activities on December 21, 2024, when the representative of the Holy See and the local Church will transmit an official message from the Vatican.
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Finally, the Council of Ministers also decided to approve the theme “Proud of our identity and culture, we build a future of freedom, justice and hope for our People” for the celebrations of the 49th anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, which will be celebrated on 28 November, and whose main celebrations will take place in Oe-Cusse Ambeno. END
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.