Extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers on September 26th 2013

ETLJB 29 September 2013 - On Thursday, September 26th 2013, the Government met extraordinarily, in the Council of Ministers conference room, at the Government Palace in Dili, and approved:

1. Tax Package

After review and discussion of the values of the percentage of budget execution versus Fiscal Envelope, the Council of Ministers approved the amount of fifteen hundred million U.S. dollars for the State Budget (OGE) for the financial year of 2014.

The Draft Law for the State Budget for the financial year of 2014 will be delivered to the National Parliament in the month of October, after approved by the Council of Ministers. The Tax Package for next year was determined by taking into account four key factors: Strategic Development Plan (SDP) and the Government Programme, Budget Execution, Inflation, and Fiscal Sustainability.

2. Support to the victims of fires in Portugal

The Government donated USD $ 1,000,000 (one million dollars) to Portugal to help the country cope with the damage caused by the numerous fires, especially in the districts of Porto, Braga and Viseu. In the first half of September there were over three thousand fires across the country that destroyed more than 13,000 hectares, causing casualties and substantial damage, including houses. The average area burned and number of fires this year is higher than in the last ten years.

The situation in Portugal, due to fires, remains extremely critical and involves hundreds of fire fighters and thousands of people struggle daily to control the devastating effects of fires. Despite their efforts, the loss of lives and property in our brother country assumed unprecedented proportions affecting thousands of people in hundreds of communities.

The Council of Ministers also analysed:

1. Internal Security of the Country

Following the incident earlier this week in Dili, which killed one Timorese and left three others injured, the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Security and the Vice Prime Minister presented to the Council of Ministers a point of situation on the measures that are being taken to resolve this incident and ensure timely maintenance of internal security of the country. Source: Presidency of Council of Ministers V Constitutional Government Dili 26/09/2013 Press Release Edited by Warren L. Wright