Finance Company Warns Divisivice Politics is Timor-Leste’s Greatest Risk to Economic Growth in 2019
DILI: Findings from a macroeconomic report warn that the biggest risk to Timor-Leste’s economic growth outlook over the next 12 months is the nation’s on-going political instability.
Fretilin Calls For Extradition Policies to End High Profile Citizens Escaping Court Hearings
DILI: The increase of high-profile government members escaping court hearings by traveling overseas such as Francisco Kalbuadi Lay and Sergio Lobo are a “worrying” sign of the state of Timor-Lesate’s democracy, the Deputy Chairman of Fretilin Party has said.
CNRT Denies Lay Escaping from High Court Summons
DILI: Despite calls from the High Court claiming that he had missed his scheduled court appearance to defend corruption allegations, the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) party is sticking by its Secretary General Francisco Kalbaudy Lay.
Lay had been nominated for commerce, tourism and sports minister, but rejected by the President of the Republic because he was previously caught up in a football corruption scandal, and had the country banned for two years by FIFA.
Lay was scheduled to attend court to defend the corruption allegations.
In what appeared to be support for Lay, Duarte Nunes, Chairman of CNRT, defended Lay’s failure to attend court saying the former Minister for Sport and Tourism had received the court summons while he was overseas and could not return for the hearing.
Addressing parliament on Tuesday Nunes said the party “guaranteed” Lay would attend the next court hearing.
"The General Secretary of the CNRT Party before being called by the Court is overseas," Duarte Nunes in national Parliament said on Tuesday.
However, questioned by parliament about when Lay would return to Timor-Leste Nunes admitted he did not knot.
Gilman Exposto, President of the Democratic Party, stressed Tuesday that members of the government had a duty to be responsible for their actions in the court of law.
Exposto said anyone scheduled to attend a court hearing should have their passports revoked and if they had to get medical attention overseas should be escorted by police.
He called for National Parliament to enforce legal grounds for extradition to Timor-Leste for citizens scheduled to attend court.
The President of National Parliament, Arao Noe said he had no comment on the issue, saying he had no further information on the whereabouts of Lay.
Lay has previously been Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture and President of Timor-Leste’s national Olympic committee.
Lu Olo Vetoes 2019 State Budget
DILI: Timor-Leste’s President of the Republic has vetoed the government’s 2019 general state budget, but criticised the government’s prioritisation of buying foreign assets at the expense of devoting attention to education, health and other public services.
DILI:Timor-Leste’s High Court could stop the approved decree that allows use of the country’s petroleum fund for a $650 million buyout of Royal Dutch Shell and ConocoPhillips’ holdings in the Greater Sunrise gas project, if a request from Parliament is made.
Lu Olo Promulgates Rules To Use Petroleum Fund to Buy Sunrise Gas Shares
DILI: The President of the Republic has approved a government bid to increase access to its petroleum fund for a $650 million buyout of ConocoPhillips’s and Royal Dutch Shell holdings in the Greater Sunrise gas project, a bid he had vetoed in December but had strong parliamentary support.
Ministers of Parliament Seek To Cut Contracts With Media
DILI: Media outlets in Timor-Leste received letters to terminate advertising contracts from several government ministries in recent days, amid growing backlash from some members of the ruling government to speak to local media.
DILI:The President of the Republic will hear recommendations from the State Council before deciding to enact or veto the 2019 General State Budget, after receiving the budget law on 24 December.
The government’s proposed US$2132 million State budget gained 134 amendments in parliament before it was approved 40 votes in favour and 25 against on December 22.
DILI: The Ministry of Social Solidarity has made available 900 tonnes of subsidised rice for rice-growing farming families in districts where crops were destroyed last year, as national rice prices soar by up to 50 per cent.
DILI – Timor-Leste’s Major General Lere Anan Timur has cautioned against the Catholic Church playing a mediator role in political disagreements, declaring mediation a legal affair.
More...
Lobo Confirms $296m Budget To Cover State Expenses
DILI: The Deputy Finance Minister Sara Lobo has confirmed a $296 million budget pool to cover State expenses, as parliament seeks approval of its 2019 General State Budget.
“Not serious”: Xanana Says Fretilin Not Listening Over National Energy Projects
DILI: A speech by the Petroleum Fund Consultative Council in National Parliament aimed at clarifying the State’s multi-million-dollar energy project plans was cut short early Tuesday with Xanana Gusmao, Timor-Leste’s Chief oil and gas negotiation, claiming members of the Fretilin opposition party were playing politics with national plans.
President Lu Olo Vetoes Parliament’s Proposed Changes to Law on Petroleum Activities
DILI: Timor-Leste’s government suffered a unique political blow on Tuesday, when the President of the Republic vetoed amendments to the country’s Law on petroleum activities that would have changed the conditions in which money from the nation’s Petroleum Fund can be used.
CNRT Warns of Rise in Pharmaceutical Drug Purchases Through Chinese Traders
DILI: Growing numbers of people are putting their health at risk by buying pharmaceutical drugs through Chinese traders with Mandarin language instructions they cannot understand, Aderito Hugo Da Costa, a member of the Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) party has said.
Da Costa raised the concern about the trend, which he said had accelerated in the last year with the increase in Chinese-owned pharmacies in Dili.
Da Costa labelled the practice “dangerous” warning that pharmacies must ensure they can sell pharmaceutical drugs that have understandable use instruction before a pharmacy business licence is approved.
"We see that there are many pharmacies established by Chinese people even though they don't know Tetum, Indonesian or Portuguese, but we give them business licenses to sell their drugs,” said Aderito
Across the capital city he said, Chinese people were operating pharmacies “like kiosks” selling medication without warnings or instruction for use.
He said the Ministry of Health must pay attention to the import of medication into Timor-Leste.
Bonifasio do Reis Maukoli, the Deputy Minister of Health, denied the Ministry had issued pharmacy licenses to Chinese traders to sell pharmaceutical drugs in Dili.
Maukolo said pharmaceutical business permits were processed through the Registration and Business Verification Service SERVE) following strict approval by Timor-Leste's Medical and Pharmaceutical Supply Agency (SAMES).
He said the Ministry would investigate the allegation and would close any pharmacy found selling medication without a business permit.
Independente Digital TV
Online Independente
Avenida Delta, Hudi Laran, Dom Aleixo
Dili, Timor-Leste
- Editor:
Jose Sarito Amaral - Saturnina da Costa
Jornalista:
Ivonia Varela
Kontaktu:
(+670) 77358204
(+670) 78579261