TimorNewsNetwork

Local Government laws under discussion in the East Timor National Parliament
UNMIT Local Governance Monthly Bulletin July 2009 - In the beginning of June the National Parliament started to discuss the set of three Loc a l Government l aws submitted by the Ministry of State Administration and Territorial Managment (MAEOT).

Following the approval of the law for the Suco Elections, the law on Admininstrative and Territorial Management of Timor-Leste was already approved and is waiting Promulgation by the President of the Republic, Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta. The organic law on Local Government and the municipality law are currently being discussed in the National Parliament.

The approval of these laws are an important step for the decentralization process and towards the creation and development of the municipalities in Timor-Leste. A Local Government Dissemination campaign will be launched to explain the decentralization process as a means to promote an effective and equal provision of services for the people in order to strengthen economic and social development.

“We are expecting that the three laws will be promulgated by the end of July or the beginning of August. Once this process is finalized, the Government can start a massive communication campaign to inform the citizens about the establishment of the municipality in the country”, said Miguel de Carvalho Pereira, National Director of Local Development and Territorial Management (DNDLOT).http://www.estatal.gov.tl