DILI, 31 march 2021 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste’s national parliament has unanimously approved a state of emergency declaration in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The vote follows a formal request from President Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo, and still requires his formal assent. It will grant the government additional powers to tackle the virus.
“The results for the vote of request are 49 votes in favour, zero against and 14 abstentions. Lú-Olo’s request was approved unanimously in the National Parliament”, President of Parliament National, Aniceto Guterres said.
The law would provide extraordinary powers to the government to deal with the unfolding crises of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Authorities would have the power to shut down large gatherings, limits the circulations and seal off the country’s borders.
The government official also announced on Monday, march 29 the possibility to carry out the mandatory preventive isolation at home, with the expenses related to prophylactic isolation being borne by each individual when it is performed in a health establishment, residence or in a center. of private isolation.
The Council of Ministers approved the request for the State of Emergency last Wednesday, March 24. President Francisco Guterres Lú-Olo presented the formal request to parliament on Monday of this week.
Antoninho Biaco, from FRETILIN party said that the results of the government’s work through CIGC, shows that no one has died from Covid-19.
“We are ready and well organized. In the future the position of the national parliament is to provide supports because the enemy (COVID-19) is all over the world, therefore it is considered as a common enemy, and it needs everyone’s cooperation to give opinions and make a decision in the fight against Covid-19, “Bianco said.
FRETILIN recommends all government officials to approach and provide food assistance for the people who have been experiencing the impact of Covid -19 to prevent the population from starving to death.
The Head of the PD party, António da Conceição, said that the PD has agreed upon what has become the general interest. “We continue to vote to support the public health as well as the budget has become our choice in our decision. PD has not yet given an abstention vote or against,” he said.
He said it is awful that this pandemic situation becomes an opportunity for the government not to develop the country’s economy.
“We can see that in Indonesia, COVID-19 has taken many lives, but it has not hampered the country’s progress,”
Journalist: Evaristo Soares Martins
Editor: Cancio Ximenes
