DILI, 16 june 2023 (TATOLI) – Timorese National Police (PNTL) held the first retirement ceremony for the 158 respected police officers.
The first retirement of police officers took place at the PNTL Training Center, in Comoro Dili, with the presence of the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães, the Vice-Minister of the Interior, António Armindo, the General Commander of the PNTL, Chief Superintendent Henrique da Costa, and the Major General of the Defense Forces of Timor-Leste (F-FDTL), Falur Rate Laek.
PNTL General Commander, Henrique da Costa said that the officers will officially leave office by the end of june 2023.
“Today, tPNTL held an important event in the country with the first retirement ceremony of 158 police officers. They will officially leave office next month,” Costa said in his speech at the retirement ceremony, at the PNTL Training Center, in Dili, today.
He said that many police officers who had served more than 20 years had passed the retirement age and are now waiting to retire and return to civilian life.
“We thank our retired officers for their contributions to the development of the PNTL over the past 20 years. We have not forgotten their involvement in all the PNTL’s progress and we will always count on their support,” he explained.
Costa said that the PNTL will always welcome the contribution of these retired officers in the future.
At the same place, Minister Magalhães praised the officers for their remarkable contribution to maintaining public order and security over the past 20 years.
“You have contributed significantly to the development of the PNTL. You will be leaving office soon and it is very emotional for me. But, I would like to express my deep appreciation for your tireless contribution,” Magellan stressed.
Retired PNTL Chief Inspector, Tomás Aquino, on behalf of all retired officers, thanked the Government for organizing the first retirement ceremony.
“Our retirement will allow the new generation to serve our country. We are no longer physically fit to continue the work and we thank the Government and the people for putting trust in us,” said Tomas Aquino.
Aquino also said that the new generation should take several training courses abroad to prepare themselves to be the new police officers in the future to serve the country.
According to article 128 of the Decree-Law N.º 69/2022 of 28 September on retirement (a) police officers have to retire when reach the age of 60 or (b) are judged physically or mentally unfit to perform the duties of the functions in the PNTL by the competent.
Meanwhile, Article 129 (a) states that the department responsible for human resources management shall send, by November 30th of each year, the list of PNTL police officers who may retire the following year. According to Article 129 (b), the names of retired employees are mandatorily published in the Official Journal.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
