DILI, 24 january 2024 (TATOLI) – The Government of Timor-Leste, through the Ministry of Interior is going to recruit 200 new officers of the Timorese National Police (PNTL), this year.
The statement was revealed by Interior Minister Francisco da Costa Guterres on wednesday, saying that the recruitment framework is being negotiated and discussed.
“We are currently negotiating the PNTL’s recruitment framework to establish recruitment mechanisms and criteria that will ensure fair and transparent recruitment,” said Minister Guterres.
He said that the recruitment team will be formed as soon as the recruitment framework is ready: “Then, we will decide the recruitment date to be presented at the Council of Ministers for its approval.”
“The recruitment date has to be approved by the Council of Ministers before it is announced to the public,” added Minister Guterres.
He said the PNTL needs more officers to support its service in ensuring peace and stability in the country.
“We still don’t have enough officers to be deployed at the border areas. We therefore need to recruit more officers to be deployed in the border areas, as well as in the municipalities,” Guterres added.
Meanwhile, David Diaz Ximenes “Mandati”, MP of the Parliamentary Committee B also supports the plan to recruit new officers.
“We need to increase the number of police officers in the border areas. Therefore, the number of officers deployed at each PNTL post in the border zones needs to be increased from 5 to 12,” said Mandati.
There are currently 4,337 officers on active duty, many of whom are over 60 and are due to retire in the near future.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
