CABINET ENDORSES DRAFT REGULATION ON CIVIL REGISTRY

In its first formal session of the year, the East Timor Transitional Cabinet today endorsed a draft regulation that would establish a Central Civil Registry for the country. The draft regulation will now be forwarded to the National Council for its consideration. The Central Civil Registry will register all residents of East Timor and provide them with an identity card. The draft legislation makes registration mandatory for all residents. The Civil Registry will also issue civil documents confirming births, deaths, marriages etc, and collect data to be used to compile electoral lists by the duly authorised bodies.

The Cabinet also approved in principle two grant agreements which would provide technical assistance to train and build capacity in the economic and finance activities of the East Timor Transitional Administration. Finally, Cabinet members were briefed by the Director of the National Planning and Development Agency, Emília Pires, on the Agency’s new initiatives.