Addressing parliament on Thursday immediately after President of the Republic Francisco Lu Olo Guterres had promulgated the General State Budget (OGE) for 2018, Miranda Branco from the Fretilin Party, said142 State projects were suspected of not meeting contract criteria.

Antonio de Sa Benevides, of the Development and Democracy (PUDD), a signatory to the letter, likened several projects to being “illegal” in that many were not working.

The letter’s sentiments were an echo of President Lu Olo’s comments earlier this month that warned of contract breaches amongst several State projects.

"I appeal to the National Parliament to immediately establish a Parliamentary Audit Agency to audit all existing projects before making a payment, '' Lu Olo said on 31 August, 2018.

Responding to the concerns, Arao Noe, President of Parliament said an audit “had been scheduled and would be established in the near future.”

The OGE promulgated On Thursday totaled USD 1,279.6 million.

It includes income and expenditure of the State and Social Security of Timor-Leste between January 1st and December 31st, 2018.