Aug 4, 2009

The New Prima: Zenilda Pulled Out?

The recent story that the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste gave a multi-million
dollar contract to his daughter Zenilda Gusmao now appears to have a new
intepretation. The Government has produced new records which show that while
Zenilda was a shareholder of the company in the beginning that she sold her
shares in September 2008 before Prima Food was awarded a $3.5 million dollar
rice contract in November 2008.

According to the business registration September 2008 which Tempo Semanal
has obtained it shows that the Director of Prima Food Lda, wrote to the
Minister of Commerce, Gil Alves on 12 September 2008 to have a change in the
company registration. In the first registration Xanana's Daughter Zenilda
Emilia Baptista Gusmao owned an 11.10% share but on the September document
her name and ownership has been withdrawn with only 8 sharelholders total.

According to the business registration September 2008 which Tempo Semanal
has obtained it shows that the Director of Prima Food Lda, wrote to the
Minister of Commerce, Gil Alves on 12 September 2008 to have a change in the
company registration. In the first registration Xanana's Daughter Zenilda
Emilia Baptista Gusmao owned an 11.10% share but on the September document
her name and ownership has been withdrawn with only 8 sharelholders total.

According to the internal company note to the Minister it declares that
declare that, "Ms Zenilda E. B. Gusmao as a member from Prima Food starting
today Thursday, September 11th 2008 will not participate any more in this
company because so far she is not active in the meetings and other
activities within the Prima Food Lda".

In the same letter they also state that Ms. Maria Angela Rangel and widow of
the the former FRETILIN Deputy Speaker in the Parliament, Senhor Jacob
Fernandes, Ms. Dulce Angela Fernandes bought Zenilda's share in Prima Food.
This contract appears to have been given not exclusively to supporters of
AMP, as Xanana's government appears to be awarding contracts to most people
in the Dili establishment - both in and out of Government.

"We the Government want all business people to participate and I don't want
to use a single own shareholder Company. If you all (Business people) agreed
that means for each company minimum a joint venture by five people. All
business gathers yourself then we will decide. Now we have the economy
stabilisation funds for those who can imported first (rice) with how many
(tons) and take how many months, who bringing in as it is and (Rice
Quantity) arrived in what months? And who else can import these amount
(rice) take till what months? There were 17 companies not only the once
belongs to my daughter. From the 17 companies, each company involved many
many people," Said Xanana at the National Aiport press briefiing in July
2009 in return from medical treatment in Singapore.

Mr. Epifanio da Silva Faculto the director of Commerce at that time
confirmed that Ms. Zenilda has resigned from Prima Food several months
before the contract has awarded. "It's true that Zenilda was a member in the
beginning but later in the year she has not involved in the company," he
told Tempo Semanal in a phone interview.

But Mr. Arsenio Bano FRETILIN Vice President has rejected that Zenilda's
Resignation by said, "It's not true. She was still member of the company
when the contract was awarded."

The Timorese politicians from all sides trying to use media to mislead the
public opinion," said a source which doesn't want to quote her name in this
story.

She said she is from the opposition but she also disagrees with some
attitude from some of her party members. "They are trying to discredit
Xanana and latter people said every leader of this country are failed."

--
Posted By TEMPO SEMANAL to TEMPO
<http://temposemanaltimor.blogspot.com
Aug 3

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