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Zenilda Emilia Baptista Gusmao owned an 11.10% share but on the September document her name and ownership has been withdrawn with only 8 sharelholders total.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Zenilda Emilia Baptista Gusmao owned an 11.10% share but on the September document her name and ownership has been withdrawn with only 8 sharelholders total.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 11^th 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 miss lead 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 discredited Xanana and latter people said every leader of this country are failed.”