Jornal Diario Nacional - Friday, January 25 - Translation from Tetum
The residence of the Minister of Finance,
Emilia Pires, which is of luxurious architecture, clearly demonstrates
discrimination between the incumbent Minister of Finance and other members of
the government.
Construction continues on the new official
residence of the Finance Minister located in Motael, despite it already being
criticized by civil society and deputies of the National Parliament.
"This house being built for the
Finance Minister is larger than any other house in this nation. If I was the
head of this government, the Finance Minister would only have one secretary of
state. The President of the Republic does not have such a luxurious residence
as this one under construction for the Finance Minister. Why does this minister have the right to have
a home of such luxury, and which criteria is being used to do this? Why not
build a house equal standard for all ministers?" asked the former deputy
prime minister, Mario Viegas Carrascalao (MVC), speaking to Jornal Diário at
Hotel Timor.
According to MVC, that policy (the
construction of the house of Emilia Pires) generates internal discrimination
among the servants of the state. He asks: why did they not use this money to
build a building for the members of this new government, since they do not have
a decent place to work in?
MVC also questioned how people will be able
evaluate the members of the government if the executive does not give them
suitable offices for government officials to perform their jobs, according to
the plan that has already been established?
Moreover, FRETILIN opposition deputy
Francisco Miranda Branco, said the reality in Timor-Leste is that the President
of the Republic, former members and other members of the government have not a
luxury residence as the Minister Emilia Pires and for this reason it is
necessary to conduct a thorough investigation, for this special treatment.
"Corruption is now growing abundantly.
We do not know where millions of dollars have gone. This is why every society
has to use his head and eyes to be alive to control such things, "said
Deputy Francisco Miranda Branco.
The director of the NGO Luta Hamutuk,
Mericio Akara asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to conduct an
investigation of Finance Minister Emilia Pires, in relation to conflict of
interest including the construction of this residence that already aroused
suspicion.
Mericio said that the Finance Minister is
an entity that controls and manages the money of this country and therefore
when there are indices of acts of corruption or conflict of interest, such as
the awarding of a project to her husband, son or brother, an act that is prohibited
under the laws of Timor-Leste, it is necessary for CAC to thoroughly
investigate the cases referred to it involving Emilia Pires.
"I think this case is already being
investigated and I believe that Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao will not close his
eyes to it. I believe Emilia will go to jail if she has engaged in an act of
corruption. The question now is this:
We're still waiting for the investigation by CAC and the prosecutors. They are
still gathering evidence," stressed Mericio Akara.
Regarding the residence of Finance Minister,
Mericio Akara said that CAC is also investigating the issue of the construction
of the residence of the Finance Minister because state money is being used to
construct this building .
"It can arouse suspicion because we
all know that Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, the President Taur Matan Ruak and
the other ministers in Timor have not built houses more luxurious than this one,"
said Mericio Akara with suspicion.
Mericio further questioned, why this money
was used by the Minister of Finance but was not used to repair the buildings of
the East Timor National Police (PNTL)? Since independence many of the PNTL’s
buildings could not be rehabilitated because of a lack of budget funds, and for
this reason CAC must investigate it and if it finds evidence one day Finance
Minister, Emilia Pires, will follow former Justice Minister Lucia Lobato to the
Gleno prison.
Em Tétum:"Rezidensia MF Kria Diskriminasaun “Husu KAK Investiga”"
Em Português:"Residência da ministra das Finanças gera discriminação - Apelos à CAC para investigar"
Em Tétum:"Rezidensia MF Kria Diskriminasaun “Husu KAK Investiga”"
Em Português:"Residência da ministra das Finanças gera discriminação - Apelos à CAC para investigar"
.
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário
Nota: só um membro deste blogue pode publicar um comentário.