Gusmao snubbed by Portuguese

October 12 2014                         

Caption: Murade Isaac Miguigy Murargty

By Ted McDonnell
MANY East Timor observers were left shocked, and somewhat bemused, when Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao recently announced he would see out his full term and not retire until 2017.

Late last year, East Timor’s two-term Prime Minister declared he would retire in September just two years into his second term.

In announcing his pre-mature retirement Gusmao declared it was time to would hand over the country to East Timor’s younger leaders and set up a Council of Elders to guide the fledgling nation into its future.

However, at the recent CNRT conference Gusmao announced that he would not retire early and would lead his East Timor until 2017.

But the true reason behind Gusmoa's backflip was not his willingness to continue as PM, but a major snub from the CPLP, Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa -- the nine nations that make up the Commonwealth of Portuguese Speaking Countries.

Back in August, East Timor spent millions hosting the 10th Conference of the Heads of State and Government of the CPLP. So keen was Gusmao to impress his fellow heads of state that he also ordered dozens of brand new Toyota’s worth in excess of $1 million.

It can now be revealed Gusmao was promised the job as Executive Secretariat of the CPLP on the proviso he resign from the Prime Ministership of East Timor. This Gusmao was happy to do for the lucrative job of heading up the nine nation CPLP -- Portugal, Brazil, East Timor, Guinea-Bissau, Angola, Equitorail Guinea, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe.

East Timor’s government has spent a lot of time since gaining its independence ‘cow-towing’ to its former colonial ruler. It has spent millions of East Timor’s oil money on ‘cosying' up to the nine nations. Many government jobs that should have gone to East Timorese have been given to Portuguese 'consultants'.

Just recently, East Timor spent millions on paying the monthly salaries of government employees of Guinea-Bissau.

Mozambique’s Murade Isaac Miguigy Murargy, the current Executive Secretariate, was to step down from his two year term, which would have allowed Gusmao to assume the ‘prestigious’ role, however, the member States changed their mind as late as August to keep Murade Isaac Miguigy Murargy on for a further two year term.

Gusmao was furious at the snub, which was the real reason behind him committing to his full term as East Timor’s PM.

Many believe the rebuke of Gusmao was due to the level of corruption, the continued high unemployment rate, poor health care, and the extent of poverty and malnutrition that continues to exist in East Timor despite the nation’s $16 billion petroleum fund.