Emails reveals links of Duzac with Ecuadorian ministers

Duzac’s relation with Ecuador is published

Recently the assembly members Maria Paula Romo and Betty Amores (Ruptura) showed an email that links the businessman Gaston Duzac and Pedro Elosegui with senior government officials, including the president himself.

Yesterday, the assembly members publicly delivered such mails to the Prosecutor’s Office in order to to be investigated and continue with the respective lawsuits. According to the emails, the relation date back to September 7, 2010, when Duzac wrote to Francisco Almeida Vivanco, who was a member of the Technical Secretariat of the Trust AGD CFN No more impunity, regarding the problems he had to carry out his business.

“Elosegui and Duzac were not just some Argentines that arrived to the country, there was a relationship of at least two years, with several ministers of the state and particularly the head of state,” said Amores, who later read a mail where Elosegui writes to the president: “Dear Rafael, Argentinean businessmen have taken over the management of the company Induequipos, majority-owned by the State, through a contract with STF, where the state has a 95% of investment returns. They have established already, and are willing to start working and investing in Ecuador. At this time we have advanced with partnerships with  Magap, the Ministry for the Coordination of Production … They want the same treatment as other potential bidders and since Induequipos installation procedures have been delayed, we will be sending back to the minister (Stanley) Vera and Miguel Carvajal along with León Santiago, the proposal during the course of the week. I asked Stanley and Santiago to review the proposal with the care of the case, coming from a company’s financed by the State. Both Pedro Delgado and Max Ruiz are aware of this proposal.”

Maria Paula Romo (L) with Betty Amores

“Rafael, I find it very important the current interest  to invest in Ecuador, I’ve contacted the minister (Maria de los Ángeles) Duarte for the airlines and they expect to progress. I send you a big hug.” Elosegui then wrote another letter on December, 29, 2011 (the same date when Duzac received the loan) to  Nathalie Cely, then Minister of Production, to Santiago León, director of Customs, and Stanley Vera, Minister Agriculture. In this document, he talks about a silos project in Daule made by the company Induequipos, which was already administered by Agroexportadora,  a Duzac’s company.

However, during that time the President reiterated on numerous occasions not knowing Duzac and even referred to him as a crook. Romo added that, as a citizen, she has the obligation to deliver the information to the Prosecutor’s Office. Amores said “the mail of December 2011 contains  several messages, in which, apparently Elosegui (former teammate of President at the University of Illinois) intervenes, also Nathalie Cely (back then the Minister Coordinator of Production and current U.S. ambassador), and other officials, including the brother-in-law of Pedro Delgado, Francisco Endara.”

It should be noted that in December 2011, Duzac obtained a loan of USD 800 000, using guarantees of seized enterprises (Rocafuerte Agricultural Insurance and Mercedes), then it turned out that there was no guarantees, which immediately sparked off a scandal last summer.