June 22, 2022

10:06

Eliziane Paiva – Amazon Agency

MANAUS – Accompanied by friends, co-workers, family and an audience occupying almost the maximum capacity of the auditorium of the Court of Amazonas State Accounts (TCE/AM), located in the neighborhood Aleixo, South-Central Zone of Manaus, Fernanda Cantanhede Veiga Mendonça, prosecutor of accounts for 23 years, took office, on the morning of Tuesday, 21, the post of attorney general of the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPC) for the biennium 2022/2024.

Appointed by the governor of the State of Amazonas, Wilson Lima, in a decree published in the Official Journal, on June 3, the prosecutor was highlighted by the president of the TCE/AM, Érico Desterro, for being the first and “still” only woman prosecutor in the entity.

“The first woman to hold a position as prosecutor of the Court, again, returns to the post as prosecutor-general. I am not afraid to say that the new prosecutor will follow a path of functional independence and balance”, emphasized the president of TCE, responsible for swearing in the new prosecutor-general.

In office since 1999, Fernanda has worked in different areas, especially in the “Infrastructure and Accessibility” coordinator, a position she held until now. Cantanhede takes over as prosecutor general of the MPC in a special session held by the court and will fill the vacancy left by the former prosecutor João Barroso, who was in charge of the MPC for the last four years, the maximum time allowed by law for the position.

The former prosecutor general João Barroso wished the new MPC prosecutor good management and highlighted some of the activities carried out. “Despite having suffered the impact of the pandemic, we have not stopped these last four years. We did several actions and works in the field of environment, infrastructure and accessibility, with emphasis on the health field. It is with this public spirit that the MPC is renewed with the inauguration of the new prosecutor general, Fernanda Cantanhede. We wish all the success and harmony possible with the other powers and with the Amazon Court of Auditors”, said prosecutor João Barroso.

After signing possession, in a speech, and with an emotional voice, the prosecutor highlighted that she intends to work management in actions based on dialogue. “We are resuming our personal and professional lives and, more than ever, there is the need for unity of all who are involved in the TCE and MPC to continue providing a work of excellence to all. I intend to donate myself completely so that we can continue our mission to curb the deviation of public resources, so that we can have a society that sees the return of its taxes fully applied to the welfare of society,” said the then prosecutor general of the Public Ministry of Auditors.

No one is born a woman, one becomes one

The prosecutor started her speech remembering that she is in one of the most relevant positions in society and, mainly, being occupied, in its majority, by men. “In this scenario, I felt very honored and challenged to accept the position assigned to me, because the will I have to contribute to a more dignified and fair society is above ‘being a woman’.“

Fernanda highlighted how proud she is of being a woman and remembers that she went through discriminatory moments during her journey, and intolerance because of her gender and, even so, she didn’t lose her focus and commitment to the projects.

“I always worked with dedication to receive the necessary respect, so I thank the state governor for recognizing my work and valuing women”, she said.

Deeply moved, Fernanda Mendonça used an excerpt from the song “How great is my love for you”, by Roberto Carlos, to show her affection to the family members. In an assertive tone (and of protest), the prosecutor paraphrased Simone de Beauvoir, one of the French personalities who contributed to the struggles for gender equality, to close her speech: “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman”, concluded the new inductee.