PEACOCK INVASION CAUSES SNAKE MENACE by Freddy Agnelo Fernandes, Dubai

During my younger days we had a lot of toddy tapers in our village and their distilleries consumed a lot of wood to keep the fire burning, in distilling coconut fenni. Mostly the women of the backward class, from Betul us to roam the forests in our area and collect the dead wood and sell it to the toddy tapers, while their men worked in the fields and properties. It took a lot of wood to sustain the good number of toddy tapers and their tedious profession.

GOAN OCCUPATION 1961 AND IRAQ LIBERATION 2003 BY Agnelo Gomes, Combakar

Goa was Invaded and Bombarded during Invasion by Indian military in 1961 destroying Dabolim Airport, Emissora de Goa (radio station of Goa), Government buildings, Bridges, etc and raised Indian flag on Goan territory. Deceived the United Nations and the world community calling that was the Liberation. An aggression uncalled by Goans of the soil.

GLOBAL GOANS AND THEIR SUPPORT TO GOA by A. Veronica Fernandes, Kuwait

I am an Indian citizen not by my own choice but by force imposed on me by the Government of India on 19th December 1961 and thru this force Government of India stationed in New Delhi forced Indian citizenship on me.

WHILE GOA IS IN CHAOS, GOVERNMENT TO PARTY IN LONDON by Adv. Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar

Goa is reeling under a host of serious issues due to a government that has become dysfunctional and apathetic to the people’s concerns. The Aam Aadmi is raging with fury and disgruntled. Almost every decision taken by this government over the last four years has either been kept on hold by the government if not stayed and quashed by the Courts.

DOG DAY AFTERNOON ( AND MORNING AND NIGHT ) by Dr. Oscar Rebello, Goa

Dr. Rosario Menezes, the ever smiling effervescent and genial pediatrician from Vasco has been screaming hoarse about the dangers of Rabies in Goa, for years now. Mostly his advice has been ignored or at times, even ridiculed by the motley bunch of vociferous ‘animal lovers’.

And now, predictably, the chickens or shall we say the dogs have come home to roost.

The number of dog bite cases in our little state has increased so dramatically, that it almost certainly competes with the number of mining leases the Digambar Kamat government dishes out every month. If you do not die of mining pollution, there is a good chance you may die of rabies, in style.

I understand the morally sound and very persuasive arguments put forth by the sincere champions of animal rights and acknowledge the difficulty work put in by two of the most celebrated activists I know, the graceful and elegant Normal Alvares and Angela Kazi. Killing or torturing any form of life is perverse.

However, it is very evidently seems, the strategy is not working on the ground. The dogs are ferociously multiplying. The dogs are ferociously running around, the dogs are ferociously biting and many of the dogs are ferociously rabid.

So, from the human prism, I seek answers to a few of my very serious doubts.

1. How can anyone in our cities be sure that the confirmed rabid dogs have not bitten other stray animals, thus potentially delivering a rabies ‘dog’ – demic on our hands? Surely, strays do not have a complaint register, do they?

2. What if your child, unsupervised, gets licked by a rabid dog playing on the beach? often, kids also do not have a complaint register. Hence, if your child develops and dies of an encephalitis ( a brain infection), the virus could very well be a rabies virus and your pediatrician may be in the dark about it.

3. Any standard textbook mentions that Rabies Immune Globulin (RIG) must be given as standard prophylaxis for preventing rabies. RIG is expensive and almost never available in government hospitals. Hence, the standard rabies vaccine may not provide you 100 per cent cover. It is almost akin to using a ruptured condom and then taking yours bets on the pregnancy. Good luck mate!

4. Why is it that despite a great degree of love and compassion for animals in the western world, you never see strays frisking around as tourist attractions on the streets of Paris, London or New York. The only sophisticated stray currently running around there appears to be Rupert Murdoch and they are planning to assassinate him as well.

5. What if a red light minister or sarkari babu gets bitten by a stray dog, when apparently haggling for free fish at the market? Will we then see tangible, concreter action to rid the market of strays? Hell hath no fury like a minister bitten, but not shy.

6. Why is it that despite allegedly successful sterilization campaigns, the stray population multiplies faster than the Indian Mujaheedin?

7. Do we as doctors, consider rabies as a possible differential diagnosis in flaccid paralysis patients (weakness of lower limbs, upper limbs and face ) which ultimately kills. Rabies may not always present itself in its archetypal violent, aggressive neurological manifestation .

8. What is our strict enforcement of vaccination programmes for domesticated animals? Does anyone keep a log? Is there a fine on owners for non compliance? Did we know that even cat bites can lead to rabies? These creatures with ‘green eyes’ always cleverly escape public scrutiny.

9. Do I, as a tax paying or non tax paying citizen, have the inalienable human right to walk the streets of my town freely and fearlessly, not having to look over my shoulder as to when that crazy adorable son of a **** is going to bite my pants off or should is surrender that right to this nebulous and dangerous animal love?

10. Who pays compensation and costs of health care in case of rabies or should I even die in penury for this worthy cause. Statistics say that every dog bite leads to a negligible number of fatal rabies, but what if I am the fortunate one called to sacrifice my life? Am I prepared to be the hero? Has anyone even asked my permission if I was to be that hero? Has a memorial been erected to rabies victims in our country?

Let me confess. I abhor dogs!!Period ! Yeah, yeah! I know familiarargument goes, a dog is a man’s best friend and they have fluffy ears and they are loyal and all that jazz. But they also bite unprovoked.

I still recall fondly how, when on a home visit to see a patient, the domestic dog thought my tibia was fair game and sunk his bloody teeth into my leg. I had to take my shots, got paid a measly fee for my house call and had to endure the jolly guffaw of the pot-bellied owner when boomed,”Oh, Figo does that to only people he likes,” Heavens, what does he do to guys he hates?

So okay, maybe do not shoot them, torture them or position them. We all want our place in heaven after all. THE STRAYS MUST NECESSARILY GET OFF OUR STREETS and the animal lovers must show us the way, work out the solution. Now and pronto!

We, as Goans, have enough amount of misery inflicted on us by animals in our political arena. We do not need any further suffering of the whimsical, salivating teeth of our friendly, neighbor hood super dogs.

DR. OSCAR REBELLO'S REACTION ON DOG MENACE IN PANJIM by Freddy Agnelo Fernandes

Humans are God’s or nature’s prime creation, depending on what we believe, that is in God or in nature, and I have absolutely no doubt that any one of us, including Dr. Oscar and Dr Anjali for that matter, would not think twice of saving a human if it came to a definite choice between saving a human or an animal, not because we all hate animals but because we value human life more than any other form of life on this earth. Am I not right?

Now going back to Dr Oscar Rebello, I, more than any one else understand why he is being, once bitten twice shy of dogs. Most of us love dogs but at the same time fear them the most. As for me I would prefer tackling a snake than a dog any given day. Whenever I visit people, before I get off my bike or out of my car, I make sure that there are no dogs moving in the yard or compound, I have a phobia for other people’s dogs and especially stray dogs, the bigger the dog the more scared and terrified I am, even though I have always had a dog in my house, and it sure wasn’t for any social status, though there may be some who do it, like my dog is bigger and more ferocious than yours, the same like my house is bigger and better than yours, having said this, I would like to bring to the notice of Dr. Anjali, the reasons for the fear psychosis of being bitten by a dog.

If any dog growls, at any of us, it is enough to affect the smooth blood flow in our body and drench us in sweat and set our bones and joints rattling. I doubt any of us would be calm in a situation, where we have an unknown dog small or big with it’s mouth open, saliva dripping, displaying it’s canines in all it’s glory and making that dreaded sound “grrrrrr grrrrrr grrrrrr”. A sight like that could dry up anyone’s blood.

There are also some dogs that are dangerous enough, without ever displaying their emotions, they are the ones who will shake their tails till you are well within the range and than snap at you without any provocations, I would call them the smiling assassins. A dog bite is a dog bite no matter what, be it a pet or a stray and Dr. Anjali or anyone else should not be telling us that, fatality is a rarity even in a rabid dog bite. The affect of a dog bite is more mental, psychological and emotional rather than physical which makes it still worse.

I wonder how many rabid persons Dr. Anjali has seen or treated and that too in the latter stages. I have seen just one and that has blown my hackles to kingdom come. It’s a shattering image, once seen will never ever be forgotten, that every time you see a stray dog, it will come to the fore and shake you up to the core, I did have nightmares for the first few months and still have occasionally. People have seen and lot more have heard of the extreme effects of a rabid dog bite, and since it’s mostly impossible to tell if a dog is rabid or not, the fear psychosis and rightly so.

Would Dr. Anjali like to be a person who would like to follow the age old adage “prevention is better than cure”? Or let it happen to any one, if you survive you are lucky if not who cares, but dogs should not and must not, at any cost be targeted, isn’t this hypocrisy ?

There is one spot in the heart of Margao on the four road junction near Fatima Convent and the Police Station, with six schools and a college in that vicinity, can you imagine, only the number of children that go through that junction in a day ? With plenty of stray dogs there, it’s a disaster just waiting to happen. At night and early morning they chase bikes and cars, isn’t that scary? Would you risk your own children being bitten by stray dogs, rabid or not, I surely wouldn’t, and if it happened I would surely go on a shooting spree.

I know Dr. Anjali is fighting for a lot of social and environmental causes and admire her for it but her argument to justify that death is rare from rabid dog bite is both absurd and ridiculous. A dog bite especially from strays or pets that mix with other dogs should be prevented rather than looked to be treated; this should be our philosophy, if we are wise enough we should not be taking even a 1% chance that could prove fatal for any person loosing his or her precious life+ Vaccinations, sterilizations and medications are secondary which have to follow but the prime and primary objective should be the wellbeing of our fellow humans.

I don’t think even Dr. Anjali and her animal lovers would say otherwise. The preserve of human life should be our priority and to do that if animals especially strays have to become collateral damage, so be it. I too love animals and hope the endangered become populous at the earliest, but if they become a threat to human life they should go, and there should be no two ways about it. The sooner we understand it the better it will be.

I would like to ask Dr. Anjali, why humans who carry deadly infectious diseases are quarantined? If humans can be quarantined to safeguard other humans, why shouldn’t it be applied to dogs who carry deadly infectious diseases or even do away with them as preventive measures ? Isn’t our life worth more than a dog’s or is it?

THE GRAND GOVERNMENTAL SHRUG by Joaquim Correia-Afonso, Benaulim.

The print media of Goa had highlighted how the late Alban Couto’s work, even two years after his death in June 2009, has received only “a grand governmental shrug”.  The late IAS officer was the first Development Commissioner of Goa. Later he served as advisor to the governor during President’s rule and was also advisor to the Goa government. Before and after his stint in Goa, he served in Bihar, Delhi, Chennai and even in London, in the Commonwealth Secretariat. Lately, he had been appointed Chairman of the Goa State Finance Commission.

Couto always maintained an active interest in issues related to Goa, and had put forward many proposals and recommendations for implementation of projects for the benefit of Goa and Goans.

According to the media, Couto, while on a holiday in 2004, having come to know, that officials of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) were in Delhi, approached them and convinced the officials to visit Goa. After two years of discussions, at his own home, which was made to serve as his office, he managed, in 2007, a proposal to bring to Goa an over Rs. 1000 crore JICA project to augment and modernize water supply and set up sewerage systems. Government delayed this initiative for which Couto toiled tirelessly and It is only recently that the state has launched five of the over 20 packages included in the project.

While in Macau on official work, in 2006, Couto had submitted a proposal to set up biodegradable waste management facilities in two main cities – Panaji and Vasco. This being a project that would benefit the people, the “government for the people” promptly rejected it. And we have still not solved the problem of waste management. Apparently, land acquisition for waste “disposal” is more profitable, therefore the proposal for waste “management” was promptly shot down.

As Chairman of the second Goa State Finance Commission, Couto submitted the report in December 2007. The recommendations included functions and responsibilities of Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies as mandated under Articles 243G and 243W of the Constitution and the devolution of financial powers.

You all must have noticed that anything to do with increase or devolution of administrative and financial powers to the local self-government bodies, or with grass-roots governance, is taboo to our legislators, who want to retain the power in their hands and keep the local bodies under their thumb. The fact that the report has not yet been tabled in the Legislative Assembly, therefore, comes as no surprise. After so many years, it is more likely that government will term it as irrelevant now.

These same legislators are likely to come to our door just before the next elections due next year, if not earlier, seeking our votes to perpetuate their political circus and increase family representation in the Legislature. With proposals for pro-people projects being given “a grand governmental shrug”, it is high time we the people give the perpetual vote seekers “a grand people’s shrug”.

The print media of Goa had highlighted how, the late Alban Couto, who passed away a little over two years ago, had put forward many proposals and recommendations for implementation of projects for the benefit of Goa and Goans, but the same received only “a grand governmental shrug”.

The IAS officer always maintained an active interest in issues related to Goa, right up to his death in June 2009.

He was the first Development Commissioner of Goa. Later he served as advisor to the governor during President’s rule and was also advisor to the Goa government. Before and after his stint in Goa, he served in Bihar, Delhi, Chennai and even in London, in the Commonwealth Secretariat. Lately, he had been appointed Chairman of the Goa State Finance Commission.

DIGAMBAR’S NEW LOVE FOR TECHNOLOGY by Willie Menino Severes, Majorda (Dubai)

In 2010, Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat demanded to put a ban on social networking sites Facebook and Orkut. Today, it is nice to see the same CM using the technology of video conferencing to listen to the grievances of the aam admi.

It is understood that he will be attending to the grievances of the people of South Goa every Tuesday, from the South Goa District Office which will be connected to all municipalities and panchayats in South Goa through the internet, and every Friday for the people of North Goa from the North Goa District Office.

However this week his online interaction has been cancelled, as he is in Delhi and will not able to reach on time.

Why can't Digambar Kamat use the facility of video conferencing to interact with his advisors in Delhi? Our politico Babu's should stop wasting Goan taxpayer’s hard earned money, to make unnecessary trips to Delhi.

NIZ GOENKAR: A SITE DEDICATED TO GOA AND GOANS by Nisser Dias

At the very onset I would like to congratulate Menino Fernandes and his NIZ GOENKAR team for hosting, update and administer a very bold website dedicated to liberate Goa and Goans from the shackles of our own doing.

Be it mining – legal and illegal that is harming own brethren, destroying our environment and the natural beauty of a paradise on this earth called Goa. Rampant construction at the cost of our green hills, swaying palms, flowing fields, cascading springs and lakes, heritage structures and monuments and not forgetting our 104 km long coastal stretch. Acquisition of tracts of land belonging to people and the communidade for projects that are not really required for a small state like Goa. Communal division of Goan polity, politicization of police department, corruption at every level of governance, all this has been exposed on NIZ GOENKAR site.

More importantly Menino and his team dedicate a lot of time on the comments of Goan bloggers so as to give them importance. The comments of Goans be it in Goa or the diaspora Goans are so palpable that one can feel their anger against the present day government. Furthermore NIZ GOENKAR site is a window to all the diaspora Goans as it keeps them updated about the happenings and events in the mother state on a daily basis which even our popular dailies fail to do.

Kudos to Menino and his team for not only updating the site on regular basis, but dedicating themselves to cause and that is to maintain Goenkarponn and at the same time educate people of Goa to bring about a change in governance. To elect a government that will work for Goa and Goans and not a government made up of self-centered, communal politicians.

Through hard work, dedication, perseverance and enthusiasm NIZ GOENKAR team has made the government, police, politicians and politicians –in-waiting to sit up and take notice and be wary of the team because Menino and co, have stood up to the pressures of the police and politicians.

All the best in your new venture and I earnestly hope that NIZ GOENKAR site will bring about the required change.

Nisser Dias

(Journalist)

TIATRIST STOP FOOLING US - WEARING KAXTTI! by Ramesh Naik, Pajifond – Margao

Hats of, to Willie Severes (Majorda - Dubai), for pointing out a very wrong practice followed by our tiatrist in his open letter to Shri Tomazinho Cardozo (president of tiatr academy). His letter was recently published in Niz Goenkar web site.

Here is another Tiatrist who is fooling us.

“Mothers Day” – a tiatr By Milagres de Chandor is running all over Goa. Being a true lover of tiatr I too was carried away by the crowd to the auditorium recently.

Milagres advertises, that in his tiatr, the audience will see a man wearing a “Kaxtti” on stage, and that he shows an ‘amazing bungalow’ on the stage.

In his drama the ‘Kaxtti’ scene followed by a black out does not even last for 7 seconds. Also the bungalow set is designed with one entry at the side, which does not even look like it’s a bungalow.

It may be recalled that Shri. C. D. Silva has done many roles on stage wearing kaxtti. He has also done a full-length tiatr wearing Kaxtti. Late. Prem Kumar’s hit tiatr “Vauradi” (1978) also had talented cast wearing Kaxtti. Tiatr’s shown for KA tiatr competion’s mostly has cast who have acted many times wearing a Kaxtti. A one-act play (“Mateicho valor” -1995) by Jose Fernandes of Majorda also displays the writer wearing kaxtti for 25 min on stage. So how can Milagres proclaim that he shows cast wearing Kaxtti on stage and just for 7 seconds, When this has been already done in past for a way longer duration?

Also it may be recalled the Shri Samuel Carvalho also has shown an excellent bungalow set in one of his tiatr (Purtugez Goykar) recently. So how can Milagres say it’s amazing, when the audience has already seen amazing bungalow sets on the stage before?

Are Tiatrist taking all of us for granted? Is Tiatr not for Aam Admi? Or is it money-making racket nowadays?

I would strongly recommend, Millagres to stop advertising in this manner and in future make a study before advertising. Also to go and watch what other directors are showing in their Tiatr’s. So that you are also on the same page as others and not left way back in the race.

Also I would suggest that the ‘Tiatr Academy’ and all Tiatr related associations, should put a stop on such type of advertisements which are published with a wrong message, as it also hurts the feelings of other Directors and their Fans, who have also done this before.

And for your kind information Milagres, Revolving stage and Sliding stage are already done by Late Rosario Rodrigues and Roseferns. It should not be for your next “Fathers Day”.

Is this why you call yourself “Kings Father”? Matxe chint re papia!

USELESS SECURITY ALERTS BY GOA POLICE by Willie Menino Severes, Majorda (Dubai)

In view of the unfortunate and sad Mumbai serial blasts that occurred on Wednesday, Goa has been put on terror alert, informed the Superintendent of Police, Special branch, Mr Atmaram Deshpande.He said that an alert has been sounded at all border check posts, coastal police stations and other vital installations as a precautionary and security measure.

This is a common scenario that happens in Goa whenever there are bomb blasts in Mumbai and other parts of the country. The home ministry seems to wake from a deep sleep to ensure high level security during these times. But, what about other days? What about criminals who have already entered into the state and are entering on daily basis and the police are not even aware of it? What is the use of useless security alerts when are our "levtte" politicians are patronizing these criminals in the state for their selfish benefits?

With Goa as a major tourist destination, our efficient home ministry and police force should check on the rampage influx of criminals in the state, before Goa becomes the next Mumbai of the country.

THE CODE OF CONDUCT MUST BE ENFORCED NOT JUST HUNG ON THE WALL by Freddy Agnelo Fernandes, Dubai

I am sure many of us when young, were much impressed by the intrigue and the escapades of Robin Hood and wanted to emulate him, even though he was barred and outlawed by the then selfish and self centered Prince John who ruled in the absence of his elder brother King Richard the Lion Hearted of England. Robin Hood use to rob the rich and help the poor. Robin Hood was our childhood hero.

In contrast what should we call our police in Goa who actually should have been our heroes but somehow end up robbing even the loved ones, of the dead and the survivors of a tragedy ? Pathetic and gruesome ! In the days of the Wild West shooting people in the back and robbing the dead was considered to be the worst crimes, which were unacceptable in society even then, but today our very own protectors and the adjudicators of the law do the despicable.

I am sure the tragedy at Cabo-de-Rama last week, must have rocked many a minds, swelled many eyes and shattered many a hearts, tragic as it indeed was our police could only think of how to induce pecuniary benefits, instead of consoling and easing the pain of the loved ones of the unfortunate dead and the horrified surviving friends, it was torture and anguish that they were put through by our greedy and corrupt police. Just because many of the police had to pay huge amounts to get into their uniforms, does it justify asking for bribes form the grieving and the anguished ? Were the Authorities bribed to fleece the unfortunate ? Homes, families and neighbourhoods are shattered, life will never be the same for these surviving children and the parents of the dead and all that our police can think of is money ? Disgusting and repulsive indeed !

I request the Authorities in the police and the home department, to infuse and implement the code of conduct that hangs on the wall of every police station and the Law machinery, let it not be a show piece for the visitors to read but for the inmates to apply and follow, and the motto “to protect and to serve the land and its people by upholding the law with honesty and dignity” be the weapon of goodwill. If our police can be our heroes why would we need a Robin Hood ? Only then can we “Dil khol ke bol Satyameva Jayate” !

PARRIKAR SMACKS OF PIMP’S MENTALITY by Rupert Coutinho, Dubai

Parrikar’s assurance to settle the issue of regularising the houses at Indira Nagar in Chimbel is cheap, disgraceful and is a mind of frustration of a desperate and disillusioned CM-in-waiting.  Can Goans accept that their land be taken away and given free of cost to outsiders?

These acts are more worst than even the prostitution and murders. The areas will only be another breeding ground for slums, thrash and crimes to flourish in the social environment.  Parrikar knows how to change the rules of the game and has been the master of it which is now taken as a precedent and a useful guidance by some of his successors vis a vis the Navelim farmers protesting against rehabilitation of migrants on their agricultural lands with another anti-Goan from Varca calling the shots.

Parrikar’s image is waning and with the rise of Axis of Evil and some lunatics from Bedxellolem Bharatiyancho Saunstha, his cosmetic image of Good Politician and God Governance has been unmasked and exposed. An old octogenarian is a PM- in-Waiting at the Rape Capital of the world but everyone knows for sure that the day will never come and RSS will have to write a chapter in their Ideological History glorifying an ex-dy-PM who remained forever-in-waiting.

Ethnic Goas too will be blessed immensely if they keep Parrikar forever as the CM-in-Waiting & as a chapter to remember for he could not change and prevent the takeover of Goan land by outsiders despite having ruled comfortably for over 4 years.

GOA VOTES II: VOTING PILGRIMAGE TOURS TO NASIK/VALANKANI by Emediavoices, Goa

There is no restricted term or age level for your ministers and even the morgues are not welcoming them for everlasting storage. The candidates possess no law and order qualification yet they are offered Goan blood honorary degrees by the universities or colleges from accident victims or blood banks.

In some parts of Goa, they have imported Ghantis for the votes and their ration cards are submitted in hours and in days the Ghantis appear on the voting lists. Is there any one in real control of Goa or Sonia Mata?

The Governor is abandoned on the island of Black Sea; the CM’s lips are stitched upto the throat like the barrao tonsils of the pig. The Election Commissioner is the finger print of the fools. The police are acting like goondas and the rowdies manage the streets of Goa. The famous freedom fighter Karmali railway station has become a Fatorda Ghanti stadium and the beautiful lake adjoining it is turned into a shit Old Goa gutter.

Remember Goans: your corrupt politicians will be jobless if they losses or you have to sacrifice the job for them for next 5 years. Ultimately he pays you for a one minute vote and you have to repay them their chair. You pay lakhs of rupees to acquire a public servant job and to the bosses you pay 500 rupees slice of your shit. Democratic country, bureaucratic state, evil or narcotic governance has failed to address the real suffering of Goan people.

Yes the politicians and their cronies take a direct flight from Goa to Middle East to reclaim their election booties and haftas from Goan Sheikhs. Indirect flight losses central command blessing and Goa custom route is the namaste solution for their safe loot. Blog to say! Your Politicians are bxxxxxxs. Their mothers would have cursed their acts if they were alive today for giving births to demons.

And the licking dogs of Congress are given the promise of a bone “If you returns me the corrupt chair again so shall you polish and shine my foot or future” If I win so shall you and you will be given a free pilgrimage tour to Baba Mandir in Nasik (Hindus) or Valanka tour (Christians).Sounds miracles for Modkoikar or Churchill constituency Goans. We speak facts and not lie.

GOAN! DON’T ALLOW STATE POLITICS TO BE A FAMILY AFFAIR by Nisser Dias

Benaulim MLA and former Tourism minister Mickky Pacheco last week spelt out his plans for the forth coming assembly election slated for 2012. His disclosure of fielding candidates in all the 40 constituencies did not really come as a surprise, because it is an open secret that the present lot of MLAs, especially those of the India’s oldest political party Congress and others affiliated to it (coalition MLAs) have plans to get their family members into the political scenario.

Goans have been bemoaning the level of corruption in the present day government led by the beleaguered chief minister Digambar Kamat, who has given a ‘carte blanc’ to his ministers to loot, rob and plunder the Goa’s exchequer and rape Goa of its natural beauty through illegal mining and blatant construction with the blessing of the ministers by cutting hills, sand dunes and filling low lying areas.

With such malpractices and illegal activities almost all the ministers in the Kamat led coalition government have amassed wealth to sustain their generation to come but are still not satisfied, so much so that they want to bring in their children and spouses not only to amass ill-gotten wealth, but also to hold the government to ransom when either a police complaint or criminal case is ought to be registered against them for their illegal activities.

Infact PWD minister and Navelim MLA Churchill Alemao has used such tactics during this tenure when he threatened to topple the government if Mickky Pacheco was inducted in the ministry by dropping Revenue minister Jose Philip D’souza and a second time was when Education minister Babush Monserrate was caught at the Bombay airport with huge amounts of currency Indian as well as foreign.

Nobody will forget that Churchill Alemao not only strong-armed his way into Kamat led government using toppling bid, but at the same time unseated Sudin Dhavlikar from the ministry and bagged the plum PWD portfolio with which he is alleged to have amassed huge wealth. Now he wants to introduce his daughter Valanka Alemao into the state politics. Joaquim Alemao wants to introduce his son Yuri Alemao. God forbid if four members of a family are given the mandate by the people of the state, there will be no end to ransom games of Churchill Alemao, till his will is done. Lest we forget Churchill was the first legislator to start toppling trend in Goa way back in 1991 and that too during his very first stint in the assembly. He toppled Pratapsing Rane to become the chief minister of 19 days and then handed the reins to Dr. Proto Barbosa.

Whether Congress party gives ticket to all the four members of a family is to be seen. At the last hustings Joaquim Alemao bagged the Congress ticket, while Churchill had got elected on Save Goa party. History is going to repeat itself this time too and he knows it well. PWD minister has his office in Varca, however there is no Congress party flag nor the picture of the president of the party Sonia Gandhi decorating it. Of course Valanka has recently pictured with Rahul Gandhi but those are for the attics. Besides introducing his family members, he is likely to bank-roll some other candidates in the state who will later owe allegiance to him.

Unlike Churchill, Benaulim MLA Mickky Pacheco has not been discreet and loud mouth that he is has disclosed his plans. The former minister has not been in power for almost two years, it would be amusing to observe how he finances forty candidates in the state. Ironically for the last more than two years he was grooming a candidate for Benaulim constituency, however the person backed out after Pacheco alleged told him to keep Rs. Four crores ready for elections expenses. Mickky too has introduced his partner Viola for Cortalim constituency. But is yet to be seen whether the government scuttles his plans by reserving the constituency for Schedule Tribe community.

Likewise Health minister Viswajit Rane is alleged to be grooming his wife to replace his father’s seat in case Pratapsing Rane was nominated for Rajya Sabha. However with renomination of Shantaram Naik, we will have to wait and watch the developments. Education minister Babush Monseratte has already announced that he would be contesting the next assembly election against Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar in the Panjim constituency. Jennifer Monseratte wife of Babush is likely to contest from Taleigao.

Then we have Home minister Ravi Naik backing his son Roy Naik to contest in Mayem assembly constituency. Roy has a colourful background as in recent times he has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Then we have Subhash Narvekar brother of Dayanand Narvekar who is trying his luck again. Revenue minister Jose Philip D’souza’s brother Pascoal D’souza is contemplating to jump in the fray. Two Dhavlikar brothers are already in the scene.

This is the scenario as of now, as time draws closer there will surely be some other developments. But the question before us today is, should we allow these handful of self centered political families to rule 15 lakh population. Till recently some handful of families had raped Goa of its mining reserves, but today some politicians have got a share in it through either machinery being deployed in the mines or transportation or illegal mining and even robbing mine ore and selling it.

The current politicians have made bureaucrats IPS as well GPS their puppets one can easily imagine what they will do when they have numbers in terms of family members to support them in their evil designs. Jobs are dished out not on merit basis but the basis of who can shell out the price tag on the designated position.

The police department is totally politicized; the men in uniform conduct investigation as per the whims and fancies of politicians. At the moment the police are not protecting those who pay their wages, but those who pay their bribes.

At the moment Digambar Kamat led government is not functioning as a government should but as per the dictum of the ministers. What will happen when we have family members as legislators. Will they not demand that all of them be made ministers and then demand lucrative portfolios.

Coming election they will dish out biryani, chicken, alcohol and Rs 500 to vote for them but in turn they will reap crores of rupees for the next five years. Fellow Goans! The upcoming state assembly elections are very crucial to Goa and Goans. If we cast our ballot in favour of these political families we are surely doomed. If there are any Goans worth their salt, spread the message to vote against those who are introducing their kith and kin to hold Goa ransom and destroy it to oblivion.

BJP WINS SANTA CRUZ, WE WILL WORK TO LEGALISE CHIMBEL HOUSES: PARRIKAR TELLS MIGRANTS by Freddy Agnelo Fernandes, Dubai

Parrikar tells migrants of Chimbel, if they elect BJP candidate from Santa Cruz at the next election within three months he will get their illegal dwellings legalized. An ideal situation, a smart ass boy telling his pregnant friend even though he is not the father, that if her father can give him a good paying job he’ll merry her and that too even before the bulge is visible.

So that the illegitimate become legitimate, if not, let it remain illegitimate but assures the girl that he’ll fight anyone and everyone who wants to outcast the child, because of it’s illegitimate stature, a bastard. How very ingenious and convenient, isn’t it ?

We have always been complaining about the black coats, turning white into black and black into white in courts without even a dent in their conscience or souls. Now it’s the turn of our politicians to do the same. Our erstwhile CM and present leader of the opposition too is ready to take on the High Court if it orders demolition of the illegal dwellings.

Parrikar has vowed to fight to the end to legalize the illegal dwellings of migrants on Chimbel hill. Down south we have the CM who is trying to legalize illegal migrant dwellings at Kharebandh and Monti dongor, then we have the big man from Varca supporting Rahejas the mega builder, an outsider, trying to legalize their illegalities, then we have the deputy speaker and MLA of Cortalim trying to legalize the mega project of an outsider at Cansaulim. It’s indeed reassuring to note that there are some people in the Goa Assembly, for whatever reasons, are ready to fight to save the dwellings of people whoever they may be.

But I am a very confused soul at the moment, people in coastal Goa have been having nightmares because of the implementation of the CRZ ordinance, some of the dwellings have been demolished, even Khariwada at Vasco was not spared. But a leading miner’s star hotel was saved by an overnight ordinance, so the cause of confusion is, why are coastal Goans not even getting any sympathy from our very own elected politicians, leave alone ordinances to save our dwellings ?

But for the migrants and the rich and the affluent our politicians go out of the way and put even their political careers at stake, challenging the High Court and even the Supreme Court’s orders and directives. Agar unlog ka khoon, khoon hai, hamara khoon kya panni hai ?

Our humble dwellings may not be the biggest, the best or even legal but they are our dream homes, for the migrants their shanties, for the bigwigs their condominiums and for us coastal Goans our small houses, they are the result of our hard work and sweat. If there are rules, they should be for all in equal measures and if there is sympathy, that too, should be for all in equal measures.

There should not be one set of rules for the rich and the affluent to save their illegal structures, or another set of rules to legalize the illegal structures of migrants and one set of rules only for coastal Goans, whose hearts have so truly bled, bereft of support from our very own elected politicians.

There are a good number of votes along the entire Goan coast, are there any takers, or are our votes not as good as the votes of Indira Nagar at Chimbel or Monti dongor in Margao ? Goans it’s time to ponder and give a befitting answer!

TWO YOUNGSTERS DROWN AT CABO-DE-RAMA by Freddy Agnelo Fernandes, Dubai

As usual news papers bring us good, bad, ugly and shattering news and pictures. This case of drowning at Cabo-de-Rama is shattering indeed, what must be the state of the parents and the family members of the dead children ? My deepest sympathies and condolences to the parents and the loved ones.

This is the second instance of drowning during rainy season in the last two years, last year or year before three residents of Khola took a plunge into the rough sea while fishing on the north-western side of Cabo-de-Rama two were rescued by Navy helicopters, one died. So also in Canaguinim a few years ago a middle aged man lost his life saving four children from drowning. This present drowning took place on the south-eastern side of Cabo-de-Rama. There is no doubt that this entire area is very scenic and a very good fishing spot as well, especially during the rainy season but utmost care must be taken not to go too close to the sea. Even during the normal season the Rajbagh beach near Cabo-de-Rama is dangerous for swimming as more often than not it has very strong undercurrents and I say this from experience and not hearsay.

There were at least two articles of mine published in the news papers about the dangers of venturing into the sea at Cabo-de-Rama and Canaguinim especially during the rainy season. We the residents of that area know the sea well and hence even though most of us are good swimmers we seldom venture near the rocks but outsiders somehow think its safe and learn the truth the hard way. I am told that these children were there without the knowledge of the parents and they were taking photographs around the rocks when a huge wave forced three of them off the rock and into the sea, two drowned one saved, it is such a waste of valuable life.

I request all Goans who like the sea and want to have fun, be careful, it is only if you are alive that you can have fun, any visitors to Cabo-de-Rama and Canaguinim especially during the rainy season stay away from the sea, it can and has swallow life.

ARE WE GOANS A WORTHY ELECTORATE? by Freddy Agnelo Fernandes, Dubai

The first general elections in Goa were held in December 1963, where the MGP won a slim majority over the United Goans, but with the support of independents the MGP led by the wealthy mine owner Dayanand Bandodkar ruled Goa for a full term. This was the first time Goans tasted the freedom to vote their own government. Goans were ecstatic !

In 1965 this same MGP which was voted to protect the Identity and the rights of Goa and Goans tabled a resolution in the Goa Assembly for Goa’s merger with Maharashtra, the custodians turned traitors and there was a deep sense of disquiet among many Goans but the United Goans in the opposition led by the then opposition leader Dr. Jack Sequeira did not leave any stone unturned to force the issue into a referendum as a result of which, we had the historic Opinion Poll in January 1967, when the “two leaves” (anti merger) prevailed over the “flower” (pro merger) by around 35000 votes, where the slogan of “Amchem Goem amkam zai” gave a befitting answer to the “zalach paije” and Goans sighed a sigh of relief.

What followed the elections in March 1967 was indeed ghoulish, even after the treacherous attempt to sell Goa, the same MGP traitors were voted back to power, this was indeed adding insult to injury to the efforts of the Goans who fought hard to protect and preserve our Goan Identity. The traitors themselves benefited from the result of the Opinion Poll, as they ruled Goa for nearly two decades. Did we Goans not lack any sense of general etiquette ? Where else on earth could people have elected back traitors that wanted to sell their own land but, Goa ! It was here that the ghastly community influenced tendencies of the Goan electorate were exposed at high noon.

In March 1972 the same MGP was again the ruling clique in Goa with help of the majority community along with the ST/SC/BC community as the integral part of this mundane amalgamation. What do we learn for these past elections ? Isn’t the blood of our community thicker than the cause of our land ?

August 1973 was the end of an era, with the death of the uncanny Bandodkar, the daughter was elected as the next CM of Goa, to take it up from where her father had left off and the birth of a new generation equally community inclined and inbred sprung from the same morbid shoot.

The elections in June 1977 were no different, the MGP again ruling the roost, by then the community influenced tentacles were well and truly entrenched but were not as effective as in the past. With the death of Bandodkar a slight vacuum was created but the void got bigger, this indeed was the birth of the power struggle in Goa. Goan politicians were infected by “The Power Bug” as a result of which MPG did not last a full term.

In April 1979 the MGP lost it’s ruling majority for the first time in two decades and perhaps that was the unofficial last rites for the MGP in Goa’s power grid and within a week Presidents rule was imposed, a legacy of the Central Government was established on Goan soil for the first time in history. Hereon starts the second phase of our sorry Goan political etiquette, as the Goan political enigma started transcending well beyond the abyss.

January 1980, elections gave birth to what looked like a friendly dragon called the Congress in Goa for the first. All of a sudden the community influenced tentacles were uprooted overnight by a sensible majority and the eager change seeking minorities, but then it was the case of the same old Johns back in business but at a different brothel. A lot of old faces in newer “avtars”, the saying “rats leave the sinking ship in packs” did manifest it’s self.

With the Congress in power for the first time in Goa, people were optimistic; the minorities let down their frowns and their anxieties and embraced Congress with open arms. Again in December 1984 Congress was reelected back to power on the wave of secularism but then as our politicians refused the take the antidote, “the power bug” infection spread to one and all in the Vidhan Sabha, and the once thought friendly dragon was now breathing out fierce corruption. The popularity of the Congress was on the ebb and in 1986 along with collapse of the Mondovi bridge, snapped the band of Goan unity and our politicians to safeguard their chairs and power divided Goans on the issue of the official language.

For the first time in Goa’s history violence erupted on the streets and only after the death of a few, the Congress government was forced to make Konkani the official language of Goa in 1987. A few months later on 12th August 1987 Goa was declared the 25th State of the Indian Union. With the gift of Konkani and statehood, Goans overlooked the corrupt practices of the Congress and in November 1989 election Goans witnessed an absurd situation, of a hung Assembly with both the MGP and the Congress claiming equal seats, subsequently as the dead lock could not be broken, Presidents rule was enforced in December 1990. In 1989 we also witnessed the molestation issue that rocked the Vidhan Sabha. With Statehood the number of crooks in the Vidhan Sabha also increased from 30 to 40, ten more making merry at the cost of the tax payers, adding unnecessary burden on the state’s finances.

During the Konkani movement we had the birth of yet another friendly looking dragon in the political arena, Goans and more so the South Goans, rallied behind the man who had fought for Konkani, who had reignited their beliefs that this “Sikander” would lead Goans to the “Promised Land”, a man who promised the moon and the sun to the people of Goa, of what followed the less said the better, as Goans and Konkani were left out to dry in the sun and rough weather, while his personal fortunes raced to newer heights. He had tasted blood and was indeed hungry and thirsty for more.

It was at this juncture that there was a mad rush for the CM’s chair, as the orchestra from Delhi played symphony for the “musical chairs“ in the Goa Assembly, integrities were sold , bought and resold like hot cakes on Christmas eve to the highest bidders, so much so that in a couple of years we had as many as five different Chief Ministers trying to hold on to the most coveted seat in the Goa Assembly but in vain. Even after all this “funfair” in the name secularism Goans re-elected Congress back with a massive majority in January 1995, but now it was the turn of the Congress to sell Goa to the highest bidder in the name of development, when we had the agitation against the polluting DuPont, as our corrupt politicians tried to force pollution down the gullet of Goans.

The sale of Goa had already began and the writing was on the wall but again pseudo secularism reelected the Congress with an absolute majority but with the “Power Bug” getting incessant it did not last long and soon with the decline of the MGP, the BJP took it’s first bite at Goa with it’s communal teeth. The BJP built their empire on the foundation of treachery but then the BJP was toppled by the very same treacherous elements that had brought them to power, proving that treachery has no friends or relatives on its path of treachery. But not before the IFFI filled some personal coffers in the BJP but then as usual declared righteous by the court of Law, the question still haunts, has any politician been convicted in Goa ?

In March 2005 President’s rule was imposed on Goa yet again but Congress was back in power in June 2005 after winning 4 out of the 5 by election seats. By now the integrity of the Goan politicians dipped to even lower depths. Credibility and the sanctity of Goa’s political institution was reduced to that of a mere brothel, elected representatives changed parties and affiliations, marriages, divorces and remarriages at the drop of a buck. The internal bouts and mud slinging was never worse, all for the sake of power and position, but somehow the Congress boat kept a float through thick and thin, but Congress were still victorious at the June 2007 elections.

During the June 2007 election horse trading was at its lethal best. The seat distribution was the bone of contention; tickets for family members and desired constituencies were wrestled and wrangled for, threats and challenges rang in like bolts of thunder and lightening in the air, parties discarded, new parties formed but at the end of it all, Prodigal sons were not only absolved and absorbed through reunions again but also rewarded with prime and plump ministries, proving once again that loyalties and treacheries mean nothing in Goan politics.

From 1963 to 1979 it was the MGP that won election on the back of community politics, at that time literacy was just taking shape in Goa. In that era people blindly voted for the MGP as a sign of solidarity that’s the reason UG never won the community influenced battle and disintegrated.

Since 1980, at the fall of the MGP citadel, the Congress on it’s pseudo secular agenda won over the confidence of the majority and the minorities welcomed them with open arms, at this juncture the minority community played it’s community influenced card infused by the Church in Goa. With the help of a secular majority and the community influenced minority, Congress had come to stay in Goa, in-between BJP tried to influence the majority with it’s communal agendas but Goans did not fall for it and since then Congress has came to power by “default”, even though scams where the order of the day, Goans preferred corruption to communalism, as lesser evil was the better evil, but who was the judge of the lesser or greater evil ? So I ask, are we Goans a worthy electorate ? Did our vote do justice to the democratic beliefs and values of our Country ? Or how easily, do we get influenced by colour, caste, creed, religion, money and insecurities ?

There is yet another election looming up and just round the corner and our corrupt pseudo secular, and the communal elements are already at work dividing and influencing people, whereas there are some, who are trying real hard to take credit for the work done by others, there are yet others who think Goan politics is their personal inherited domain and fiefdom, and want to make it a family business, there are yet others waiting in the wings licking their lips in anticipation, anxious to sink their teeth for a bite of the “pie” called Goa.

We all know the facts as they stand but the million dollar question is, will we Goans use our educated and literate statures to elect without bias or malice, worthy candidates and show the world that we Goans indeed are a worthy electorate?

SOMETHING OUR ADVOCATE GENERAL SHOULD LEARN FROM THE SOLICITOR GENERAL by Adv. Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar

Solicitor General of India Mr. Gopal Subramaniam has rightly resigned on being slighted by the Government on not being consulted in the appointment of a private lawyer to appear in the 2G scam case. By resigning he has upheld the dignity of that high constitutional post he holds as the second highest ranking Law officer of the country.

In sharp contrast Advocate General of Goa Mr. Subodh Kantak remains unfazed though slighted on so many occasions. The former Governor of Goa Mr. S.C.Jamir had even appointed a special legal advisor at Raj Bhavan in a clear rebuff to the Advocate General. More recently the Goa Raj Bhavan has engaged a private lawyer to represent it before the High Court bypassing a constitutionally appointed Advocate General who is otherwise supposed to tender legal advice and appear on behalf of the Governor.

It is a sad State of affairs when persons holding important constitutional positions also become thick skinned like the politicians. At least Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam has asserted that all is not lost and that there is still some room of hope for ethics and morality to maintain the dignity of high constitutional posts.

GOA ARCHBISHOP NEEDS TO PRACTICE WHAT HE PREACHES by Adv. Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar

Goa Archbishop Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao’s recent call for zero tolerance to child sexual abuse is laudable. But he needs to explain his own inaction in the 2004 Ribandar case where the then Parish Priest of Ribandar Father Newton Rodrigues was allegedly involved in the molestation of a 13 year old parishioner just before midnight mass.

I had personally met the Archbishop in 2004 and sought his intervention. As requested by him I had also submitted a written complaint to him with all the facts. He was also fully aware that the Moderator of the Ribandar Parish Pastoral Council had resigned over what was going on at the Ribandar Church. But for reasons best known to him Archbishop Ferrao chose not to take any action and just look the other way.

Nobody can be above the law and we are doing more damage by trying to keep the illegal and immoral acts of those erring Priests under wraps. If our Archbishop had cracked the whip in time may be the Ribandar and even the Macazana Church horrifying events may never have happened. These may not be just isolated instances but a part of the bigger malaise that the Church one day or the other will have to come to terms with. So if Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao puts into practice what he has just preached by cleansing his own stables it may be in everybody’s best interest.