WHY DO WE NOT HAVE UNITY? DO WE LOVE BACK STABBING? By Diogo Fichardo, Margao (UK)

I am not one to write articles but I have now because Goa is slipping away from our grips..

The greatest unity among Goans was during the Opinion Poll, followed by the Konkani agitation . Was it because Dr Jack Sequeira was a charismatic leader during the opinion poll?

Many of our grandparents and parents were not highly educated but loyalty and unity was their strongest point. Had it not been for Dr Jack Sequeira and his followers (I was one), Goa would have gone to Maharashtra. We would have been forced to wear white topi. Khaki shorts heavy leather chappels and eat pan and “sukha” spitting all over.

Today in the 21st century the literacy rate is the highest in Goa and yet we are disorganized leaving under a criminal and corrupt government. Under our Government pieces of Goa (our Mother Goa) is being sold to non-Goans.

We try to form or join organisations and groups believing we can do better for Goa, at the same time we lack good leadership. We all want to be leaders but not followers leading to chaos. Some of us want to persue politics like headless chickens without a proper foundation. Others divorce themselves from groups or organisations taking with them secrets and selling it to the next bidder (they are known as traitors or back stabbers). Not forgetting politician chamchas infiltrate these groups or organisation create mayhem until they die a death or are dissolved.

The sad part of all this is the Poor Innocent and Voiceless Goans are caught between these groups and organisations on one side and corrupt and criminal politicans on the other, not knowing which way to follow. They hunger and thirst for a glimmer of hope, every promise is priceless to them.

For once until we achieve victory can we put our differences aside and unite for the sake of our Mother Goa?

"Victory is Sweet Defeat is Bitter"

NIZ GOENKAR ADDS: The author Diogo Fichardo was actively involved in the Opinion Poll movement along with Anand Desai of Mopa and others.  They were right hands of Dr. Jack Sequeira.  He has risked his life a couple of times for protecting Goa's Identity.

WHO THE BLEEP CARES ABOUT GOA’S LUNATIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS? by Selma Carvalho

Many years ago, I got myself a cyber-troll. This man, or so he claimed to be, would not leave me alone. As cyber-obsessions go, his turned from admiration to a delusion that I was evil incarnate. It's hard to tell whether he suffered from some sort of mental disorder, many obsessive people do, but whatever it was, he would harangue me, night and day, on one particular cyber-forum, misconstruing and misrepresenting anything I had to say.

In sheer desperation, the other participants on that forum finally came up with the rule that only civil discourse would be tolerated. Now, this was a bit tricky. His entire DNA, by this point, had been re-engineered to hate and abuse me, and he couldn't cope with a situation where he didn't have a platform to do that. So he found a way around it. He replaced my name with other words, like "person" or "thing." The people on the forum complained that they couldn't understand what he was saying, until I pointed out that they merely replace the word "person" with Selma and what he actually wanted to say would become crystal clear.

This parable is frighteningly similar to Goa's freedom fighters. Let me qualify the phrase Freedom Fighters. The real Freedom Fighters, the ones who spent their time in the darkened cells of the Peniche Fortress or got thrashed within an inch of their life with a palmatoire, in the cells of Aguada are long dead. What we have are the dregs of society masquerading as its champions. These freedom fighters, who were probably still suckling at their mother's breast when the good fight was being fought, are determined to get rid of Portugal from Goa, 50 years after the fact. In a recent spate of abuse, they insist the cultural institution, Fundacao Oriente, is a Portuguese intelligence agency, which is a bit surprising because the Portuguese may have been good lovers but they have hardly ever been recommended for their espionage. History tells us that when they wanted to spy, they hired Shenvi Brahmins. Now, to the casual observer, the Freedom-Fighters' obsession with the Portuguese is an enigma. But the key to understanding this enigma and this coded language is simple. You only have to replace the word "Portuguese" with "Catholic Goan" and all becomes crystal clear.

The accusation that it is the Fundacao Oriente and the Camoes Institute fermenting divisions within Goan society deserves the contempt with which it has been uttered. If the White man's gifts are indeed tainted then let us lobby for the rest of India to have the same dismal relationship with Britain as our Freedom fighters want us to have with Portugal. Let's cut off diplomatic relations with the UK, close down their embassy, withdraw from the Commonwealth, and ensure that no Commonwealth events are ever held in India so that a British sovereign need never again walk on Indian soil. Let's ban English, dispatch tout suite their multinational companies, say no to foreign aid and workers, and most certainly let's accuse William Dalrymple of being a secret agent intent on destroying India through one literary festival at a time. All this would of course be considered ridiculous so why do we do it with respect to Portugal?

I can think of many definitions of colonialism; one of them is denying colonised populations the ability to mature. The fact that our Freedom fighters refuse to mature, refuse to allow their minds the ability to discern fact from fiction, tells me that our Freedom fighters are indeed still colonised, not by the Portuguese but their own limitations and stupidity. At a certain point in our collective lives, we have to assign history its proper place and get on with the hard, nebulous aspects of living; of creating society, of managing democracy. When we hold history hostage to current political leveraging, we are refusing to learn from it, to study it without censure and without the burden of guilt.

In all this I don't blame the freedom fighters. It could well be, that some of them are nearing senility and some others, like my troll, suffering from madness. I blame the government for creating a congenial atmosphere in which this Right-wing, lunatic fringe carnival thrives, whose real purpose is to be a thorn in the flesh of the Catholic community. Indeed, it is the Government's way of pitting one community against another, so that tumultuous vote banks are spontaneously created like so many waves on a foam-created beach, on which they can safely ride to power, election after election.

This year, we commemorate 50 years of Goa's liberation. The real question is, what does freedom mean to us Goans if we refuse to grow-up as responsible human beings?

TOGETHER WE CAN BRING A CHANGE by Joel Morais, Cuncolim

Together we can do a lot.If Egyptians can pull down the government ,why we goans cannot? If we can form,why can't we break? Why can't we use our own laws to fight against the law breakers? A small beautiful village of Tiracol which consists of about 40 homes has been sold in the name of a Golf course.Why the government has forcibly thrown this project on the villagers of Tiracol?

Only because there are just about 40 homes? Where this niz goemkars will run to seek justice?Is there what is called as court of law?If so,why false judgments?

The villagers of Cavrem are on the roads,they were not just arrested but even manhandled by the so called Law protectors.  Their fault is,they love their village and want to protect it for the future generation.If they can't fight this illegality by legal means,what are the remaining options?

The Panjim Police is in the news for Killing a sailor boy, Cypriano and the so called Police filed a FIR against unknown cops.  When the culprits are been known for the world through media,they are still unknown for the Goan law authorities? Will common people believe in such a kind of law?

Why our innocent children have been denied the right to chose the Medium of Education? Is he the Chief minister of Goa? If so,why he refused to meet the affected parents?He has been the worst Chief minister of Goa till now.At the centre,we have got the remote controlled dummycontrolled by Madam Italia and in Goa we have the Chorancho Mahatma controlled by the 39 thieves.

The lone surviving terrorist in the Mumbai terror attack even after killing a number of innocents has got the right to appeal.  What a system we are living in?

When no options remaining to seek justice,people will have to make options and soon the niz goenkars will have to go the Egypt's way to save our Mai Goa.

Viva Goa!

HEARING ON GOA GOVERNOR’S PLEA AGAINST RTI ADJOURNED TO 6TH JUNE

PANJIM: A Division bench of the Bombay High Court at Goa comprising of Justice S. C. Dharmadhikari and Justice F.M.Reis today adjourned to 6th June hearing on the the petition filed by Goa’s Raj Bhavan against the Right to Information Act.

When the matter came up for hearing today Adv. Mahesh Sonak appearing on behalf of Goa Raj Bhavan today told the court that he was not ready and prepared with all the arguments to the objections raised by Raj Bhavan in its petition.

The High Court today directed that all the issues would have to be addressed and argued on 6th June and that the petition would be decided on that day at admission stage itself.

Adv. Aires Rodrigues today submitted to the Court that there was urgency in hearing the petition as the very important Right to Information Act which was enacted for transparency and accountability was sought to be violated by the constitutional head of the State.

Adv. Rodrigues further told the court that it was an irony that in Goa the politicians over the years have been circumventing the Anti Defection law while the Goa Governor was trying to find loopholes to dodge the Right to Information Act.

The petition filed by Goa Governor Dr. S.S.Sidhu’s Special Secretary Dr. N. Radhakrishnan before the High Court challenges the 31st March order of the Goa State Information Commission which had directed the Raj Bhavan to furnish Adv. Aires Rodrigues within 30 days theinformation sought by him under the Right to Information Act.

The State Chief Information Commissioner Mr. Motilal Keny in his order had ruled that the Goa Governor was a “Public Authority” and does come within the ambit of the Right to Information Act.

Adv. Aires Rodrigues’s complaint against Goa Governor Dr. Sidhu follows the stand taken by the Goa Raj Bhavan that the Governor was not a public authority and did not come within the purview of the RTI Act.

Adv. Rodrigues had sought from Goa Raj Bhavan under the RTI Act details of action taken on the complaints made by him to the Governor of Goa against Advocate General of Goa Mr. Subodh Kantak. Adv. Rodrigues had also sought copies of noting sheets and correspondence pertaining to the processing of his complaints against the Advocate General of Goa.

Dr. S.S. Sidhu is the only Governor in the country who was not complying with the RTI Act by claiming that he was not a “Public Authority”.

BBSM DEMANDS BAN ON SCHOOLS FUNCTIONING WITH ENGLISH AS MOI

PANJIM: The Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) has demanded that a ban be imposed on pre-primary schools from functioning with English as a medium of instruction in Goa, as allowing such schools to operate contradicts the state's own policy.

Convener of the manch, Shashikala Kakodkar, in a press release issued on Friday, condemned "the lethargy and indifference of the government in implementing its own eight-year-old Goa Children's Act 2003. Section 4 (9) of the Act provides that government has to lay down guidelines for early childhood care and education. It also requires that such guidelines are laid down for all pre-school educational institutions for children, including registration and regulation of standards. But the government has failed to implement its own law," Kakodkar said.

She said that the government has "not bothered" to frame any regulations on which playschools and pre-primary schools should function. "There is total anarchy in the field of pre-primary education. It is absolutely necessary to ban pre-primary education in English medium, even if it is unaided, since it goes against the principles of education enunciated in various central and state laws," said Kakodkar.

The Right of a Child to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, clearly stipulates that elementary education should take place in the mother tongue, she said, adding that this logically demands that pre-primary school education should also be in the child's mother tongue.

"The government should take immediate steps to regulate pre-primary education in the state and ban such schools from teaching with English as a medium of instruction, failing which the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch will be forced to launch a massive agitation to ensure that Goan children are provided the right type of education as per our laws," Kakodkar said.

GUTKA WORTH RS 28,500 CAUGHT IN HOME MINISTER’S PONDA

PANJIM: A person from Ponda in the constituency of home minister Ravi Naik was caught with gutka worth 28,500 by the food and drugs administration (FDA) on Saturday. Sale of gutka is banned in Goa.  FDA seized 476 packets of 'Josh Gutka' worth 28,500 from the residence of Sudhakar Mutkar in Ponda. FDA food inspector Abel Rodrigues has booked a case against Mutkar under the Goa Public Health Act, 2005.

FDA officials said Mutkar is a regular offender and in the past, two cases were booked against him for similar offences as gutka packets were found at his residence.

FDA had put him under surveillance, as, despite warnings, he had continued with the illegal activity, said officials. An anonymous source said that gutka and drugs are available in the corners of the very Ponda in large quantities inspite the home minister’s declaration that Goa is drug free state.

MICKKY: CONGRESS-NCP LOOTING THE PUBLIC EXCHEQUER

PANJIM: The Congress-NCP ruling alliance in the state and at the Centre have been looting the public exchequer, the NCP's Benaulim MLA Francisco 'Mickky' Pacheco said on Saturday.  Pacheco's relationship with the NCP continues to be an uneasy one, with both sides indicating they would want to see less of each other.

NCP leaders such as Prakash Bhinsale and Praful Hede, once said to be close to Pacheco, have withdrawn their support to the MLA.  The Benaulim MLA and former tourism minister's conviction for an assault on a bus driver, has also precipitated demands from party members to sever ties with Pacheco.

When contacted, Pacheco said that he too will remain "in-marriage"with the NCP for a little while more. "There is no question about my losing support with Bhinsale and Hede, as I have not been in touch with them for the last two months. I'm not in touch with anyone of them," he said. "The government exchequer is being looted left, right and centre. I don't want to be part of this, and I've kept my distance. We are facing the biggest corruption due to this government in power both in the state, and at the Centre," he said.

Senior NCP executive committee members, meanwhile, said that Pacheco had no place in the party. "It's obvious. He (Pacheco) has been making demands which were not heeded by the state unit and neither the high command. What does this mean?" a senior member said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

''Mickky said that he didn't need the party symbol last September after the workers convention at Mapusa. Party spokesperson Trajano D'Mello had replied that Mickky is free to leave. But, he has still not left," the NCP senior member said.

SUPPORT FOR ANTI-TRAFFICKING FROM THE CORPORATE WORLD

PANJIM: Anti-human trafficking initiatives in Goa will now get support from the corporate world, which has agreed to rehabilitate victims rescued from the trafficking magnets.  Addressing reporters here, Goa State Women's Commission (GSWC) chairman Ezilda Sapeco said that the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GCCI), an apex body of industries in the state, has been roped in as a part of the anti-human trafficking drive.

"The corporates have decided to help the government and NGOs for rehabilitation of the victims," she said adding that GCCI will facilitate the interaction between government and the corporates.

She added that district collector Mihir Vardhan, during a recent seminar, has assured that the government will support any rehabilitation initiative undertaken by the corporates.

GSWC has also decided to form various committees devoted to anti-human trafficking exercise in the state. "We will be forming committees that will comprise of stakeholders like NGOs, government officials, corporates and others," Sapeco said.

She said several schemes would be implemented for rescued victims with the help of the state Women and Child Development department. The commission is studying the scheme executed by Andhra Pradesh government, which provides financial benefit for the trafficked victim. Sapeco said inbound human trafficking in Goa was posing a challenge to the law enforcement authorities. – PTI

RTO REGISTERS 155 CASES AGAINST MINING TRUCKS

PANJIM: The transport department has re-launched its extensive crackdown on erring mining trucks and on Saturday registered 155 cases. Transport director Arun Desai said 80 cases were registered in North Goa, while south Goa saw 75 cases registered.

"Seventy-four cases in the north were for overloading ore, while six vehicles were confiscated for having Karnataka registration. A KA registration cannot do a point-to-point route in Goa. One point should be in either state," he said. Staff from RTOs in Mapusa, Panjim and Bicholim were used.

"In the south, 72 cases were for overloading ore, while three were for ore spillage," Desai said. RTO staff from Margao, Ponda, Vasco and Quepem were used. "After the drive, we are issuing a public notice that violators will be referred for contempt of court for violating a high court order," Desai said.

FDC DEMAND THE CLOSURE OF SCRAPYARDS

MARGAO: The convenor of Fatorda Development Committee, Mr Camilo Barreto, on Sunday, led a group of around 40 residents of Chandrawado to demand immediate closure of all illegal scrapyards in Fatorda. The residents blocked the road connecting Chadrawado to Arlem, over an hour, at the site of the tanker blast that took place a fortnight ago, and warned that they intensify their agitation if the scrapyards are not shifted within 60 days.

They burnt old tyres and shouted slogans demanding immediate action against the illegal scrapyards, which are releasing harmful chemical and petroleum products into the fields located in the adjoining areas.  They also demanded the resignation of councillor, Mr Joseph Silva, if the scrapyards are not shifted within 60 days.

Later, speaking to the reporters, Mr Barreto said the committee had submitted a memorandum to the collector, Mr G P Naik, the chief officer of Margao Municipality, Mr Prassana Archarya and the police seeking action against the illegal scrapyards, however, no action has been initiated despite assurances.

He said that the residents are suffering due to the pollution caused by burning of unwanted material by the scrap dealers, besides contamination of well water.  He also said that the rasta roko is just a warning and if the authorities failed to act, the agitation will be intensified. He has also given the authorities 60 days to act.

Meanwhile, councillor, Mr Silva said that he is with the people and will do everything possibly to get the scrapyards out of his ward and added that the scrapyard owners had come to the municipality and sought time to shift the scrapyards. He further said he will do everything possibly so that the matter can be resolved amicably.

SHIMNIT UTSCH’S PETITION DISMISSED BY HIGH COURT

PANJIM: The high court of Bombay at Goa has dismissed a petition filed by Shimnit Utsch India Private Limited challenging the termination of its contract awarded by the Goa government to affix high security registration plates (HSRP) on vehicles.

On January 25, this year, the transport director had terminated Shimnit's contract signed by the government and the petitioner in 2008. The government had invited bids in 2005 for implementation of the HSRP project in the state for 15 years.

While rejecting the petition, a division bench of justices S C Dharmadhikari and F M Reis observed: "We are of the view that the writ petition is not an appropriate remedy for the petitioner. The petitioner will have to question the termination notice by recourse to ordinary remedies (not before the high court). It will not be possible to render any conclusive finding in our limited jurisdiction and purely on the basis of affidavits."

During the hearing of the case, Shimnit's lawyer V Dhond argued that the order terminating the concession agreement was "wholly arbitrary and erroneous". He pointed out that the contract was entered into for implementing a statutory duty and a statutory scheme. Under such circumstances, the petitioner cannot be told to take recourse to ordinary remedy by going to the civil court or for arbitration, said Dhond.

Advocate general Subodh Kantak countered that the petition is not maintainable before the hight court as it involves disputed questions of facts. While stating that the contract is not a statutory contract, Kantak said that the company can seek damages and compensation by approaching the appropriate forum or the civil court for termination of the contract.

It may be recalled that a committee constituted to review the HSRP scheme in Goa, had recommended the revocation of the contract. The committee had noted that the finalization of the tendering process in respect of the HSRP scheme had been vitiated. It observed that the petitioner had also violated a condition by changing the ownership of the company without seeking prior government permission.

VASCOITES RAISE CONCERNS OVER CONSTANT DIGGING OF ROADS

VASCO: Vasco locals have raised concern over constant digging of the roads by the sewerage section of the public works department (PWD) to undertake replacement of the existing underground sewerage line.  For instance, the F L Gomes road, opposite to Madina Masjid was dug twice in a year, putting the road users especially the two-wheeler riders to a great deal of hardship.

The concerned contractor took over three months to complete the laying of the sewerage line. On account of this, the vehicular traffic was diverted through the adjacent road causing traffic problems around the vegetable market area. To add to it, the sewerage authorities took up digging along the Vasco tourist hostel road also for the purpose of replacing the sewerage line.

When this reporter contacted the assistant engineer, PWD (sewerage section), Mr Uday Kumar, he said that the sewerage line is around 20-25 years old and in order to prevent overflowing of the sewerage onto the road, the PWD has taken up urgent repairs of the same.

He further disclosed that Vasco city being a low lying area the problem in the sewerage line has occurred over and over again. "The water table is high plus mud is also being excavated along the sewerage line which has slowed down the work", he added.

He also informed that a similar work has been taken up near the Goa Shipyard Ltd and that it would be completed in a short time. He also informed that the sewerage authorities are working towards upgrading the condition of the pumping station for its smooth functioning.

SYNOPSIS OF MAY QUEEN BALL 2001 by Rupert Coutinho

The organizers ably led by Simon D’Silva and well assisted by the GWA managing committee members dished out a perfectly planned event, even adding one more feather into the already glittering cap of Goan Welfare Association for inviting present and past MLAs whose names have features in some of the most exclusive and glittering events like TicketGate, forged birth certificates, molestation and SEZs.

While many expatriate Goan men and women in Qatar going by their sincere conscience and appeals by true ethnic Goans lent a overwhelming support to the Goa Cause boycotted the event which did not see any special guest who were role models and people of honour/ good repute for the Goan cause. They were highly conspicuous by their absence which resulted in a non-Goan being crowned the GLAMOUROUS QUEEN as the dignified and respected Goan Ladies thought it would be dishonorable to be crowned Queen at the hand of pimps who have ravaged and sold Goa to the outsiders.

For the first time the list of traitors in the eyes of ethnic Goans concerned by the destruction and deterioration of their beautiful Goa became more evident. The event witnessed well known nemesis, oops spelling mistake. I should do a spell check at the end. Wait a minute … NEMESIS is not a spelling mistake.

Perhaps I have to word the sentences properly. Any way Apologies. What I wanted to say is that the event witnessed well known NAMES (Ah! That’s more clear to every literate Goan worldwide to read and figure out) – the inimitable, social activist and multi-talented Simon D’Silva, The Syndicate – Wow!!!, Cheryl Almeida and spectacular Xavier Fernandes, Raul D’Mello and Sharon Rodrigues, Goa Cricket Club president Dayanand Narvekar, former Goa Chief Minister Louzine Faleiro and MLA Agnelo Fernandes, see the link below and the photos the list goes on….. http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=100625

I personally don’t know much of them? Are they Goenkars?? Hmmm!! May be or may be not – they integrate easily since Goans speak their languages like Hindi everywhere as we are ashamed to speak in Konkani? Or they could be just name sake Goans or Goan origin declaring proudly ‘’Hey!! I am a Goenkar’’. Someone who had the audacity to stand up questioned -- What?? What the f#$% are you talking? Say it Again and swear upon the Most Holy God? What have you done for Goa to be an outstanding Goenkar?” I’ll tell you - Not Only danced and dined with the invited devils and promoted their interest but even U KISSED THEIR ASSSSSSS!!!!.

Thank God!! Someone has opened his eyes. He has the Audacity to Question and guts to firmly disassociate from the Judas’. Well done. I respect and honour them. He is my role model like Dr. Jack Sequeira WHO RETAINED GOA FOR GOANS. But why are the other ignorant Goans quiet? Aren’t they literate or they don’t they a voice or maybe they don’t recognize their voice and strength. No doubt some prefer some forums like XAPOTAM where they boast and preach to the Goans and to the world. Good work, no doubt but not enough. We need more. I would like to see some action and more words from the Silent Australian Goans or the US Goans and the UK Goans and the Gulf Goans and the entire Goan Diaspora. Aren’t you’ll a part of Goa. Surely you are and you are the future and are as important as any other Goan. And so as I have said:

‘’But how can we Goans go on this way. Some one and all have to speak up. The reign of ignorance and hypocrisy should end. And we know deep down there is no other way’’.

And what about the list from the flyer that I received which read – Francis Correia, president of Young Goans Bahrain, Carmo Santos, Chief Convenor of NRI convention 2010 and Chairman of Goan Cultural Centre Kuwait, Amaldo Fernandes, president of Curtorcars United Kuwait and John Borges a social activist also from Kuwait. Were they present – I don’t doubt. They are the brothers in Arms. Hey Dubaikars what happened to the self proclaimed representative of UAE Goans? I did not hear about Benedict Lobo? Somebody told me there was another parallel cultural event in Dubai highly publicized and attended by the Public WORST Dept…. oops!! Sorry.. spelling mesteke again and ageain. It is Public Works Dept Minister that is why many well wishes and the sympathizers skipped going to Qatar.

They devils opened up a window of opportunities for the non-Goans and also many back door entries firstly by appointing them Glamorous Queens, showering prizes and a confirming FLIGHT No. 666 for lavish nights in Royal Goan Beach Club. In the coming days these outsiders will start liking the piece of Indian annexed Goa, they will find it a paradise and more beautiful than the other states under the Union of Indian Government and under the right to equality in contrast to the laws under Portuguese rules, that will buy large chunks of land for them to settle and displace the not so rich ethnic Goans. They will grab their lands, their jobs and increase other activities witnessed right from Delhi, Bihar, Calcutta oops sorry Coal-katta, Kerala, Karwar, Bangalore …oops sorry again Ben-ga- lur-ru-rur-ru. Oh shit!!!!, I can’t pronounce this nor spell it properly. What’s wrong with me? Perhaps I must learn Kannada or Marati or Bengali to pronounce these properly or I should learn them for these so many migrants. Forget international renowned names like Bombay and Calcutta or Madras or Bangalore.

The Bollywood celebrities had a BALL OF A TIME with the ladies dancing and moving and everyone one BOUNCING AND SWINGING for a perfect May BALLS Celebration. And if what we overheard was said is true then here it goes:

’’ We were having a BALL OF A TIME with them. It was nice and Cheap. Yeah!! Truly. They glorified the tainted and kissed their ass. They Were Cheap. We will soon be having another DUM MARO DUM’’.

Sadly Aditya Pancholi missed the fun. Someone told me he was dead but I know that is not true. He was mourning……. God paid back with Judgement day for judging Goans on the lines of Dum Maro Dum (And I definitely know that the same fate awaits ALL the Judas’ of Goa).

Please excuse me for my spelling mistakes. Just fast typing errors. Please note – I am not a MINISTER. I am a professional – whether legal or illegal doesn’t matter. But I am a professional. Are “Bottea” professional not professor or preacher or hard core performer. I can prove it I’m literate. I have some marksheet which I told my illiterate “BOTTO” PA to secure from the recognized institution since the institution is somewhere in Bomboy and I don’t have time to go there.

Mog Asundi!!

YOUTH FORCE IN GOA by Adv. Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar

There is a great potential in young people. They are like dynamite. Dynamite can do great good when used in the right way. In the wrong hands, though, it can be used to take life. Young people have the same potential for good or bad. Youth power is a spark which can either brighten or burn the country. Adolph Hitler understood the power of young people. After he came to power in Germany in 1932 one of the early actions he took was to outlaw all youth groups.

Youth power has been regarded as an inexhaustible reservoir of human resources.

Youth are one of the greatest assets that any nation can have. Not only are they regarded as the future leaders but they are potentially and actually the greatest investment for a country’s development. Films like Rang de Basanti revolutionized the thinking of youth of our country. This shows, the concern of our young generation for our country and need to take affirmative steps to make sure youth becomes powerful and determined to do needful for the county. For this certain steps need to be taken to galvanise and channelise the power of the youth. It would require role models who could inspire and motivate the younger generation.

Goans may be traditionally known to be “Susegad” but in the 70’s the student and youth power was a force to be reckoned with. On almost every issue we made the government come down on its knees. The disintegration of this very vibrant student power started when political parties started having their student wings. The student voice got fragmented and so did their power.

Over the last few years in particular the interest of students and youth on social issues has further decimated with the coming in of swanky TV’s, computers and laptops. Even activities of the otherwise very active socio- cultural youth groups is today unheard of. Goa needs to channelise its youth and inculcate in them a sense of responsibility to commit themselves in the State’s upliftment.

On the political horizon the Youth of Goa can help in cleansing the stink in the political stables. Goa’s entire political system is infested with opportunism, nepotism, corruption, deception, fraud, and shrewd tactics. The government today has no clear far-sighted goals and no well-thought-out programmes. Goa today is in the hands of corrupt and power-hungry politicians who are unwilling to make way for the younger generation.

There is a lot of frustration amongst the youth today. The suicide rate is very high. A lot of them have become addicts of drug, alcohol and gambling. A lot of our youth have taken to petty and major crimes. We lack a social support system to counsel, guide and get them out of the woods.

Politicians use the youth only for elections and then they are forgotten and uncared for. While the politicians keep contesting again and again the only young faces they introduce to the electoral battles are their own children. The youth today also hit a road block even while applying for government jobs. They go through all the rigours of applying and attending job interviews only to realise that the candidates were finalised even before the vacancy was advertised.

It is time our youth ponder on the present sad state of Goa. It is very difficult to see our Goa getting ruined by man made disasters which could have been avoided or stopped by a vibrant youth force. Goans keep blaming politicians, the government, their policies, officers and others but the youth ought to see their responsibility towards rescuing Goa.

In this age of modernization our purpose has shifted to fulfill our endless desires. In due course we lost the life values and have even exploited the nature. We can see that nature has lost its balance. Communication of man and nature is cut off. All this is caused due to superficial, improper knowledge and lack of awareness in our desperate efforts for winning in the competition with others. We have been constantly working to walk with western countries thinking that success lies by being equivalent to them.

The Youth of Goa more than ever should be engaged in the socio, economic and political development of the State. Young people, as members of a dynamic group in society, play a crucial role in positively transforming an in building the foundations of a democratic and peaceful society. Youth of Goa have the potential to create networks, mutual support structures and common platforms to share resources, know-how and ideas. Our Youth can also create ideas that solve old problems in innovative ways.

Our youth are not failing the system. It is the system that is failing our youth. The Youth have to be encouraged and listened to. Having youth as members on various Government boards and commissions could be a rewarding experience that will benefit us all. The adult could benefit from the fresh perspective, optimism, and enthusiasm that youth could bring to any discussion or debate. Youth have to feel that their voice is valued and that they have a role and make an impact in decision making.

Today the youth of Goa are dying young. We all have a duty to ensure that Goa lives long. The youth in Goa should take a cue of the recent activity that took place in Egypt where the youth force ensured a transformation. The Youth power in Goa can also ensure this. There is so much that can be done by the youth for the betterment of the State. To start with our youth could be focused on one goal. A corruption free Goa. If they could work successfully towards this mission we will have won the war. The future of whatever remains of Goa is the hands of the Youth. I am confident the Youth force in Goa will deliver.

HIGH COURT TO HEAR GOA GOVERNOR’S PLEA AGAINST RTI ON 2nd MAY

PANJIM: A Division bench of the Bombay High Court at Goa comprising of Justice S. C. Dharmadhikari and Justice F.M.Reis will on Monday May 2nd hear the petition filed by Goa’s Raj Bhavan against the Right to Information Act.

The petition filed by Goa Governor Dr. S.S.Sidhu’s Special Secretary Dr. N. Radhakrishnan challenges the 31st March order of the Goa State Information Commission which had directed the Raj Bhavan to furnish Adv. Aires Rodrigues within 30 days the information sought by him under the Right to Information Act.

The State Chief Information Commissioner Mr. Motilal Keny in his order had ruled that the Goa Governor was a “Public Authority” and does come within the ambit of the Right to Information Act.

Adv. Aires Rodrigues’s complaint against Goa Governor Dr. Sidhu follows the stand taken by the Goa Raj Bhavan that the Governor was not a public authority and did not come within the purview of the RTI Act.

Adv. Rodrigues had sought from Goa Raj Bhavan under the RTI Act details of action taken on the complaints made by him to the Governor of Goa against Advocate General of Goa Mr. Subodh Kantak. Adv. Rodrigues had also sought copies of noting sheets and correspondence pertaining to the processing of his complaints against the Advocate General of Goa.

Dr. S.S. Sidhu is the only Governor in the country who was not complying with the RTI Act by claiming that he was not a “Public Authority”.