Fri, 18 May 2012 13:28:08 +0000 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=147 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=147 Fri, 04 May 2012 04:44:07 +0000 R Fernandes You can muzzle the press by:
• Dictatorial methods: the press will not keep quiet and all will unite. Sure to fail in a Democracy.
• Selectively muzzle ‘unfriendly’ press by blocking Govt. adverts: selected press will up their fight. Will fail in the long run.
• Give subsidized Housing to Journalists and electronic media personnel and other concessions like bus and Govt. contribution to their pension fund -all for the private organisations. Voila! Press is not only ‘happily muzzled’ but will enthusiastically circulate ‘unpaid’ propaganda.
Brilliant!

It has already been proven that the Press has no ‘nose’. Let us now see whether they have any ethics.
Herald is ‘proudly’ showing off its ‘investigations’ in the Apna Ghar episodes-about 2 years too late-but it is all just post mortem. The ‘nose’ says the need is to find the final resting place of the stolen gold/cash and to prosecute the accessory.
Which raises the question: employees from ‘which’ private organisations can set claim to Govt. housing? Why the press only? Why not the poder who brings preservative free bread to your table before the papers? Ah yes: this also means the journalists are open to getting safronised. The BJP are trying to discredit the Father of the Nation by blaming him for the partition. (Remember, the last time BJP was in Power in Goa they tried to do away with the Oct. 2 Public Holiday- which is notified by the Centre mind you- so Govt. Servants had to come to ‘clean their work place! ) A Herald writer has already fallen prey as she mentioned in her article how students-not mentioned which School- found Shakespeare more relevant than Gandhi- and went on to explain the ‘mistake of Gandhi’.
Well, post mortem is very easy. A spectator can easily criticize a player for not passing the ball to a colleague instead of shooting at goal and missing, ultimately losing the final! Question is what you would have done if you were in the hot seat: the best part is one can never know so you are ‘safe’. Poor Journalist: when you are ‘willing’ to be brainwashed- you will be brainwashed.]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=146 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=146 Tue, 27 Mar 2012 08:42:44 +0000 R Fernandes The Fourth Estate has to be like a Judge: fair and impartial to all. The Judge can and must acquit a murderer if the prosecution fails to provide a case beyond all reasonable doubt. The Goa media is never fair. They have made a martyr of the IPS officer based on one small incident of Govt. harassment.
The awarding of the PWD portfolio has brought about the media reaction that it was a ‘political compulsion’!! Rather the media should have demanded that BJP announce that all PWD contracts be reduced by 20% and that roads must last 20 years.
The voters in Goa have changed but not the media.
In the Political analysis of the recent elections not one media person brought out the fact that it was only the traditional Congress supporter who dared to change and oust the sitting Congress MLAs. This was not the case with the traditional BJP/MGP voters who did not see the dire need to oust corrupt MLA’s.
The Congress supporters voted for the candidate and not for the party. Hardly a month has passed since the elections and Herald now says the voters should change and vote only the BJP in Cortalim!!! This will effectively mean that come the next election and people will start voting for the Party and not the candidate. The heroic efforts of the traditional Congress voters will have gone in vain. The BJP has many –all I would say- MLA’s who should have been shown the door. Herald now means the BJP can foist any candidate- even those who lost the present election- and the voters should elect them!
So the Fatorda BJP MLA can and is welcome by the media. Never mind that the illegal scrap dealers and the tax man just love him.
The media refers to the CM as the ‘miracle man’. They conveniently forget that the sobriquet he earned was the not so flattering –roll back man. The media also forgets that it is the same person who deliberately kept IFFI dates to clash with the feast: yet the roll back of the closing ceremony is ‘applauded’ by the media!
The media will unfailingly use the word ‘alleged’ even in a pickpocketing case- but post-election results they boldly gave their verdict in the Curchorem incident!!
It is this very media which has diverted all the ills of mining- including the loss of lives by ore transport vehicles- to the illegal mining segment.
They have now charged the Govt. to solve the illegal mining issue- thus giving a clear message that legal mining is above board. Ore transport vehicles carry twice the rated load of the vehicle thus covering 2 trips in one: beneficial to both the mining company and the transporter-but catastrophic to the public.
The burning issue of mining is: what happens when the mining stops either due to law or exhaustion of deposits?
The mining companies will close shop and scoot and the Govt. - and Goans- will be left to take care of all the mining workers and workers in the ancillaries- barges/trucks. This was evident from the Panjim blockades during the Shah Commission enquiry. A contingency fund must be set up immediately with funds from the mining companies alone. A bond must be taken from them that they will settle all dues of all mining and ancillary services whenever the industry closes: that all these people are their liability. The contingency fund has to be used only for restoring the ravaged land and mining inhabitants.
The scant respect the media has for the people can be gauged by the recent reports on the AFC match at Margao. One must have witnessed the match to see diametrically opposite views. No mention of the comical behavior of the home teams coach.
The media needs a feedback controller: the people should learn to boycott them for a month to let them know they have to change. Don’t miss the sops journalists got from the budget! Why?]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=131 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=131 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 03:47:35 +0000 R Fernandes http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=110 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=110 Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:04:09 +0000 dontgotogoa http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=145 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=145 Wed, 21 Mar 2012 03:24:50 +0000 sanjayvalpoi http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=144 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=144 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 07:14:57 +0000 R Fernandes Why do the media only want to alternate between Congress and BJP? Just like the GFA – one term for the politician and the next for the mine owners? Is it because an unknown entity is going to be difficult to get their work done- like getting a Casino license?

The Goan populace is disgusted with the Govt. because of the mining scams, the ‘selling’ off of Goan land, gifting of communidade land and various other scams. The Govt. is the Cong. /NCP/MGP.
Hence the Goan is looking for a change.
Change to what?
If there was such corruption what was the opposition comprising of the BJP doing about it? Did they not know of the illegal mining activities? Are they not aware that Steel rolling mills are charged Rs.2.5 per unit while others pay Rs.3/-per unit? What were they doing- watching ‘juicy’ clips on their mobiles/laptops like their counterparts? Were they so impotent? Did they do a good job to warrant taking over the reins?
Is a thief serving a 5 year jail term going to change over a new leaf by virtue of his not having committed any crime during the past 5 years? If a Vice Captain fails in his job can he be given the Captains armband?
Talk about shooting from the hips! It is more like shooting off one’s mouth!
The BJP has once again ‘promised’ to take up the offshore Casino menace. Did not Parrikar clam up after a couple of months ‘noise’ some years back? Why? Did he not give ‘tax concessions’ to Reliance Power using gas based Power? What happened? Industries have given up Reliance Power and gone back to State Power because of the high cost and uncertainty of cost of fuel. Do the media know this? Do the media know the rate of gas based power?Who will buy the power? Fooling the people with their manifestos is one thing: fooling the media and ’Professionals’ is a laugh. Or is the media hand in glove? Is the asking price for a casino license too high with the present Govt.?

BJP is not even a compromise.

Only a few handful candidates have come forward precisely because of the media’s stand. Like the GFA the media favours alternating between the Cong. and BJP. Corruption does not end but it looks like the media bosses are using this method for their personal gains. Herald says the rebels are justified to contest as independents!! Herald does not think that representatives have to be service oriented in which case there can be no sympathy for rebels. So Herald inadvertently admits that MLA’s need to work for themselves.
All the 40 + have skeletons which are known to all the 40: there is no way any of the 40 can afford not to toe the line. The aim of these 40 is just to be in the ruling side: once here the opposition- if from amongst these 40- can do nothing but salivate. The only hope for the Goan is to see these 40 are shown the door.

Easier said than done. There is no way all 40 can go in 1 stroke.

We need to collectively canvass for the few new faces and see they win: this will send out the right signals for more good people to enter in the next election and also for Political Parties to change their stand and to select good service oriented candidates.
Notice the media is not harping/investigating the damages to private/business establishments of candidates. The media reported the huge assets and rapid increase in these assets: why do they not ask the ITax to investigate the same? Why do they not ask for the returns filed in the previous year and the I Tax officer’s name who does the investigation/ The media knows very well that all is known to all but they are afraid of the 40: hence their call for only a ‘change of guard’? This is acceptable to the 40: their job will then only be to see they get on the ruling side by hook or by crook.
The ills faced by Goa are because of one key element: the media.]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=141 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=141 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:41:55 +0000 sanjayvalpoi http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=143 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=143 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:20:25 +0000 R Fernandes The hot topic at the moment is Parrikars’ ‘admittance ‘of his mistake in cancelling the Good Friday holiday. All the local dailies have taken this up. Each publication has its own leanings: nothing wrong with this. But when they deliberately camouflage/bend the truth to fool the people then the public should rethink their loyalties to the publications. At the risk of being boring I must repeat: the single most characteristic of Goans which is being exploited to the hilt by all and sundry is their trusting nature. Goans should spend a little more time in reading the Editorials, relating to this subject, carefully (keeping their trusting nature on the backfire). The dailies response has really exposed them because of their overconfidence in taking Goans’ for granted. Readers’ will soon see their cunningness. Their retaliation should be by boycotting these dailies both as readers and advertisers.
Let’s rewind to 2008:

The BJP CM of Karnataka wished the Archbishop of Bangalore on his Birthday, Aug. 10, 2008 and extolled the good works of Christians in education and other fields.

On August 15, 2008, Prahlad Remani, BJP MLA in Karnataka publicly declared the need for ‘weeding out Christians’ in his Independence Day speech (reported in Herald 22/8/2008).

BJP’s then newly appointed head of Goa Desk- Mehra (Herald, 23/8) met the Archbishop of Goa and students of Fr. Agnel Ashram(she thinks the college is for Christians only which reflects their own ideology).
Parrikar and Mathany should let us know whether this too was a mistake. Herald did not think it fit then, with hardly 1 day difference between the two reports, to question the BJP Goa desk Head on the same.
Goans should know that when Parrikar says the Good Friday incidence was a ‘mistake’ it actually means that the ‘timing’ was a mistake: they thought since they were in Power they no longer needed the Catholic vote.
One daily cleverly says that the MLA’s in Congress have been BJP MLA’s previously and so concluded that communalism was non-existent or existing to the same level in both parties. Well by the same logic BJP cannot accuse the Congress for being corrupt and creating jobs for votes.This of course the daily does not say. Recall that, during BJP rule in Goa, there was a mass recruitment of Police personnel and that Parrikar lowered the physical requirements of the candidates- anybody’s guess why he did that. The Police force was being saffronised which is the key strategy for any communal/extremist organisation.
One activist from a religious order is standing for elections. Another ‘accidental activist’ gives him a clean chit on all counts but then, in the same breath, casts his doubts even before giving him a chance! This is giving a dog (an expression) a bad name and shooting him- not shooting from the hips.
How could ‘Parrikar’ make such a ‘mistake’? Surely he knows the Catholics here are more than the 2% in the rest of India. Well a third of Goa’s population today is migrant population with a large chunk from North. Post any innocuous comment on rediff with a catholic name and see the vitriolic. Even a regular Gujarati middle writer in Herald had the gumption to remind Goans, with malicious glee, that millions of Indians consider Catholics here in Goa as outsiders! Many of these migrants have business establishments/work in establishments and have already abolished the 3rd Dec. holiday. Voters can ask the CPI candidate from Panjim for a list of such establishments. All are hard core communal BJP loyalists and strong supporters of Parrikar. No wonder he did a Don Quixote.
Wiping out 40 MLA’s in one stroke is a herculean task. In the last Parliamentary elections I had suggested that Goans vote the CPI to these2seats: this would have given a clear indication that we did not want the 40 ‘constants’. In turn the “High command’ would have thought twice before giving them tickets.
BJP is not even a ‘ Compromise’.]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=142 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=142 Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:16:23 +0000 R Fernandes There appears to be no strategy for us Goans. Politicians survive by ‘using’ the law. If there is an order to demolish an illegal structure they will see the police protection or the machinery or the labourers do not ’appear’ at the site. Hence Goans should demand all candidates to submit that they will always side the law.
Tuberculosis is the largest single cause of adult illness and death from a communicable disease in India. Its greatest impact is on the poor. Each year around 400000 die in India from TB. Check the link below.
India - Tuberculosis Control Project :http://www.worldbank.org.in/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/INDIAEXTN

Quoting from the above, ’ Nationwide, about 1.7 million new cases occur every year. Increasing prevalence of HIV infection, which makes people more susceptible to TB, and drug resistant types of TB mean the disease will pose an increasingly serious public health hazard with a high economic burden for India for several decades to come.’
In Mumbai rickshaws have slogans ’Spitting spreads TB” Ask the Goa Health Dept. and they tell you there is a very high incidence of TB especially amongst the migrants. They may also tell you that there are strains of the ‘drug resistant’ type as well. They will definitely tell you that they are doing a good job even though they are under staffed. Living in crowded rooms further aggravates the problem.
Goa was almost free from TB some decades back. Now it looks like Goa will contribute to the annual 400000 deaths. This is scary.
We do not see any such campaign against spitting like in the Mumbai? Our busses should now have such slogans emblazoned on them as also the trains and Stations. All 54 seater busses have been replaced by minibuses thanks to Parrikar with the result we have an ideal environment for the spread of TB what with them being always packed. School children are at high risk. The Health Director can have the final say on this. How can we get the message to them?
To expect the builders/mine owners/GCCI to help is rather far-fetched.
The Political candidates will now be printing the voter’s names with their symbol on cards to be distributed to all voters: can they have this message also incorporated? To expect them to counsel their paid vote banks would be naïve.
Will the EC allow the Heath Dept. to have posters/rolling displays at the polling booths? Better still can they have one person at each polling booth to explain to each voter at the time of voting? By the way spitting also causes ‘colorfully dirty’ buildings which we can do without.
Communication will be a problem and using only Konkanni will not help in the least. We have a number of prolific writers who, at the ‘doff’ of the hat constantly advise Goans on what they do wrong and what they should do right: they should come forward to educate their State brethren at the Polls and also at their various associations.]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=140 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=140 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 07:06:27 +0000 R Fernandes When the Shah Commission on illegal mining came to Goa to check on illegal mining a large vociferous group met him to say they needed illegal mining. They were looking for a compromise.
Soon after there were two major blockades by mining dependent people demanding that illegal dumps should be mined. Who set them up? What is their objective? They should actually be demanding for a contingency fund from the mining companies to take care of them after the deposits are exhausted.
The Govt. operates on compromise and not the law. When illegal constructions are ordered raised by the law they do not get raised. There is a compromise by two opposing politicians. When there is a land dispute a politician becomes the third ‘involved’ party and a compromise arrived at. Land notified for parking at Dabolim gets De- notified because a compromise has been arrived at circumventing the law.
Illegal constructions in CRZ/hills communidade land, buildings without parking area etc. are all possible because of this new Goan trait of compromise.
The RP2021 is out and we find that:
i) The Plan itself has been compromised.
ii) Certain people are advocating accepting the plan and seeing about correction later: yet another compromise.
If you are looking for quality then you don't compromise.]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=32 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=32 Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:20:47 +0000 ARWIN At the Last NRI Global Goan Convention in January 2007, I queried the then Goa Government (Dr. Wilfred D'Souza, Mr. Digambar Kamat & Mr. Dayanand Narverkar) at the Secretariat, on the issue of preserving Goan Land, Culture & Identity; and asked how Overseas Goans can help in the same. At that point, I was requested by the NRI Commissioner Mr. Eduardo Faliero & The then Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Wilfred D'Souza to give a proposal for the same to the Goa Government. Please see my proposal below. I have followed up with the NRI commissioner to get a reply from the Goa Government at his visit to Abu Dhabi in December 07; and his office has promised to help at the earliest.

To,
Dr. Wilfred D'Souza,
Deputy Chief Minister,
Government of Goa.

From,
Arwin Mesquita,
Abu Dhabi, UAE,
Dated: 03rd Feb 2007.

Respected Sir,

As it was requested at the Global Goans Convention, in presence of Mr. Eduardo Faliero, Commissioner of NRI Affairs; please see my proposal below to save Goan Identity.

Set up a Goa Government Committee to preserve Goan Identity and initiate the below:
(1) Urgent Dialogue with Government of India.(Very Important)
- Initiate a Government Committee to start an urgent dialogue with the Government of India on how to protect Goan Identity, Culture & Land. Given the fact, that we are a small population and cannot afford to take in so much migration & sell out land to non-goans, at such a rapid rate. Most other states can manage to keep their identity, as their populations/states are larger.
- I think that the Indian Government has an obligation to protect Goan Identity; since they had liberated Goa for the better.

(2) Global and Local Awareness Programme.
- Start an awareness programme on the need for Overseas Goans to return home, invest & help preserve our Identity; before its too late!!
- Start an awareness programme for Local & Overseas Goans on the ill effects of selling Land/Prized Houses to Outsiders and the negative implications, it will cause for Goa's Future and its Children.

(3) Culture and Language.
- Make it mandatory or offer incentives to promote Goan Culture aggressively vs. other cultures.
- Setup an action plan to effectively promote Goan Language and Culture.

(4) Opportunities within the Indian Constitution.
- Appoint a legal team to look at opportunities within the Legal Framework and Indian Constitution, on how Goa can protect its Identity & Land. There has to be something in the constitution to protect communities; where there is a real threat to its respective identity?

(5) Land
- Setup a Land Bank to preserve Land that can only be Sold to Goans.
- Stop all land sales to Foreigners and investigate/ nullify any transfers done in the past.
- Investigate all big projects thoroughly to ensure all norms are met before approval; Housing Complexes particularly that are not in the interests of Goans, should not be approved/passed i.e. ones that will not largely accommodate Goans permanently.
-Set up an professional anonymous hot line to report any land violations to a vigilance cell in the Government i.e. Agricultural Land Conversions etc

I strongly feel we should do something now, when we are in the majority and before its too late!! This committee I am proposing can also start getting ideas/suggestions from Goans (Local & Global) on how Best to preserve Goan Identity, Culture, Land & Language. Appreciate if you can please help address this very important issue urgently and let me have a reply at the earliest.

Yours Sincerely,
Arwin Mesquita, UAE.]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=139 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=139 Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:17:31 +0000 sanjayvalpoi Builders lobby is internally against RP2021, because it consists of a number of checks and balances which restricts them to lesser FAR (less area to construct on a land). Mining mafia is also opposed to RP 2021 because they will be restricted into rigid restricted legal framework. Few politicians are opposed to it, who can go down upto any level, just for petty political advantages.

We all understand RP 2021 is not hundred percent correct (and practically, it cannot be) and there should be certain way of progressive corrections to be incorporated without giving room to strong Builders and Mining mafia.

Most of the impartial aware residents of Goa appreciate the efforts taken in meticulously developing RP 2021. We should learn to encourage, respect and honour good work done for the betterment of the state.
I again urge to the aware Goans not to fall in the traps of politicians, mafia and blackmailers. We should strongly support immediate implementation of RP 2021 along with a mechanism of further enhancement and correction in place.]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=130 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=130 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 05:07:28 +0000 R Fernandes
50 years has seen GFA ‘controlled’ by:
1) Club owners manning it and coming up with rules that Goa teams should not take players from each other.This forced the players to go out of Goa for a year and then come back the following season. Obviously they would think twice before shifting and the Clubs would gain- but not the players.
2) Politicians using it as their personal property eyeing monetary gains.
3) Others who literally allowed the sponsors to take the shirt off them! FIFA has rules on how much of the team jersey can sport the sponsor’s name/logo: but the Goa 2010 Santosh team changed the entire colours to the sponsor’s colours! Teams are known by their colours.Colours are the’ brand’ of the team. Colours are the basis of a fan base. The fans are conspicuous by their absence at the matches for obvious reasons.

Many GFA office bearers might have been sincere yet the result today is nil.

There seems to be a unique cartel controlling the GFA: one term goes to the Politician lobby and the next to the Club owners. Both work for themselves alone.

We do not see the same ‘enthusiasm’ when it comes to the Goa Hockey Association.

Village football still determines the growth in Goa. They are the GFA. They have to be consulted. Yet, once elected the GFA office bearers become the face and body of Goan Football. Any news on football and the Secretary/President are there voicing their expert comments. They take arbitrary decisions on sponsorships, jersey change, naming of stadiums (gifted by locals to the GFA) after their sponsors. Yet their expertise has resulted in empty stadiums, no Goans in the National team and less than 50% Goans in the Goa based teams. The scene is set to get even bleaker with the AIFF focused on players from North India because of height and strength factors. Yet GFA seems to be driving in ‘neutral’ hoping there will be no pot holes or oncoming vehicles.

The GFA affiliated club members are ‘nearly’ all footballers. They all are keen, enthusiastic people. Their number is not so large that they cannot be involved in the monthly if not day to day functioning of the GFA. Why should there not be more participation?

We need a referendum to settle the following:
1) Should Politicians man GFA?
2) GFA must not take decisions like changing the colours/flag, naming stadiums after sponsors without a referendum.
3) All GFA posts must carry yearly key objectives with quarterly progress reports. These should lead to the GFA key objective which should be: In 10 years Goan Players will play in the English League. Those not achieving the key objectives should step down
4) GFA should profit from the AIFF camps in Goa if their facilities are used.
5) Nurturing a team for 3 years for Lusofonia games otherwise no participation :( what an opportunity going a begging!!! From having a single Goan in the National team we can have 22 playing International matches. And GFA wakes up less than a month before the games. For Goa this is a World Cup what with being able to play against Portugal, Angola, Mozambique)


In fact after 50 years now is the right time to have a referendum on the type of Politicians we require and which Politicians we want retired. For a small place like Goa referendums can be had every decade.

R Fernandes

Margao]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=138 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=138 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:39:08 +0000 sanjayvalpoi
It is about time to put our foot down and look for better Goa. We should not encourage people or groups opposing much needed development, just for the sake of opposition or directly/indirectly making money out of such malicious campaigns.]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=59 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=59 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:08:41 +0000 bazooka
Can architects not advise builders or are they so helpless?]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=137 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=137 Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:14:46 +0000 R Fernandes
What is right and what is wrong? Who is right: who is wrong? This is the addition and the subtraction : get this correct and we can move on to multiplication and division.

Goa is a small place and with well-informed people and should have been a role model. Alas! There are certain key people: the Politicians, Govt. HOD’s- Collectors/IGP’s,Dgp’s/media persons-editors, reporters, free lancers/letter writers/Social Activists/Doctor MLA aspirants/Doctors/Mine owners/Industrialists and the like. We listen to them day in and day out. They sneeze and the media reports it. We open a paper and they shout out at us. Bam! Bam! Bam! Smash! Pow! We are the Champions! They say give a thief some rope and he will hang himself. A pot that goes to the well often….

A prominent Gentleman who said he had no right to question his granddaughters preference to the MOI but thought it his birth right to demand the MOI for the grandchildren of all the rest in Goa brought about mixed reactions.2 + 2 can only be 4: no two ways about this. What we saw was a slew of numbers not equal to 4: A Doctor MLA aspirant making ludicrous statements on his correctness even going on to ‘threaten’ Catholics that when the majority turns on them they would run to seek the secular Gentleman’s pity! Another prominent Doctor from Goa also justified the Gentleman’s stand. Amazing! Move over Obama: you can’t beat our infallibity! We( or rather they) are the true World leaders.

R Fernandes]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=77 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=77 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:06:50 +0000 ARWIN
Please read the attachment.

Regards.
Arwin Mesquita]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=127 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=127 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:04:09 +0000 raghukumar point no. 4 above, which the politicians will not like."]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=39 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=39 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 10:52:01 +0000 ARWIN
I left Goa “temporarily” reluctantly, due to lack of opportunities. Many with me agree the need, to seriously address, opportunities in Goa for Goans passing out annually from various educational bodies. We could also create opportunities for Goan’s to return home. Lack of opportunities in Goa, is one main reason for our Identity Erosion.

But I don’t support proposals which employ’s Majority Non-Goans without safeguards; to an extent that Goan/Goa is no longer relevant!! I hear views advocating a one-track approach for development; at times with the Globalisation view. I think with the latter, we loose focus on the Objective i.e. “Opportunities for Goans with a balanced need to preserve Goan Identity”. There has to be ways that works best for us. With Respect, we are not against Non-Goans but safeguards are must to preserve our Identity. Let’s debate, discuss & agree a model that works for Goa. We need to think strategically with a vision & avoid quick fixes. Let’s think differently & agree solutions that could also be a model for other threatened Identities. We should Think Global but Act Local.

Can we Set up a High Level Expert Committee with key people from (A) Government (B) Local Experts (3) Goans returned home (4) Overseas Goans(I think many spend considerable time in Goa) (4). This committee can use multiple ways to agree solutions; one could be open forums where opinions are raised, shared & common points are agreed and at least start to be done in parts. Forums could be by (A) Holding Area wise meetings in Goa (B) Identify Key times when Many Overseas Goans are home & then have meetings with Goans in Goa. Please appreciate the need to be united in this effort to do what we agree, is best for Goa & Goan identity.

I can volunteer my time from abroad or when in Goa for the same. When next in Goa, I’ll try meeting with Key Goans to push for idea. I will contact Overseas Goans & NRI Commissioners Office, to get their views/support. Of course if anyone has better idea/different approach, they are welcome to propose.

Arwin Mesquita, UAE.]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=136 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=136 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 04:42:15 +0000 R Fernandes
Mormugao Harbour! A natural harbour. Natural--- today every non-greedy person wants nature! And every greedy one too if he can build in CRZ. Or on fallow fields. What does this mean to a Goan? It means that there is no beach erosion due to this harbour’s activities unlike the case of man made harbours. It means that all the beaches from Terakhol to Galgibag will exist for all times: that these beaches will have their natural right to their sand.

Hence our long coastline with beautiful beaches as of today.

However any new constructions of jetties or new operations, at MPT, Vasco or Betul or any reclamation will result in Beach erosion. Just imagine: in Goa we are thinking of destroying our beaches while Mumbai is now thinking of creating beaches!

Port: yes a port that existed along with our beaches for centuries playing an important part in world commerce.

Trust: Ah! Now herein lays a dilemma. What does one see here? Mistrust? Charitable Trust?

MPT: A charitable organization: does this come to your mind? No?

Well MPT is a charitable organization registered under Section 12A of the Income Tax Act 1961.Which means MPT does not pay Tax!

In 2006 the CIT rejected MPT’s application for registration under Section 12 A of the Income Tax Act 1961. Fortunately for them the Income Tax Appellate tribunal Panjim, ruled in MPT’s favour.

“Charitable purpose’ includes relief to the poor, education, medical relief, and the advancement of any other general public utility.

It is under the last clause- advancement of any other general public utility- that MPT claims its ‘charitable’ works!

So who runs MPT? There is no Board of Directors. Are they a PSU? No but they have a Board of trustees. The trust comprises the MPT Chairman and Dy. Chairman representing MPT, ’Secretary Ports- rep. Goa Govt.; Coast Guard Rep’ and representatives of: S. Western Railway, Navy, GOI- Shipping Ministry, Customs, Mineral ore exporters ,Stevedores’, Barge owners,Mormugao Ship Agents Association

Great!! All profits are to be put back into development. And who has a say in what should be ‘developed’? No prize for guessing right!

So what does MPT do with their profits? They are supposed to use the entire amounts in the development of the Port!!

And so their expansion Plans. Why now? Because the CIT- Commissioner for Income Tax has since long been trying to prove MPT is NOT a charitable organization.

Now we know why MPT has “Marinas’ on top of their development list: because some Mineral Ore Exporter wants it.
If we scratch the surface we will know why MPT wants a coal terminal and jetties along Gos’s rivers for transporting the same.

Insider trading in Company Shares is not allowed. If one has knowledge beforehand of projects like Marinas etc. one can make a killing. One who does so is Corrupt.
Is MPT going to run the Marinas? What has a Port got to do with Marinas?

All ‘stakeholders’ –nice word this –it means all those who get their cushy earnings from the goose and from being privy to inside information- seem to be represented. OOPs! Sorry. The fishing community isn’t nor is the villages whose beaches are regularly ‘tarred’ and eroded due to MPT’s activities and MPT’s negligence of duty: they are designated as responsible for tackling oil /tar spillages in Port Area.

And the Goa Govt. does have a representative on the Board!!!!

Some of MPT’s ‘development ‘plans’:
• Comply with GSPCB strictures to control coal dust Pollution in Vasco: in planning stage since October 2010.
• Gomantak Times issue of 9/3/11 carried MPT’s advert. Calling for leasing out part of the MPT hospital! The ad clearly states that the MPT Hospital to date is for the benefit of MPT personnel alone. With the lease to Pvt practitioners there is no way the General public including the poor can get free medical aid. But they will have one more clause to show their ’charitable’ nature.
• Build new jetties without studying whether the same will stop the natural littoral drift of sand which would lead to beach erosion.
• Build Marinas and hand over the same to private parties of the Trustees: as charity? Well charity does begin at home.]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=134 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=134 Tue, 17 May 2011 08:42:45 +0000 S Godinho
CBSE schools were set up to take care of wards of Services/Central Govt. employees who are transferred and so cannot be expected to learn the local language. They should be used for this purpose only. How and when were locals allowed to study here?
He further says that the change to English as MOI for aided schools will lead to communal disharmony. The present status: There are 207 Konkani MoI schools of which 140 are pvt.128 of these are by the Catholic community and only 6 by the Hindu community!

Why is this not reason enough for disturbing communal harmony?

It seems that every one and my Uncle is politically motivated. We need not invent the wheel: we have the results of 20 years of our policy in front of us: evaluate it. And please do not give individual examples.
The truth is that it is a particular community which is trying to ensure their own advancement over the Catholics and other Hindus and insisting on Konkani MOI. The RTE with no exams upto the IXth std. should apply to CBSE schools as well!
S Godinho]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=135 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=135 Tue, 24 May 2011 07:29:41 +0000 R Fernandes In the 70’s many Goans too worked here and mentioned how the citizens would change their cars in so many months time!
How? Nauru was covered with rich phosphate soil at the surface itself: they had to just scoop and export the natural fertilizer for huge profits!
Sounds familiar? Like Goa? Same size, just scoop the mud and export for huge profits?
Not exactly. First here the profits went into a few pockets only. Second, huge craters were formed and many villagers acquired chronic lung diseases without getting any income!

What happened to Nauru?
Quote from http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107816.html “ As its phosphate stores began to run out (by 2006, its reserves will be exhausted), the island was reduced to an environmental wasteland. Nauru appealed to the International Court of Justice to compensate for the damage from almost a century of phosphate strip-mining by foreign companies. In 1993, Australia offered Nauru an out-of-court settlement of 2.5 million Australian dollars annually for 20 years. New Zealand and the UK additionally agreed to pay a one-time settlement of $12 million each. Declining phosphate prices, the high cost of maintaining an international airline, and the government's financial mismanagement combined to make the economy collapse in the late 1990s. By the millennium Nauru was virtually bankrupt.
In 2000, the G7 nations put pressure on the country to review its banking system, which is used by Russian criminals for money laundering.
Since Sept. 2001, Nauru has accepted three boatloads of Asian refugees destined for Australia. Australia compensated the island with $20 million and other financial incentives for taking this refugee problem off its hands. The detention camps, which held more than 400 asylum seekers in 2003, are said to be extremely bleak and lack medical care. Unquote.

Is this a déjà vu? Only no one is going to pay any compensation to mines affected people:Not the local nor central Govt. for sure! Definitely not the legal or illegal mine owners!

Mind you, Nauru placed much of its phosphate revenue in trust funds to ease the transition away from mining, but bad investments and corruption led to a serious depletion of the fund in the 1990s.

What about our mining revenue: do we have a trust fund to ease transition away from mining? Nope: on the contrary Mine ‘owners’ constantly claim that deposits were getting exhausted and the Goa Govt. should make plans on re-habilitating the mining employees!!! The Govt. will probably resort to acquire other peoples land to accommodate the ravaged mining belt villagers.

Do we learn from History? If yes then see the statement...” the Island was reduced to an environmental wasteland!
Or this:
Nauru (pronounced NAH-oo-roo) is an island in the Pacific just south of the equator, about 2,500 mi (4,023 km) southwest of Honolulu. Phosphate mining has virtually destroyed the tiny nation's ecology, turning its tropical vegetation into a barren, rocky wasteland.

R Fernandes]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=132 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=132 Thu, 13 Jan 2011 11:54:09 +0000 whiskey_dosa
Baga beach was filled with cheap Russians swilling Kingfisher Beer. And, while Russian Grannies sunbathed topless, oil massage beggars pandered to their drooping breasts. Anjuna was loaded with Buddhist trinkets and trash. And what have you, the bloody Goans been doing while all these changes have been going on?

Beach after beach is being decimated and not a peep from The Goans. What has happened to the cashew nuts between your legs? And the Goan women don't seem to care. Their sons are in The Gulf or Canada, sending money back home.

In Mumbai thousands of people from the ten villages of the Gorai-Uttan belt have been fighting Essel World. They are protesting against the proposed Special Entertainment Zone (SEZ) spread over 14,183 acres in the area. They know they stand to lose the core of their culture if this happens and so they are fighting this encroachment disguised as tourism.

At least The East Indians there are trying. What have you Goans been doing as mining companies rape your hills and plunder your fresh water resources? What? Have another Cashew Feni? Talk about how Aunty Mary's daughter is now going out with that bleddy German bugger? Or, are you'all fighting your sisters, for property that you don't think they deserve?

What has happened to you bloody Goans? For the sake of the good lord, please wake up; the politicians are stealing your nuts from under you. The mining companies are copulating with the politicians. Don't you hear their grunts? They penetrate so deep, scouring for ore that they have destroyed many a water table. And when the ore has been gouged out, they leave the land, raped and bleeding red. Goa with her thighs spread,
an ugly red gash that was once green!

If you have not seen it, then perhaps you should convert to East Indianism. Ha! Sushegad. What say you stupid? Soon there will be not enough water to nourish the cashew trees on farms across Goa. Now you know what I mean about stealing your nuts, you stupid Goans. One Lone Snap Shot. Quepem town in south Goa, the villages of Maina and Kawrem,

Cheryl D'Souza, her nine-year old daughter Aki, her mother Dora, aged eighty-four, are fighting the miners who have destroyed their dignity and who now want to destroy Paikeachi Zor {Paik's Spring} a fountain head for the villagers. They want to buy her land, Sanfranscisco Estate and turn it into a graveyard.

Cheryl D'Souza knows the deathly silence of graveyards well, her husband's ashes are scattered over her farm. When the miners wanted to rape her little daughter and take away her very existence, Cheryl turned She Wolf, feral and snarling, to thwart the beasts who are literally panting at her doorstep.

She wants to keep them away. They want to rape and then eat her daughter alive. She has pleaded, begged of the Goans to help her fight this juggernaut that is pounding Goa but the Goans have stayed silent. Let her fight, let her go to jail, let her young daughter and old mother be incarcerated, raped; we will continue to dip our paos in last night's stale curry, looking into our cracked plates so that we do not have to see or know. What a shame!

The miners made her a monetary offer that they thought she could not refuse. She did. They threatened her. She fought back.. They humiliated her. She snarled in protest.

One bright morning she declared war and tried to stop the ore trucks that were carting away the life blood of her Goa. They arrested her and her daughter and her old mother. And the Goans stayed silent watching her being gang raped by the politicians and the miners. What kind of people have you bloody Goans become?

Pass Pao Men. Say Rosary! Go Church!

At least the East Indians in Gorai have the spunk to protest. You stupid sushegad Goans are watching your state being turned around on its face and brutally buggered. Three women fighting a beast. You watch from afar. Is this entertainment?

My old friend Bal Thackeray once told me, "Sometimes it is better to throw a few stones." It is a pity that the Tiger cannot fight with the She Wolf; maybe; just maybe, it would turn the mining beast around.

And all you despicable Goans, who will not fight to save your nuts, go ahead have another feni. . Never mind what the Bible says. You can go to church in the morning, go to confession, say three Hail Mary's, but please do something, before your Goa is Gone. I say to you gutless Goans. The East Indians have bigger nuts and their sorpotel is better. Bleddy, What Say You mMn?

If you still have nuts, go on, throw the first bleddy stone!]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=133 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=133 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:56:20 +0000 rickyfernandes
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wJcdEPUtzGk/S0gZfe-o7LI/AAAAAAAAABs/RSQKIyHUc5w/S220/Arwin+(Guitar).jpg]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=99 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=99 Sun, 22 Feb 2009 04:17:03 +0000 ARWIN
Please read the attachment on the above mentioned subject.

Regards,
Arwin]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=47 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=47 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:50:37 +0000 ARWIN
I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WE CAN STILL SAVE GOA’S VERY UNIQUE IDENTITY, which is now under threat; and this, can be done in a civilized manner.

For Goans concerned, but show helplessness to act for various reasons; e.g. Non Resident Goans saying that they are far away or Pessimistic Resident Goans saying that nothing they do will help, etc please allow me to suggest just 2 simple actions:
(1) Each Goan regularly writes, at least a few words on the issue to the local newspapers/media (letters can be emailed to respective newspaper/media)
(2) Each Goan regularly posts a letter/post card on the issue to all current 40 MLA’s (or at least one MLA) in the Goa Assembly.

These simple actions are practical and do not take much time. IMAGINE THE IMPACT, if countless Goans act on the same and do not stop!! The key is persistence. Surely this will send a very strong message demanding action & undoubtedly build a very strong momentum amongst Goans to rise & speak/act. It is worth a try; what do we have too loose, except a few minutes!!

I kindly request each Goan to action the 2 simple points above or action what you think is right/possible. If each Goan does at least one Simple Action, the combined action will be very powerful!! BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF ONE; YOU CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!!

LET’S START THE BALL ROLLING FOR GOAN IDENTITY. IN MY HONEST VIEW, THE TIME HAS COME FOR EACH ONE OF US TO SPEAK UP OR ACT. WHAT WE SAY OR DO NOW WILL DECIDE THE FUTURE/FATE OF GOA & GOANS. PLEASE SPREAD THIS MESSAGE.

ARWIN MESQUITA, UAE.]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=108 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=108 Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:02:11 +0000 ARWIN
Please see letter in todays Herald (re-pasted below)
http://www.oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=19582&cid=13

Reservations for Goans Arwin Mesquita, Abu Dhabi
Following the letter titled ‘No Reservation for Goans’ by Robert Castellino (Herald, 31 Mar), being a Non-Resident Goan myself, I would like to put the job reservation issue for Goans in perspective.
All communities have limits up to which migrants can be welcomed. Goa has crossed this limit with minimum 40 per cent of Goa’s population being migrants. In fact, I would argue that Goans are more tolerant than most other communities. Will the other communities/Indian states tolerate such rapid change in demographics and deterioration of their local identities? I do not think so!
Gulf countries are increasingly putting in place policies for job reservations for their locals – for example, Kuwaitisation, Emiratisation, etc. Also, Gulf Goans are temporary migrants (not permanent).
The US, Canada, Europe, Australia and other countries are increasingly putting in place more stringent measures on immigration, to ensure that increased immigration does not seriously affect their local identities. This in effect means that jobs in these countries are reserved for their citizens.
Also, countries that accept Goan emigrants (among others) have policies to localise all immigrants so as to preserve their identities and languages, whereas Goa is a free-for-all with increasingly many languages growing and prospering, except Konkani.
Many employers in Goa are deliberately employing non-Goans for various reasons that suit their convenience – lower salaries, favouring their non-Goan friends/families, etc – even when there are suitable Goans available for the same.
I think we should look at reservation in a civilised manner. Jobs that than can be done by Goans should be reserved for Goans; the rest of the “essential jobs” can be offered to outsiders. Nevertheless, the entire policy should be reviewed to ensure jobs are created based on requirement from Goans only. Yes, I appreciate that there will need to be essential jobs that will have to be manned by non-Goans but these jobs should be encouraged, only if absolutely required for Goa.]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=20 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=20 Sun, 12 Aug 2007 17:51:17 +0000 ARWIN I am proud to be citizen of a country with the Worlds major religions and a variety of different cultures.
The essence here is that different types of people make up our great country; Goan culture & identity being part of it. It is very important that these cultures & respective identities are preserved.
Opinions are voiced that since Goans are free to buy land/migrate to any part of India (exception Kashmir); the same should be for all other communities towards Goa. I appreciate this view but do not agree; most of the states in India have sizeable sizes/populations and migrations from other states will not make a significant change to their culture. One argument for example; Mumbai has majority non-Maharashtrian population but; Mumbai is a non-local minority city in a local majority state. Bottom line is that there is no threat to the Maharashtrian culture!!
What we face in Goa today is a threat to our culture and identity; in a few years time will there be a place we can call home? With the current trend, I seriously doubt it. It is in this view that we need to push for an exception to the norm; which could even mean taking up the issue the Indian Government for constitution changes to preserve Goan Culture & Identity. In hindsight, I believe that we should have negotiated this at the time of liberation.
There are many communities e.g. The Kurds in Iraq/Turkey who long for a place to call their own and here we have a place but, are giving it away.
Lastly my opinion is that each individual needs a sense of belonging and identity; A lot of Goans shun our language, culture and customs either due to embarrassment or other reasons. Each one of us should ask ourselves the question i.e. Do we want the Goa we know to go away? If the answer is yes, then I rest my case!!

Arwin Mesquita, UAE.]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=21 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=21 Sun, 12 Aug 2007 17:54:59 +0000 ARWIN is mainly because Goans are selling the land.

I am disappointed with this view and disagree
completely based on the below points:
-This is a relevant issue as the very Goan Identity
and ties to the soil are threatened. Yes, we can buy
in other states but those respective
states/populations are large enough to withstand
identity change.
-Certain critical areas has to be controlled by the
Government where the local society can be affected
e.g. Traffic, Stock Market, Insurance, Economic or
Protection policies etc which are done by India and
even advanced countries like the US and France.

-One main reason the price of land has shot up;
various politicians in the Government and Panchayats,
who have been paid huge sums to clear land illegally
and support huge projects for Non-Goans elite. Not to
mention threats and intimidation.
I request each and every Goan to start with the first
step and demand that MLA focus on the issue of
of "Goan Identity/Land" and flood the media with demands.
Let us start doing our bit for Goa before it is too
late. Equally I hope that at least 1 Goan MLA has the
courage to address and action this very important issue.
One idea could be a formation of a
cell in the Government which (A) Starts a dialogue
with the central government on how to preserve Goan
identity and (B) Identifies opportunities to protect
Goan Land, Jobs, Culture, Language and interest.

Will this decade will known for liberation of Goa from
the Goans or will we do something to prevent it!!.
Let us look at "Can do" NOT "Cannot Do"

Arwin Mesquita, UAE.]]> http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=117 http://seymour.textdrive.com/~savegoa/vanilla/comments.php?DiscussionID=117 Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:17:05 +0000 mejoe If not, (as I suspect) then what are other documents are must in order to carry out a legal sale transaction of a land.]]>