OPPOSE DICTATOR PARRIKAR ON MOPA.

A month after his death during the condolence meeting at Lohia Maidan, Margao, Alina Saldanha the wife of Mathanay Saldanha made a very important statement about her husband saying “the greatest tribute we can pay to him is to carry out the works and causes he led during his lifetime”.


The first step in keeping the legacy of Mathanay Saldanha alive will be the strong protest by Alina herself on the anti-Goan decision of Parrikar to construct Mopa Airport. Her husband was against this Airport. It will be a fitting tribute to the dead Mathanay if his dearest wife carries forward the work of him in opposing the construction of Mopa Airport.

Though she is still in a moaning period yet it is not too early for her to condemn Parrikar to pilot the anti Goan project of Mopa. Mathanay Saldanha during his life time worked for the fulfilment of people’s wishes especially those that are good for Goa and Goans. His unlimited support for the Ramponkars cause, Konkani cause, Statehood cause, Meta Strip and many others will remain in the history of Goa written in golden capital letters.

By the way, if he was alive today, would he oppose Parrika’s decision of going ahead with the construction of Mopa Airport? Looking at his track record I doubt very much. Mathanay Saldanha achieved all his achievements not when he was in the Legislative Assembly and in the Cabinet. When he was inducted into the Cabinet as a Minister, Mathanay Saldanha became a slave of Parrikar and BJP. If it was not so, he would not remain a silent spectator to the anti-Christian VCD circulation by Parrikar government; if it was not so, Mathanay Saldanha would not keep his silence when Parrikar cancelled the Good Friday holiday.

As a minister in BJP ministry under the skippership of anti-Christian Parrikar, Mathanay Saldanha failed and as one proof I can refer the example of River Princess Ship at Candolim. Immediately after taking Oath as Minister he assured the people of Candolim in particular and Goans in general that his top priority will be to clear this rot from Candolim Beach to avert environmental disaster. Finally what happened? Mathanay failed in his promise.

Mathanay Saldanha was good as a layman civilian to fight for the people’s causes but not as an official of government. As a minister he was more selfish to protect his chair just like any other corrupt and insincere minister. To oppose government from outside he was very good but as a minister himself from inside the government he was very bad. He was the Yes man of Parrikar for this reason inspite of being a Christian he kept his silence when anti-Christian legislations were introduced by Parrikar. Anti-Christian legislation means anti-Goan legislation because hurting the sentiments of any religious community in Goa means affecting the peace of Goa as a whole.

Will Alina succeed where her husband would likely sleep accepting Parrikar’s decision on Mopa? From her few statements and her body language and talking to her close friends during her academic career, I feel Alina will surely challenge Parrikar by publicly opposing Mopa Airport in tune with the wishes of Goa lover Goans.

Besides Alina, all the MLA’s who defeated Congress candidates and supporting Parrikar are duty bound to oppose Parrikar. They must not be afraid of BJP because BJP Manifesto does not show Mopa and because it was so people voted BJP. If Mopa was included in BJP manifesto many voters would not vote for BJP candidates and BJP backed candidates. And all the BJP and BJP backed MLA’s are elected by the people of their constituencies to fulfil the wishes of them and not of Parrikar. Parrikar cannot eat as we say in Konkani - “Aitea Folear”. Here voters are important and their wishes should carry priority. Come on voters from Calangute constituency, Navelim, Benaulim, Mapusa and other constituencies, speak out and speak out loudly the voice of your conscience. Do not support anti Goan voice of Parrikar.

The Navelim constituents who are known to be giant killers must ask Avertano his stand on this, so also constituents who voted Lobo in Calangute. People from Aldona constituency who shook Narvenkar must now shake Tiklo on this topic. So also elsewhere in Goa people must shake their BJP and BJP backed MLA’s. People’s voice must be heard and accepted and not of Parrikar’s. This is the meaning of Democracy for which our elders fought in Goa against Salazar’s dictatorial “dadagiri”.

Parrikar is a dictator following in the footsteps of Salazar. We don’t want Salazar anymore. We want democrat who listens to the voice of the people in Goa.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

Aquem-Baixo residents gather to save play ground

Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Mr. Arthur D'Silva along with ward councilor Avinash Shirodkar, Vice Chairperson, Pratima Countinho, Municipal Engineer and officials of SGPDA conducted a site inspection of construction site at Aquem-Baixo on a complaint filed by Navelim Civic & Consumer Forum & Navelchea Xetkarancho Ekvott.

During the site inspection the villagers and the farmers pointed out the various illegalities to which the builder, Mr. Kotari of Sapana Developers had no answers. The farmers complained that the builder has deliberately encroached into their fields by digging for the compound wall. NCCF pointed out that the builder has not done the demarcation of the property as required under the law hence the encroachment.
Adjacent residents pointed out that their traditional accesses will be blocked if the construction is allowed to come up. The residents produced a copy of an objection filed by at least 74 persons objecting to the sale of the property as it was being used by them as a village playground. The builder did not challenge nor did he reply to the later, thereby implying that the residents are correct.
Residents also pointed out to  a religious place of worship which will be blocked if the project is allowed to come up. Also the officials were questioned as to how a paddy field was converted to a "C1" zone and that too with an existing road of 4 mts only.  The farmers also pointed out that the proposed road by the builder is 10 mts, and that for the builder to make huge profits the farmers will have to sacrifice their meager land.
The residents also pointed out to an illegal structure constructed by the builders without any permission from MMC and SGPDA. Hence they demanded that the whole project be scrapped.
The Chairperson promised to initiate action immediately including stopping the work. SGPDA officials were also surprised to see these illegalities and said that they were not aware of the facts and that they will take appropriate action in the matter.   
 
Joseph L. R. Vaz - Secretary, Navelim Civic & Consumer Forum
 

SUPPORT KIDNEY PATIENTS.

Sir,


It is sometimes now, I see the hype for Antonette de Calangute issue being taken by Tiatrist fraternity and funds being raised by them for the transplant of her kidneys. I am just wondering how much money may be required for her transplant.

I along with my husband attended one of the musical show held at Ravindra Bhavan, Pai Tiatrist Hall, Margao purchasing ticket of Rs 500/- each in aid of Antonette de Calangute and the show was houseful. The same show was held in Panjim and elsewhere also. The collected funds may have gone to laks and laks of rupees.

No doubt, I understand she is from Tiatrist fraternity and at the same time she is getting these funds as she is very influential too. But besides her there are many other kidney patients also who have no support and nobody comes forward to help them.

I, for example am one of the kidney patients who have been suffering for the past 5 years and am undergoing dialysis. There are many other patients like me doing hemodialysis and/or CAPD dialysis and who are in dire need of financial help, some of them are dying due to lack of financial support. Goa govt is indeed helping but with partial support which is not sufficient enough to meet the needs of the patients.

Therefore, I would request some kind hearted people/groups on behalf of other kidney patients to come forward and help the unfortunate patients for further treatment as this sickness is very costly and the fund provided by Goa Govt is very less and the payments are not paid on timely basis. I would appeal to any organization/clubs/individuals to come forward and help the patients. There are some kind hearted and sympathetic individuals who in fact have come forward to help the unfortunate patients by forming a group under the name of "GOA RENAL SUPPORT ASSOCIATION" (Govt Regd. No.896/GOA/2009), A/c. No.31074245264 with State Bank of India, Panaji. There is an urgent need to support this Association in order to reach to the rescue of these helpless kidney patients.


Thanking you .


Annie Rodrigues
Navelim

MY DAUGHTER AVESHAH MARRIED TO CLYDE.

On 14th February this year, my only daughter Aveshah was wedded to Clyde from Calangute.  The marriage was solemnised at Calangute Church followed by the reception at Bastora.

After her schooling at Little Flower Convent, Calangute, Avesha completed her graduation from Xaviers College Mapusa and then went on to acquire Law degree at Salgaocar Law College, Panjim.

A scholarly student throughout her academic career, she also excelled in sports representing her school and Colleges in athletics and soccer.  She represented Goa University and Goa State also in Soccer and Athletics.

As a poet, she wrote poems on different topics which were even published in Herald and in Goa Post.

She also excelled in Konkani and English oratory.

Above, in the first photo seen together are Clyde & Aveshah while coming out of the Church.
In the second photo are me, Avesha, my only son Kuwait based Ashton and my wife Fatima.
In the third photo seen are bridemaids/men.
In the fourth photo are all our family members joining together first time from Goa, India and abroad. They are my brothers, sisters, their spouses, their children and grand children.
In the fifth picture are my nieces: Sobitia (Daughter of my late brother Josemarie), Corina and Dr. Diana (Daughters of my sister). All three are based at Maputo in Mocambique with their husbands.  Sobitia raised the Toast.

With my kindest love to you my Avesha, on behalf of me, your loving Mummy and loving brother,  I wish you both a lasting and prosperous wedded life.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU BOTH ALWAYS.

Your Loving Dad,
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait. 

IS GOA CM PARRIKAR A TRAITOR??

Is Parrikar a real Born Traitor? It looks like.  During the recent election campaigning I was present in Goa and most of the election meetings I attended physically, these meetings not only of one party but of all the parties. Almost all the BJP meetings I attended in and outside of my locality. I have seen Parrikar’s Yatra and heard Parrikar speaking in Yatra from top of the vehicle he was moving. In one of the meetings in Yatra, he said “give me only one term and I will undo everything Congress has done badly against the wishes of the people”. This very statement has created an electrifying effect on the Goans seeking justice and corruption free Goa, to support Parrikar. Never in any of his meetings had he mentioned Mopa, either for or against. Neither Mopa was mentioned in his manifesto, at least I have not seen this anywhere.


Suddenly as if he got up from his deep sleep, he raised the Mopa issue in his support for this Airport. What the hell is wrong with this bloody Parrikar who a month back was hailed as a saviour of Goa and Goans? People in Goa voted Parrikar to power not to construct Mopa Airport which if done remaining part of Goa will also be degoanised with the influx of non-Goans who will finally take the custody of Goa and Goans. Completion of degoanisation process will be done with the construction of Mopa Airport. We don’t want this to happen for Goa.


Parrikar was voted to power to fulfil his promises he gave to the Goans prior to the last election and these promises include everything except Mopa. Reduction in Petrol prices will not be enough, other promises which are affecting the common Goans everywhere in Goa should be addressed first.


There is a saying in Konkani “Zaloleacho gunn khuim melea xivai vochona”. This saying applies exactly to Parrikar He is the flag bearer of MGP mission of liquidating Goa just as MGP wanted. Where MGP failed Parrikar wants to win with his BJP. There is one more Konkani saying which says “Sunneachi Xempddi Nouyen Ghatlear Pasun Kednach Ubhi Zaunchina”. It looks Parrikar will never change. His anti-Goan and anti-Christian tirade will never leave from his blood. Some of his colleagues schooling with him at Mapusa justify this attribute of his which was existing in him since his youth.


Parrikar must know very well that he was brought to power with heavy majority with the help of Christians not because he was loved by them but only to undo what sins Congress “Chor” have done for Goa and Goans. PARRIKAR MUST STOP DOING UNWANTED ACTS AS Mopa Airport. If Parrikar does not learn his lesson well then he should be taught how to learn. People elected his party to power thru peaceful weapon of Ballot and not thru the deadly weapon of Bullet. Goans are not as docile now as they were earlier. The present youth of Goa is revolutionary capable of doing anything to gain their rights and to fulfil their rightful wishes. It was this youth that brought the revolution thru Ballot in the last election. Parrikar must not provoke them to use alternative weapon to bring his government down which if happens will give a golden opportunity for “Chor” Congress to loot Goa again.


Congress looters of Goa especially those from Salcette who were sent to “Sasnnachi Nid” in the last election will not be given any more chance to get up from their  "Sasnnachi Nid"  but by raising the Mopa Airport topic Parrikar will give them a chance on silver platter to make their presence felt. And given a chance they will make a very good use of it.


Meantime, all the revolutionaries including writers, journalists, activists, priests and others who actively took part in bringing Parrikar to power must start campaigning hard against Mopa Airport which will benefit only the non-Goans. Florian Lobo and his Goa lover colleagues with the like-minded Goans must call a public meeting immediately at Mapusa Bus Stand the home place of Paprrikar first and then followed by others elsewhere in Goa especially in Salcette. If possible, mass civil disobedience movement should be initiated. It is time for all the Goa lover Goans to force Parrikar to concentrate on issues other than anti-Goan Mopa Airport. And Goans are capable of doing this.


To go a step further, there should be demonstrations in front of the residential places of the BJP/BJP supported MLA’s who dethroned Congressmen in the recently concluded election to know their views on this hot issue. Hello CAITU? Hello LOBO? Hello AVERTANO and others? Your integrity is at stake now.


Meantime, Cortalim election should be fought on this singular issue. It is a nice platform for Goans thru Cortalim election to show their opposition to Parrikar’s support to the construction of ANTI GOAN MOPA AIRPORT. The slogan for Cortalim election against BJP candidate should be  "AIRPORT MOPA - AMKAM NAKA".



A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

VILLAGE IN RESTAURANT IN KUWAIT CITY RESTARTED.

VILLAGE IN RESTAURANT in Kuwait City has already been restarted with New Outlook under New Management.  New Menu with same old prices.  Also, basement hall for parties available.

NEW  MANAGER:  FRANCIS D'MELLO. 


Photo below shows people gathered for one Goan party held there on last Friday.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

G.O.A. ROLLING TROPHY. ROUND 1.

                                                             REAL BETALBATIM AND C.R.C CHINCHINIM WIN

Last Friday’s dull and dusty weather failed to dampen the spirits of teams participating in the 18th edition of the G.O.A Rolling Trophy organized by Goan Overseas Association (Goa Maroons) under the auspices of KIFF and sponsored by Bassem International Trading Company at the MOH ground, Shuwaikh.


Veteran Derrick Gomindes equalized for Real Betalbatim in a last gasp goal to lead his team to victory in the tie breaker against Indian Strikers F.C and C.R.C Chinchinim surprised Kuwait Goan Association 4-1 in first round matches of this prestigious tournament. Derrick who is now a guiding force behind Real Betalbatim brought himself on in the second half with his team trailing 0-1 courtesy of cool finish by Indian Strikers F.C forward Anthony Joseph, and ensured his team ended the game 1-1 with an excellent goal in the dying minutes of the game. In the ensuing penalty shootout, Real Betalbatim players kept their cool and with goalkeeper Yogesh Chavan in outstanding form, to make sure of qualifying for the next round.

In the second match from the same group, C.R.C Chinchinim who have had a rollercoaster season left the field on a high with brilliant goals from brothers Joe and Sony Gomes to lead their team to a 4-1 victory against a strong Kuwait Goan Association fielding the likes of Christeo and Jacob in the defense and Rosario and Jose Fernandes upfront. The first ten minutes of the game were no indication of what was to follow with C.R.C keeper Anthony having to make a fine save and defender Lawrence and midfielder Russel kept busy thwarting attacks from the KGA forwards. Things changed however after Joe Gomes scored for C.R.C in a sudden countermove and brother Sony scored easily one of the goals of the season with an overhead bicycle kick from inside the 18 yard box. Sony added a second and Leslie Alemao scored the fourth goal for C.R.C. Kuwait Goan Association pulled one back towards the end of the game.


Coming Friday, 27th April 2012, there will be three matches as follows: FC Spark v/s Santos United at 6:30am followed by United Goans Centre v/s Malabar United F.C at 8:00am and the final match will be between Curtorcares United and A.V.C Sports & C.A at 9:30am.


Julio Cardoso
Kuwait.

Goa is not a place. It is a state of mind. It is an unshakeable belief in the power of sun, sand and scotch to alleviate human suffering. It also poses a minor problem, if you happen to live there.
On his first trip to the state and clearly overwhelmed by the picture-perfect beaches and blondes, the first question that struck this correspondent was if you were lucky enough to live in Goa, then where do you head for holidays?
Peter Rufus burst out laughing when he heard this question.

Rufus, in his 40s, has the best job in the world. He owns a place called Sam's Beach Shack on Mobor beach, south Goa. His daily routine consists of turning out in bermudas and serving vodka and orange juice to woozy American tipplers till late at night.

"Holiday....," he drawled, "I went to see the Taj Mahal a few years back....that's it. You can say I love my quiet life!"

Rufus, of course, doesn't need a holiday. But what about the rest in this state of 1.4 million people?

"My holiday consists of going to Anjuna or Calangute (both north Goa beaches) when I'm bored. Why go anywhere else?" shrugged Narayan Ghondse, 65, a Margao resident.

He took particular delight in teasing this reporter about his Delhi roots.

"First time to the sea? Goa's beaches are the best in the world. You'll miss them when you return to your hot, dusty city," he chuckled.

Ignoring the put-down, I took a walk around the quaint little area of Margao, which still retains its Portuguese roots. The houses are delightfully designed cottages and have exceptionally well-maintained gardens. And the shops have names like 'Jesus Car Repair' and 'Rodriguez Restro Bar'.

Gearless bikes are the preferred mode of transport - easy, fun and no hassles. Much like the people living there.

Marketplaces are lined with shops selling knick knacks like imitation jewellery, Ganesha statues and wall hangings. If you want to bargain, don't haggle with the shop owner - just flash a smile. It'll get many tasks done here.

Back at my hotel, I head out to the beach after dinner. Where I meet Rufus again.

"I told my mom about your question," he told me. "And she said that being Goans, we're the hosts. If the hosts leave their homes, where will the world come to party?"

Well said, Mrs. Rufus.

FORWARDED BY: ELDON CARLOS,
                                   KUWAIT.

WHO WILL CONTEST CORTALIM BY-ELECTION?

The late president of Philippines Ferdinand Marcos was the dictator of his country for over two decades. About 30 years back supported by the people Beningno Aquino challenged Marcos for the presidency of Philippines. Seeing Aquino gaining too much of public support, Marcos was annoyed and with this annoyance he got Aquino killed at Manila Airport when Aquino was deplaning himself.



After this sudden tragic death of Aquino, there appeared a void to challenge Marcos in the election for the presidency. Due to public sympathy, demand for Corazon Aquino the wife of Mr. Aquino grew to contest the election against Marcos. Though Mrs. Aquino was a Law graduate yet she was only a housewife being an apolitical woman never involved with her husband in his political activities. She was novice to politics and was never tested in this field before. Yet there was heavy pressure on her to contest the election against Marcos. When she was adamant in her refusal to contest the election in place of her late assassinated husband, finally Cardinal Sin of Philippines intervened and requested her thus:


“Mrs. Aquino, please don’t let the people’s wishes go on your deaf ears”. When she said to see someone more appropriate and competent, Cardinal Sin replied thus: “We have people to challenge Marcos but we don’t want any of them other than you because the entire nation is supporting you because you are the HEART of the nation now with the strong public feelings you gained thru public sympathy. Everyone in Philippines backs you up for the good work your late husband did for the nation”. With this plea of Philippine’s Cardinal, Mrs. Corazon Aquino relented, then contested the election and got facile victory to become the president of Philippines and then the history.


The contribution of the late Mathanay Saldanha in the service of Goa is really immense and nobody can deny this fact. His love for Goa and Goans was really tremendous. It was a pity that he died at the wrong time when he was able to do something worthwhile for Goan causes. His death was a mystery which can unravel only by God. In his death the void created in Cortalim constituency has to be filled within 6 months. Who will fill this void? The demand on his wife Alina to fill this void is growing while there seems to be no opposition voice so far visible and audible.


In Philippines, the opponents of Marcos wanted to get rid of him and for this the only alternative was to push Mrs. Aquino to contest the election. Similarly there is a demand to push Mrs. Mathanay Saldanha to contest the by-election in Cortalim and win the Seat for BJP. What is at stake is BJP Seat and nothing else. It does not matter Alina is capable or not but her victory is essential irrespective of her output. She is become the Heart of Cortalim constituency and darling of voters due to sympathy wave flowing everywhere for her because of her husband’s death.


When Lal Bahadur Shastri died, some “Chamcha” Congressmen tried to coax his wife Lalita Shastri to join Congress openly so that Congressmen will use her sympathy to gain support for the party, but she refused. When Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated she advised Sonia Gandhi to keep a distance from active politics but Sonia turned down her request. To gain public sympathy, after Bandodkar’s death, his Chamchas brought in his daughter Shashikala Kakodkar on CM Chair. She failed in her CM chair and she failed Goa too, so also politically untested Sonia Gandhi failed and she failed Congress party and the nation. To gain public support from the sympathy wave in the aftermath of his mother’s assassination, from nowhere Chamcha Congressmen brought in Rajiv Gandhi and implanted him on Indira’s chair. But he failed and he failed the nation as well.


Likewise Mrs. Aquino failed Philippines because she was untested politically earlier. Similarly all the leaders who came to power thru sympathy wave or thru the pushing of their politically tested fathers and husbands failed to deliver the goods. In Pakistan Benazir Bhutto who came to power thru sympathy wave failed and in the same way Khalida Zia in Bangladesh failed while her opponent Hashina partially failed.


It is dangerous to induct into political leadership persons who are virgins politically and in public life. Just because they have backing of their politically powerful fathers and husbands they should not be imposed on the people, neither people should accept such artificial leaders. So also persons riding on the sympathy wave should not be made political leaders lest they make mess of their position.


In view of this, will Alina the wife of late Mathanay Saldanha be a right choice to step into her dead husband’s shoes? Or a real competent substitute will be the right choice? It is not like a charity to dole out Assembly Seats to the immediate relatives of the dead political leaders. Mathanay Saldanha was a seasoned and politically matured leader who underwent during past many decades all the political lessons required for a public figure. Thru this hard process he gained the goodwill of the people. To reach to his peak he suffered defeats also and then came to the level he finally attained. To become what he was he built strong bridges between him and the people at large all over Goa and Cortalim in particular. He had experience in political and public life. He was politically tested. Was Alina?? If yes, then OK. If not, BJP ticket should not be like a “Bakshish” for her.


A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

KONKANI TIATR “GHONVDHO”

GATE PASSES FOR KONKANI TIATR“GHONVDHO”

For Gate Passes, Pls. contact: Kuwait M& M Confectionary, Opp. Jr. Indian Community School, Near Salmiya Church – Tel. 25619946 / 97521134, NAZY: 99663252, MICHAEL: 66185487, MANUEL: 99923176, CLIFF: 99301347, LUIS DE SANGUEM: 97895742, AGNELLO: 66512602 and ALEX (Lopes Bros): 67645893

PUBLIC MONEY CANNOT BE POURED DOWN THE DRAIN.

By Aires Rodrigues

The Goa government should exercise absolute restraint on wasteful and unnecessary expenditure. As an austerity measure pointless expenditure on foundation laying and inaugural functions should be avoided. It is an eye sore watching MLA’s and Ministers launching culverts and hot mixing of roads. They are elected to legislate and not to perform at road shows. The trend of laying foundation stones even before the project is finalized and tendered is very despicable.

On April 23rd,, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is set to inaugurate the new Central library. Is this formal function necessary? The library has already been in operation for almost a year so what is the Chief Minister going to inaugurate. The library was scheduled to be earlier inaugurated by the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

Let projects be completed and put to public use instead of wasting time on pompous functions at the cost of the State exchequer. A few years ago a non-functional health centre was inaugurated at Ribandar on the occasion of the then MLA’s birthday. Thousands were spent on the inaugural function of a health centre which did not even have a thermometer and no water supply. A sorry State of affairs which should never be repeated.

G.O.A. ROLLING TROPHY SOCCER.

UNITED FRIENDS CLUB PROVE SUPERIOR IN OPENER

The opening match of the 18th edition of the G.O.A Rolling Trophy organized by Goan Overseas Association (Goa Maroons) under the auspices of KIFF and sponsored by Bassem International Trading Company, was held on last Friday at the MOH Ground (Shuwaikh) and a strong United Friends Club (UFC) overcame a new look Rising Stars 4-0, who put up a spirited fight but were finally no match for their more fancied rivals.

The final result however does not reflect the actual action on the field with Rising Stars boasting of a few new and youthful recruits making the initial attempts on the UFC goal and goalkeeper Martin had to use all his experience in keeping a clean slate. But it was against the run of play that Seby Mascarenhas of UFC put his team in the front by scoring a fine goal to end the first half 1-0 in favor of UFC.

In the second half, the inexperience of the Rising Stars players showed and UFC sealed their place for the second round with goals from Manual DÇosta, Abdulla Ziaueen and Hemmanth Mohan, the last two goals coming in the dying minutes of the game.

Earlier before the start of the match, the chief guest Charles D’Sa the Managing Director of Bassem International Trading Company was welcomed with a bouquet of flowers and introduced to the players by G.O.A President Raymond D’Sa, along with KIFF President Fidelis Fernandes and other Club representatives.

A total of 19 teams participating in this prestigious tournament have been clubbed into two groups with last year’s champions Goa Maroons and Runners Up Navelim Youth Centre seeded in Group A and B respectively. Teams in Group A are: Gulf Cable FC, Don Bosco Oratory, Indian Strikers FC, Real Betalbatim FC, Skynet Raiders SC, Kuwait Goan Association, C.R.C Chinchinim, FC Sparx, Santos United and Goa Maroons. Group B is made up of: Curtorcares United, AVC Sports & C.A, Rising Stars, United Friends Club, DHL F.C, Santos FC, United Goans Centre, Malabar United FC and Navelim Youth Centre.

Coming Friday, 20th April 2012, there will be two matches only from group A with Indian Strikers taking on Real Betalbatim F.C at 6:30am followed by Kuwait Goan Association playing C.R.C Chinchinim at 8:00am.

Julio Cardoso
Kuwait

You are Invited

Kuwait: Navelim Youth Centre (NYC), celebrating 25 glorious years of its existence in Kuwait will hold a grand finale of the Gulf Custody Company 21st Edition NYC Trophy on Friday, 20th April 2012, at MOH Grounds, Shuwaikh.

The finals for the coveted trophy will be played between AVC Overseas Association and Malabar United FC.

Mr. Hazem Eisa Al Eisa – Chairman and Managing Director of Al Eisa International Group has consented to be the Chief Guest on the ocassion.

The mega event is played under the auspices of Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) and officiated by KIFF Referees.

19 KIFF affiliated clubs that took part in the tournament are AVC Sports & Cultural Association, C.R.C. Chinchinim, Curtorcares United, D.H.L. Sports Club, Don Bosco Oratory, FC Sparx, Goan Overseas Association, Gulf Cable Football Club, Indian Strikers, Kuwait Goan association, Malabar United Football Club, Navelim Youth Centre, Real Betalbatim Football Club, Santos Football Club, Santos United, Skynet Raiders Soccer Club, United Friends Club, United Goans Center, and Y.R.C Rising Stars.

Over the past 24 years, Navelim has built a solid foundation of history, strength and success which has become synonymous with Navelim villagers and Goans living in Kuwait.

The club’s many achievements in the past are evidence of its commitment to the club’s slogan, ‘United We Stand’, as can be seen from examples elsewhere among Navelkars. Collectively, the club has organized numerous projects and raised tens of thousands for charity back home.

The village of Navelim has a rich history of football and is known to have produced many players who progressed to fame on the football field and into professional careers.

The club which has won every trophy at stake among Indians in Kuwait has gone from strength to strength ever since its inception. The philosophy of the club has been to ensure that the players and members enjoy their week.

Navelim football team has made its mark among expatriate Indians as one of the best teams in Kuwait having won all major trophies at stake in Kuwait, noteworthy among them being the 3 prestigious Silver Jubilee Trophies (United Goans Silver Jubilee Trophy, Rising Stars Silver Jubilee Trophy, and GOA Maroons Silver Jubilee Trophy).

In a message on Navelim website, President Agnello Fernandes said he looked forward to everyone’s presence at the finals. All KIFF affiliated teams will be honoured at this grand event which will be presided by a number of dignitaries and prominent personalities from the society.

The NYC Trophy, perhaps one of the most uniquely sculpt trophies in the world was instituted in the year 1993. Hosts Navelim Youth Centre have won the trophy 7 times since its inception.

SOCCER-PELE-MARADONA-MESSI & ARDILES.

Seen above are Pele & Maradona

The game of soccer is the most popular single sport in the world. There is not a single country in the world that does not play soccer. Like Christianity Soccer is also present in every country in the world. Great Britain and other colonial powers are responsible to spread soccer in most of the countries in the world. The best of soccer is played in South America and Brazil while best of money after this sport is spent in Europe and especially in Spain.

The most artistic soccer players in the history were produced by South America and Brazil namely Brazilian Pele, Argentinians Alfredo Di Stefano, Maradona and now Lionel Messi. Europe is also having its own share of producing great footballers such as Hungarian Puskas, Mozambican born Portuguese Eusebio, Germans Backenbeur & Rumminige and Dutch Cryuf. These soccer players made this sport more popular and more attractive. For its fame and charisma soccer owes its gratitude to these soccer artistes of which type world is yet to see more.

The soccer pundits who saw Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenz Puskas and Pele playing the best soccer during their peak form and comparing them to one another say that Stefano ranks first followed by Puskas and then comes Pele on third place. But those who saw only Pele during his peak form say that Pele was the best in the world. About 30 years back French Magazine “ O Globo” in a poll conducted by it declared Pele was the best not only as a footballer but also as a Sportsman of last century followed by American Olympian athlete Jesse Owens and coming on third place was American Heavyweight World Boxing champion Mohammed Ali. Incidentally all were Blacks.

After Pele’s voluntarily retirement in early seventies when he was still enjoying best of his form and running 100 meters in 11 seconds which was unimaginable for a footballer at that age, soccer experts said that world will never produce another Pele. This prophecy to a certain extent lasted for another decade till the fully blossomed Diego Maradona appeared on the football scene. During Maradona’s era especially during his peak form at Napoli in Italy and at 1986 & 1990 World Cups, soccer experts dubbed Maradona as the best player of whose type never came before. Who were these soccer experts who made this comment? They were those who never saw Pele during his peak form and never analyzed Pele’s game properly.

Now came Lionel Messi who is really a great player in the world currently but according to me he is not as great as his compatriot Maradona. Oswi Ardiles the great midfielder of 1978 World Cup winning squad of Argentina in his recent comment on Messi said that Messi is better than Maradona. With due respect to great Ardiles after whom I named my second son who sadly died with a stroke of Jaundice in Kuwait on the eve of his Baptism, I differ from this opinion of Ardiles.

No doubt, Ardiles was not only a great footballer but also a great game reader and because of this he was appointed as Manager of English soccer club Tottenham Hotspurs where he was very successful. However, as a true patriot when his country Argentina was engaged in Falkland War with Britain, as a mark of protest against the British he abruptly cut short his engagement with Tottenham and left for Argentina, saying the interest of my country comes first.

According to my analysis leaving aside Di Stefano and Puskas, Pele was the greatest among all. He was the perfect footballer using both his feet with equal ease, using his Head with perfect precision in aerial duels and above all using his brain perfectly well to outsmart his opponents. We are yet to see another Pele and probably we may never see again as perfect as Pele was.

Seen above is Ardiles.

Maradona was no doubt a great player but he was not a perfect footballer. He lacked Heading power and in his right leg he was absolutely handicapped. He was over perfect in his left leg and appropriate in his very decisive thinking power on the field. He was not only playing but more than that he was making his colleagues play by accurately feeding them with clever passes. He was playing the game of two soccer players, to quote Bobby Charlton when he was asked how England lost by a margin of 2-0 goals against Argentina in 1986 World Cup? Bobby Charlton replied thus “because Argentina played with 12 players”, which means one Maradona was equal to two players.

Lionel Messi is currently the best among all the top world class footballers. He is according to me the best because others are of low level including the highest paid footballer the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo. British writer George Bernard Shaw was once asked thus “why Shakespeare became great?” replied Shaw saying “because I was not born then”. Messi is seen as best now because there is no stiff competition for him from really top players. The only opponent for him for the top spot is Ronaldo but he too is of very mediocre level. In fact currently world soccer is not producing great footballers for reasons best known to the players only. Today world soccer is played not by skill of the players but by the amount of the money. It is money now that controls everything ingrained in footballers.

Coming back to Lionel Messi, he is only a club level footballer while Maradona was national and international level player. Maradona could gain the victory for his national team thru his individual genius while Messi can do this only at club level. Maradona besides playing was making others to play while Messi had to be played by others. Maradona was more accurate in his passing and aiming at corner of the opponents’ net while Messi is 50 – 50 accurate. Messi’s running with the ball near the goal mouth was really fantastic like an Olympian sprinter. And what I liked in him the most was that he is non-complaining unlike Maradona when fouled by his opponents.

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Kuwait.

PARRIKAR!! BE CAREFUL. YOU ARE UNDER WATCH.

WAS IT TO HOODWINK MP SHRIPAD NAIK?

By Aires Rodrigues

The public is entitled to know the real intention behind every decision the Government takes. Recently by a very bizarre and illogical order the Goa government appointed North Goa Member of Parliament, Mr. Shripad Naik as ‘Special Representative of Goa in Delhi’. It doesn’t take much intelligence to see behind the act. By virtue of being an MP, Mr. Naik already represents Goa in Delhi. So what does this order really mean? Given that Mr. Naik was apparently very keen to enter State politics during the last assembly elections, does this order in any way seek to communicate to Mr. Naik that he should be based full time in Delhi and keep his hands off the Goan political landscape. Or does the order seek to give him more powers than he already has to pursue issues pertaining to Goa with the central government. This seemingly fancy designation will fool no one, least of all Mr. Naik, a former Union Minister himself.

If there is any other justification for this irrational order perhaps, Mr. Manohar Parrikar himself could enlighten us. Like every astute politician, he always has a crafty justification for every thing he does. But let us hear it from him. Over to you, Mr. Chief Minister.

ARE WE BETTER THAN ANIMALS??

According to science, man is the ultimate animal or the last derivative of the animal species. Over the sequence of evolution the characteristics of living organisms have only evolved from a single cell amoeba to give us the most complex human being and it’s relativity to think and reason, a trait that is not prevalent or is absent in rest of the living organisms. Yes, it is an obvious assumption that, take away the power to think and reason and we are no better than the animals.

The story of Umar Farooq is a clear indication and proof that we are still animals, even though we think that we as human being have acquired the right to be superior to animals as we have the power to think and reason. In the case of the animal called Umar Farooq he tortured his own new born infant child Afreen for 85 days. What can be more cruel, than battering a baby who is defenseless and clueless to what and why she is being subjected to such pain and agony.

Only when the mother of the baby Afreen, Reshman Bano, went to the hospital with the battered body of her baby, the brutality and the inhuman acts of the father Umar Farooq became public knowledge. For nearly three months baby Afreen was subjected to beating, biting and cigarette butt burns over her delicate body, her only crime was, she was tabooed to be a girl child, an unwanted girl child.

India is certainly shocked at this barbaric act against baby Afreen, sick as we may feel, but this condemnation of a girl child is very common even today all over shining India, it is not just prevalent in the illiterate world of shanties and hutments across the length and breadth of India but also across the wide spectrum of the educated elite living in condominiums, who live with the notion that their legacy should be carried forward only by their male child and their women are often treated as slot machines for the preferred boy child, if not some are even beaten, burnt or driven to suicide. This is indeed the ugliest truth of shining India of the 21st century.

It is not only Umar Farooq who should be blamed for this horrific tragedy but the whole Indian society, for not only propagating but also supporting the hypocritical superiority of a male child in our families or else how can we justify the selective abortions of a girl child that run in millions ? We are as guilty as Umar Farooq as we try to destroy the very life that we set out to create in the mother’s womb. If we feel sorry and appalled by what happened to baby Afreen shouldn’t we feel the same for the unborn that we kill ?

May our Indian society do away with animals like Umar Farooq for good and not treat a girl child as a burden or a liability or even a dent in our personal coffers but may our society promote and respect every girl child and offer them equal opportunities to live and prove themselves as much as their male counterparts. They too have the right to live as much as any boy child. They are our children so let’s not differentiate between a boy and a girl child. We do need to find a cure for this growing epidemic of crime against the girl child before it consumes society.

Freddy Agnelo Fernandes.

APOLOGY.

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LOOTING PWD.

Last year during October/November I was on vacation in Goa. During that time Goa Legislative Assembly Session was in progress. On one particular day when Assembly debate was going on, Fatorda BJP MLA Damu Naik with his thundering voice in the Assembly, addressing to the Speaker Prataphsing Rane said, "Speaker Sir, PWD is ‘looting Goa’ , looking at the PWD Minister seated there. Listening to this accusation Speaker Rane just kept himself silent with a monkey’s smile on his face while the PWD Minister did not utter a single word in his defence. Knowing his nature I thought PWD Minister Churchill Alemao will refute Damu Naik’s accusation forcefully but not. If I were in place of Churchill Alemao, I would react forcefully thus: "Mr. Damu Naik! If you are a real son of your real father then you will prove your accusation with evidence otherwise you are a Bastard". But our PWD Minister kept total silence thereby giving credence to the accusation of Damu Naik.

Among all the portfolios PWD is the most lucrative portfolio because of total corruption going on there in allotting contracts on commission basis and thus getting chance of looting Goa. During the tenure of Churchill Alemao as PWD Minister lot of stories have been going on of all round corruption there, even ordinary Peon working in this department was as alleged involved in taking bribe to carry the File from one office to the other in the same building. For this reason corrupt ministers are not only asking but demanding this portfolio. Before Churchill Alemao, Dawlikar was holding this portfolio whence lot of stories were going on of how corruption was running there for looting Goa.

In his Ministry Parrikar has again given this portfolio to Dawlikar thereby creating more corruption under the already corrupt minister. Goans conscious of their duty must keep vigil on Dawlikar and reprimand Parrikar for doling this portfolio to Dawlikar whose earlier record was very bad. There is a saying in Konkani, ‘Mazran kedna imsann soddlea?’ Known corrupt ministers will ever be uncorrupt? Never. They will never leave their bad habits. Parrikar should take care of his own credibility and maintain Zero tolerance for corruption in his cabinet.

Parrikar was brought back to power thru a very vigilant public revolution not thru bullet but thru ballot. For common men to enjoy the fruits of this revolution all the NGO’s and activists and also common people must watch if the corruption is going on and if there is it should be exposed and thereby in the bargain Parrikar’s efficiency should be also exposed. Parrikar should not be allowed to fool the Goans by accepting corruption in any of his ministries. Zero tolerance for corruption should be implemented and maintained. There should be no bribing to get government jobs as allegedly it was done in PWD earlier and there should be no commission on any services government provides. The commission business of certain percentage in allotting PWD contracts should be curbed with iron hand. PWD should be revamped. PWD is the major source of corruption that led to the destruction of Congress in Goa in the last election. This government should be clean as opposed to the last congress government of corrupt ministers.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

A MONTH IN OFFICE AND OF MORE PROMISES MADE.

By Aires Rodrigues

The Manohar Parrikar Government has been in office for a month. Cheaper petrol has come as a succor to the Aam Aadmi. Much of the budgetary proposals are to be doled out by way of allowances to the elderly, women and unemployed. Let us hope the money for these schemes will not be raised by further taxing the Aam Aadami. That will be an exercise in futility. The motive behind abolishing house tax in Panchayat areas is not known as there was no demand to this effect from any quarter.

The three month honey moon period will soon end. On completion of six months the people of Goa will be able to judge the performance of this government. During the election campaign and over the last month much has been promised. The people of Goa will want every promise fulfilled and will accept no excuses. Political compulsions should be no reason to violate the law and allow corruption to perpetuate. And with a crystal clear mandate, the BJP will not be able to dodge the issues plaguing Goa.

While in the Opposition the Chief Minister had aggressively campaigned for the removal of casinos. His backtracking on the issue is a matter of great concern. He should not succumb to the powerful casino lobby and should make sure he delivers what he promised. Whether delivering laptops and electronic tablets to school children is a wise and feasible decision only time will tell.

Mr. Manohar Parrikar had promised that Goa would be garbage free within three months. He has another two months to fulfill this promise. Infact tackling the garbage crisis should have been the priority of the new government rather than toppling the chairpersons of the Municipal councils. Fortunately the Panchayat term is coming to an end otherwise the toppling games would have extended to the Panchayats too.

A war against illegal mining has to be waged as promised. The interests of his newly elected MLA’s in illegal mining should not hinder Mr. Manohar Parrikar from taking tough action. The government would also have to expedite the removal of what remains of the River Princess at Candolim before the ensuing monsoons. The promise of new bridges, better roads and an end to parking woes in the cities have to be fulfilled. The rampant menace of stray dogs will also need this government’s prompt attention. The people of Goa have a lot of expectations from this government which has also promised an effective Lokayukta within 100 days of coming to power.

It may not have been his election promise but Mr. Manohar Parrikar should definitely consider slashing the exorbitant fees currently being paid to the Advocate General and bring it on par with other states. A vociferous defender the illegal mining, builder and Casino lobby in the past, it may now be untenable for the new Advocate General Mr. Atmaram Nadkarni to do justice in legally assisting a government which has vowed to work against the very same lobbies.

A clean, transparent and corruption free administration should be the hallmark of this government. There should be no political interference or manipulation of the bureaucracy. As mandated by the Supreme Court of India the police should be given the freedom to function independently. Mr. Manohar Parrikar should permit no illegality and govern strictly by the rule book. He should not hesitate to crack the whip on anyone involved in any irregularity including his own MLA’s and party functionaries.

We were also assured that government corporations would be headed only by professionals with expertise. The Chief Minister has already deviated on this promise. The government should also seriously consider winding up unnecessary corporations some of which were created only to accommodate former politicians with a position and perks at public expense.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and his Ministers should ensure that there are no brokers or agents hovering around them. Centers of power should not be used to manage and lobby for illegalities. If Manohar Parrikar can live upto his promises and assurances by providing a corruption free and a secular government he may be a hero. Otherwise he may turn out to be yet another villain on Goa’s political landscape and find himself at the receiving end of public fury.

Let us hope Mr. Manohar Parrikar will act as a true statesman and rise over petty party politics and secure the interest of every Goan. He should govern with a wide vision and definitely ensure that he doesn’t commit the mistakes of the past while ensuring that caste and communal politics never raises its ugly head again.

A very weak and spineless opposition in the Legislative Assembly should be no solace to the Manohar Parrikar government. A duty is cast on every citizen to expose and fight against any and every illegality that this government may try to commit.

Mr. Manohar Parrikar, let us get on with the job to save what remains of Goa. No further time can be wasted on celebrations and felicitations. A badly battered and bruised Goa has been grieving and in a state of mourning for too long.

It would be very unfortunate if under the new BJP regime, only the mode and the beneficiaries of Corruption and Nepotism change while the much touted Zero tolerance to corruption remains just a promise.

(the writer can be contacted on 9822684372 or airesrodrigues@yahoo.com)

A tribute to Navelkars

By Joseph L R Vaz

Whenever any candidate wins, his favorite words are “it is people’s victory” even though he uses money to buy votes, threats, intimidation, manipulation, goondagiri, etc to ensure his victory. I thought these 2 words “people’s victory” had lost its meaning until I saw how Mr. Avertano Furtado won in Navelim.

Avertan’s win, who has been described by most of the newspapers as the boy next door, was indeed a “people’s victory” right from organizing corner meetings, to big public meetings, from door to door campaigning to word-of-mouth campaigning, each and every Navelkar, baring a few contributed his bit, as one of my friend commented “for a bottle of soda”, no biryani, no whisky, just plain soda, sometimes even without that.

Churchill’s rants against the Clergy was uncalled for, as Dr. Jorson rightly pointed out – ‘bad workers blame their tools’. I attend mass in Navelim Church and have never heard any Priest tell the congregation not to vote for Churchill, yes they kept telling us not to vote for corrupt, now if Churchill considers himself as corrupt, then yes, it is for him.

In his pride Churchill could not feel the undercurrents sweeping through Navelim. It all started in 2008, with his move to occupy fertile fields of poor Goan farmers, most of whom are his voters from Aquem-Baixo and to gift them to mostly non-Goan illegal settlers from Raanfond, all of whom are already settled elsewhere.

Navelim Forum & Navelim Xetkarancho Exvott withstood the pressure including his public threats of “Finishing them” (which incidentally is his favorite sentence at all public speeches). He failed to realize that even his ardent followers were with the farmers in this agitation. Perhaps for the 1st time in Navelim, armed guards were used to forcibly snatch away the fields from poor farmers. With help of the Rosary (the Patroness of Navelim village), the farmers gathered support from all over Goa which put the then Chief Minister Mr. Digambar Kamat under tremendous pressure, forcing him to put the acquisition on hold and promising the farmers a favourable solution to return the fields, but our own MLA Mr. Alemao was still adamant and kept on challenging the agitating people, who were his voters.

The 2nd major issue was the Sinquetim bridge, there again armed guards were used to forcible construct the bridge against people’s wishes. Somehow the people managed to slow down the progress of the bridge construction and withstood all the threats and intimidation. There were more issues of some more farmers at Mandopa and residents of Dongorim. Davorlim too also had land acquisition problem against people's wishes. None of the people cowed down under pressure even though harassment and dadagiri was used. He must have thought that ultimately with money and gifts he can buy all the voters of Navelim, which sadly back fired upon him.

When Avertano announced his interest to contest in Navelim, it gave a big relief to all right thinking Navelkars. From then on support kept on increasing for Avertan, with each passing day. Navelim was the only place where it was straight fight, 1 against 1, good v/s bad, new fresh blood v/s old tainted blood, youth v/s old. Elsewhere people had little choice, to choose the best amongst the rest.

Churchill tried every trick to win, from offering inducements to harassment in business, but Avetan stood firm. Then came expletives like “fogetti”, “kimus”, ect, little realizing that with each passing day, he was digging his own grave deeper and deeper. Avertan was under lot of pressure, his main worry – ‘what if I lose’ – and I believe his prayer during the last couple of days was not “I hope I win” but rather “I hope I don’t lose”, such was the fear that Churchill instills, but the people of Navelim did not let Avertan down, and with one voice brought down the Alemao’s of Varca Kingdom and brought a change, a real change in Navelim.

Churchill most favorite sentence, “when God and people are with me, nobody can defeat me”. Well, when you break the 1st commandment, don’t try the 2nd. This whole process was a result of our consistent every Wednesday Rosary, continuously for 3 years despite many difficulties.

People have given Avertan the mandate to undo all the wrong done for the last 5 years and bring about a real change in Navelim. Let’s hope he performs as per people’s aspirations.

10,231 Navelkars did not take money and voted as per their conscience, in fact for the 1st time, people were seen spending their own money for firecrackers, people took part in the victory rally without any allowances, which showed the spirit of the people of Navelim. Hope this spirit spreads to rest of Goa. The 1stvoice for Goa’s freedom started from Navelim, from Mr. Francis Luis Gomes, history has repeated again for the new true liberation of Goa, let it spread, Viva Goa.

The full unedited article was published in Herald (6-4-2012) in "People's Edit" column.

HAIL PARRIKAR - HELL CONGRESSKAR.

From the above picture one can easily make out the simplicity of Parrikar, such images were not seen during the corrupt rule of Congress in Goa. For this reason I admire:

PARIKAR’S SIMPLICITY AND HATE CONGRESSMEN’S FEUDALITY.

Never in the history of Goa the chief minister seen moving in Scooter but always in a government provided luxury car like a Maharaja, even for walking distance. Parrikar may be a person of communal BJP but in simplicity he is best identifying himself with the common people. No CM of Goa after Dayananda Bandodkar identified himself in simplicity with the common persons as Parrikar did. All the other previous CM’s acted and behaved like Maharajas. While going on Scooter there were no bodyguards and security escorts to protect Parrikar thereby proving how charismatic he is with all the segments of Goan populace. From here Parrikar must induct into his colleagues whether portfolio holders or not, simplicity measures and apply austerity measures too. BJP came to power with fewer expenses; many of its MLA’s spent less on election expenditure compared to their corrupt congress opponents who spent millions in bribing the voters till voters kicked them.

I don’t understand why our ministers require a posse of policemen and fleet of police jeeps and cars. This is the system we inherited from Congress since the time of independence of India from Britain. No congressmen listened to the advice of Ghandiji to practice austerity measures and live a simple life. But on the contrary congressmen acquired the habits of British Monarchs to lead a feudal type of life. Congress uprooted Maharajas from their Thrones and occupied the same for themselves in the name of fake secularis and started living and acting like Maharajas. The same thing congressmen did in Goa. These congressmen are crooks without proper family base for this reason they opted for artificial Maharajas status. Where are all the pompous facilities now gone from the corrupt congressmen who were massacred in the last election? Where are their Bungalows from Altinho Panjim gone now? Where are their security escorts gone now? Shameless people!! They are now feeling the absence of all their earlier free of charge facilities and for this reason they formed their group under Ravi Naik to play dirty politics to acquire power thru illicit way. One “Bamtto” Congress MLA says that his voters are advising him to join BJP. What a shameless pimp he is! In the name of voters he wants to jump into ruling segment under BJP. Out of power these congressmen will do anything worst. Parrikar must be careful of congressmen’s approaches. They are traitors.

Many times I encountered Dayananda Bandodkar who was without any single body guard, moving freely as if he was a commoner. Thru this manner he identified himself with the common men. By acting as simple man he captured the attention of simple Goans. People approaching him were not required to go to the Secretariat only; even on the road and on playground he was accessible to the common people. Thru this simplicity he made the common persons feel free to approach him. One day in the month of July when it was heavily raining one old Hindu woman wearing very old and torn Saree came to the Secretariat in Pajim and asked the security man there thus ‘Bahu Saib aila re?’ The security man seeing the shabbily dressed old lady tried to ignore her. At that moment suddenly Bandodkar from nowhere reached there and when he faintly heard the question of that old lady who was wet in rain water, he himself condescended and came to her and took her with him to his office upstairs. This was the humility and simplicity of Bandodkar. Do we see such attitudes today in our Ministers and MLA’s? No. Only Parrikar is something and his colleagues like Caitu, Bostu, Ramu can emulate this feat for the good of the common men.

Parrikar must know one thing that people of Goa gave him this strong mandate by fully relying on him to give justice to Goa and Goans. He should not fritter away this hope of the Goans, common as well as elite. When Janata Party at the Centre came to power in 1977, people expected Morarji Desai’s government will give proper justice to all even by cutting cruel Indira Ghandi into pieces for the cruelties she committed earlier. But instead Janata Party leaders started fighting among them like Cats and Dogs till Janata government collapsed. Prrikar must now learn from the failure of Janata in Delhi and accordingly as per the expectations of the people who voted for his government to power, act hard with the crook congressmen and bureaucrats who looted Goa earlier. People expect Parrikar to punish severely all the wrong doers and looters of Goa during the congress rule in Goa. People in Goa common and others expect Parrikar to expose the misdeeds and punish the earlier corrupt congress ministers and their officials “chamchas” who cooperated with them during their misdeed while they were ruling Goa. For this Parrikar must appoint a "Commission of Enquiry" to find out the misdeeds of all congress MLA’s and Ministers who looted Goa and Goans during the last 5 years of their corrupt rule.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

INTERESTING ARTICLES BY DR. FRANCISCO C. COLACO. Forwarded by: Adv. Aires Rodrigues.

ABHOR SYCOPHANCY

By Dr. Francisco C Colaco

I am amazed at the new-found pitch in certain sections of the Goan media. A pitch that amounts to nothing short of BJP sycophancy -- just because the party is now in power. We read, “No party should contest against BJP in Cortalim by polls”. The reasons given sound so unconvincing that they would probably make that born fighter, late Matanhy Saldanha cringe in his grave! To say that there should be no opponent, or a contest, in Cortalim is to insult Matanhy’s very memory. Matanhy was such a crusader, such a brave fighter, such an intrepid man that would not want anyone to win elections without a fight.

The Latin proverb goes “De mortuis nihil nisi bonum”. Yet Matanhy himself often made questionable decisions. Most of us therefore waited with baited breath to see how his performance would unfold during his present innings. But sadly, he left this world when so many had pinned their hopes on this good man. The same section of the media also attempts to give Manohar Parrikar a rock star status. Such flattery leads to a lot of damage to those whom we are putting on a false pedestal, even when we resort to such cheap praise with the best of intentions.

A TRAGIC DEATH

Mr. Matanhy Saldanha (64) died of a massive heart attack early Wednesday, March 21 morning. He complained of chest pain around 2 am and was rushed to a hospital immediately by family members. Dr Oscar Rebello who attended on him said that the heart attack was massive and in spite of best efforts with the help of other colleagues, Matanhy could not be saved. The end came around 3-30 am.

Were there any premonitory signs? Apparently not. He had reportedly been given a thorough check- up by his physician and personal friend Dr. Marconi Correia only five days earlier, without any clues pointing to an impending heart attack. It is known that 20 % of heart attacks occur in patients who have been examined by their physicians in the preceding one month without a clue as to what was to happen. This highlights the fact that medical methods of predicting a heart attack to date are not foolproof.

We Indians have to be aware of our proneness to heart attacks. What is more, cardiac attacks occur among us Indians at a younger age and are more severe. If we are to stall the epidemic, we must shun smoking, control blood pressure, cholesterol and stress. Being Indians, we are also more vulnerable to paunch obesity and diabetes than other nationals. These two are the primary triggers to heart attacks. We must hence exercise regularly and eat prudent diet consisting of green leafy vegetables, fruits and fibre-rich cereals like ragi, bajra and oats.

Matanhy’s shocking death has sent many flocking to their physicians -- to know whether their symptoms could be due to a heart attack. We as physicians have as far as possible the duty to discover early warning signs. But we should allay the fear and reassure those who are low risk patients, lest we create a bunch of cardiac neurotics.

IS THE “CHURCH” ILL?

Churchill probably never said that the Church is ill. He only blamed “padris” for the Alemao grand defeat. And it is true that Padris were responsible in great measure for the Alemao debacle. From the pulpits as well as in private conversations they urged for a change of guard. When I talked to some padris they were of the view that even if the BJP is a perceived communal party, the Congress had ushered complete destruction of Goa and nothing would be left for Goans in a few years if they came back. There were of course other causes too for Churchill’s defeat but then his words of warning, “I
hope the Padris get what they want from the BJP” may turn to be prophetic one day when BJP bares its mask.

HOLY WEEK

We are in the Lenten season which offers us once again an opportunity to reflect upon the very heart of Christian life: charity. This is a favourable time to renew our journey of faith, both as individuals and as a community, with the help of the word of God and the sacraments. This journey is one marked by prayer and sharing, silence and fasting, in anticipation of the joy of Easter.

A lot of developments have taken place in the political scenario in the last few days. Our ardent plea to God ought to be the maintainace of communal harmony and brotherhood between various religions in the time to come in our beloved Goa.

(This article appeared in the Gomantak Times dated April 5th 2012)

LET THE WOUNDS HEAL EVEN IF THE SCARS REMAIN.

Wounds heal with time but the scars remain forever, is an age old adage that exemplifies the inner agony more than the mere physical one. Our erstwhile government, the Congress luminaries have directly or indirectly inflicted countless horrifying physical and emotional wounds on Mother Goa and Goans, hope the agony of which will eased a little with a change in guard but will the scars on Mother Goa ever disappear ?

The aerial view of Goa indicates that Goa has been battered and gored into a mass of ugly enormous craters in hinterland as a result of rampant mining, with green cover receding at a very frantic pace; it also shows that our coast too has been converted into concrete jungles, as a result of land filling and hill cutting to promote “land shark development” and it will take a mammoth effort and planning from the new dispensation to try and control, if not reverse the ecological and environmental imbalance caused by the legacy of the Congress government.

Large scale corruption and arrogance within the Congress inevitably prompted the ignominy of the crushing defeat which must have surely flattened many egos within the Congress. Over the years Congress in Goa has devastated Goa through illegal and rampant mining and despite massive corruption in their ranks and fold they still won elections on their pseudo secularist hue, but everything has a limit and Congress had crossed all those limits as the results of the election says it all. They were all guilty of collective incompetence and as well as collective complicity.

At last, what most Goans wanted has been done by CM Manohar Parrikar, Arvind Lolienkar has been stripped of his post and investigated as the Director on Minies, who along with his master Digambar Kamat must be held accountable, for the losses incurred to the tune of over 2000 crores to the Goan treasury. Digambar Kamat and his partner in arms have been responsible for not just the loss of revenue but also for the devastation of our fragile ecology and our environment. The damage has been irreversible and the gross impact unfathomable.

CM Manohar Parrikar has started off his innings with exquisite sixers, in trying to fulfill his pre election promises, petrol is down as promised and now action initiated against the Director of mines, Goans will only hope that this action will not stop with Arvind Lolienkar alone but will continue against all those involved in corruption and negligence of duty in every government department and the guilty punished appropriately.

Even though a lot of skeptical Goans are still trying to come to terms with the faith that Goans have bestowed in Parrikar, the first barrier has been crossed, as Goans breath a wee bit easier, hoping Parrikar will continue to act on his promises and not let us down like the Congress did.

The budget has sent clear signals of a massive infrastructural drive and a lot of gain for the common man, the unemployed and the home runners. The mentally and the physically challenged along with the senior citizens have also been accounted for. Yes, holes will be burnt in the pockets of smokers and alcohol consumers along with car buyers, which should partly provide a revenue torrent for the VAT loses and that is certainly acceptable but what has clean bowled everyone is the reduction in the Casino entry while increasing the license fee. I sure hope Parrikar has a “tisra” if not the “doosra” up his sleeve to dissuade this unhealthy immorality floating in our rivers.

All said and done so far Goans must be pretty happy with what we have achieved through a change in guard at our political edifice. I sure hope Manohar Parrikar will work towards his “zero” tolerance corruption policy and prove that there was no incongruity in his promise as well as his belief. With some action already initiated within a month of election, we look forward to the third week of June as the ruling dispensation will complete 100 days in office.

It is said that success should not be measured by the position one acquires but rather by the effort made to reach there, it is indeed evident that Parrikar is trying his best, so symptomatic of his efforts let’s give him our support and our patience to achieve his goals even if it goes beyond the time frame of his promises. We have waited for seven years and few more days or even months will not be catastrophic. Go Parrikar go, give Goa something to cheer about and let the wounds heal even if the scars remain.

Freddy Agnelo Fernandes.

GOOD FRIDAY.

During his recent visit to Communist country Cuba, the current Pope asked his host the Cuban president Raul Castro to give an official holiday on Good Friday for Cubans impressing upon Raul Castro the importance and significance of this day which is the most holy day in Catholicism. In Cuba since Fidel Castro’s revolution in 1957 Christian Religious holidays are cancelled by the communist regime there though both the brothers Fidel and Raul were born Catholics and studied in Jesuit School. Raul Castro gave a very sympathetic hearing to the Pope’s plea for declaring a national holiday on Good Friday.

Very shortly that means coming Friday Christians will mark Good Friday in Goa with reverence and penance. This day was always marked as holiday in Goa except during the short period of Parrikar’s governance a few years back when Parrikar created a coup and brought in his BJP government to power. As a Hindu fanatic Parrikar then showing his real communal and anti-Christian characteristic cancelled this holiday thereby hurting the sentiments of Christians in Goa and also of many secular Hindus. As a devine punishment within a short period his Government collapsed and Parrikar fell into opposition. That the next government restored this holiday was a different matter but what is of importance was the punishment Parrikar got from God for hurting the feelings of Goan Christians.

When minorities’ sentiments are hurt there always comes punishment in any form for the wrong doers. Ghandiji call this type of punishment as Devine Punishment. For this reason persons in power must stop hurting the minorities. In Goa Christians are in minority and for being so they require full protection and support from the majority community wielding power and authority.

When Shashikala Kakodkar was the Chief Minister of Goa, criminal Kumar was hanged at Aguada, this was the first hanging in Goa and till now the last too. Befitting His Christian principle the Patriarch of Goa Raul Gonsalves pleaded openly with the Goa government to plead Kumar case to commute his gallows to life imprisonment when Kumar’s sentence for gallows was confirmed. Reacting to this plea of Goa Patriarch, Shashikala true to her communal and anti-Christian tirade issued a negative statement criticising the Patriarch saying ‘the Bishop has made this request to gain a cheap publicity for Him’. By listening to this arrogant and insulting reply from Shashikala Kakodkar, the sentiments of Goan Catholics were greatly hurt and within a short time thru devine punishment Shashikala Kakodkar’s government collapsed thru the coup brought in by Dayananda Narvenkar and Dilkush.

People in Goa now elected Parrikar’s BJP not because they loved BJP’s principles but as an opposition to the misrule of Gongress Party dominated by the corrupt MLA’s and Ministers. Parrikar should cash on this opportunity to rule Goa justly and refrain from being anti-Christian. Majority of Christians have voted for BJP this time when Parrikar showed his regret for doing injustice to Christians during his earlier short stint as Chief Minister of Goa.

Now as an atonement for his earlier sin he committed by cancelling Good Friday holiday, on coming Friday that is on Good Friday, he should go to Panjim Church and ask silently from Jesus Christ forgiveness for his earlier sin against Christians. And simultaneously he must openly declare his sorrow thru Press Release. In this way Parrikar will enrich his humility which is the core of Christianity and gain a goodwill from Christians in Goa which will surely fetch him very good dividends in the form of Christian votes in future.

Parrikar Bab, Good Friday is coming to you to fortify your rule in Goa. Don’t be proud and arrogance in front of God’s commandment. You and your BJP is nothing compared to Cuba and Casto brothers. Even they realised the importance of Good Friday inspite of being hard core anti-Christian communists. Be humble and bow down before Jesus Christ otherwise thru Devine punishment your fall is imminent again which I don’t want to happen. I want your judicious rule to flourish in Goa but for this you have to be humble before Jesus Christ..

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Kuwait.