MY BROTHER'S CONTRIBUTION IN THE VILLAGE.

Not even a week is finished since my brother expired but the few crooks especially those politicians involved in the running of the village affairs have started applauding his death because they felt the road to their goal is clear now. What goal is that?  It is the goal of looting the village. My brother being a product of yesteryear Goan culture and tradition having best of qualities in public life was an obstacle for these political rascals who are all out to destroy our beautiful village.  The main rascal is the one who is leading the team of robbers and crooks and who is using the political platform given by the public to do good for the villagers but this bloody rascal using the same public office to take his personal revenge against those who are opposing him. This bloody Ghantti who is a settler in our village is using even threatening language saying he is capable of using ‘SUPARI” force to liquidate anyone opposing him.  His Padri brother must bring him to his senses because he is still a kid. After using Supari force where he will go?  In the jungle for good?  This bloody “kalcho porcho potto” who got root in Ghanttar is preaching us the original locals must be very careful. I am meantime informing to the authorities concerned that if anything untoward happens to any of the locals he should be blamed first. 

This Ghantti leader of our village is on record to coax my brother begging with him with folded hands “not to come for the village meetings and whatever questions my brother has he will solve”.  This begging he was doing because my brother was working for the cause of village  and villagers whereas this bloody adopted villager and naturalized citizen of our village is not interested in the village and villagers but only in himself.  It must be probed how he built his such a mighty business empire within a short time.  What is his income per month?  He is a big shame on his Padri brother. He was once even offering a blank cheque to my brother to keep his mouth shut in the public meet because otherwise he would get exposed.  My brother is not a man who will shake with these type of lollipops. He is the real son of his real father and not a Bastard like those who are acting as crooks.

In our Village there is a “Mandd” that pays its dead member Rupees 50,000/- (fifty thousand).  When my brother died, the officials of the Mandd came to my brother’s place with this money but both his children son and daughter refused to accept sayng their father told them not to accept this money instead give this 50,000 rupees either to the poor people or to any organization looking after the needs of the poor.  This is the first time in the history of Mandd which is in existence since a century back that such an incident has occurred. He was not a rich man but would not bow down before money. He had an unique distinction of stopping one local Panch member from extorting one Shop costing lakhs of rupees from the owners of that building in exchange of giving license for the building.  These are the ways for these bloody Panchas and Sarpanchas to mint money by extorting bribe from the people when they are not supposed to do this. And this Panch who was demanding one Shop is also not from our village, his roots are outside our village.

It is my request to all who are involved in corruption please change your mind and for God sake do not go for personal revenge.  Please note that revenge beget Revenge.  You our local leaders have still to grow.  Becoming a Sarpanch, Panch, MLA or Club President will not be something extra ordinary.  During my days I have rejected these positions because I found nothing supreme in them. These positions are good to loot and they are cheap pleasures and assets of the cheap and intellectually bankrupt people. Also, of many of the poverty stricken persons fpr  them to make fast money.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

DEATH OF MY BROTHER KNOWN AS CHEDDO.

Thursday 24th of this month was the very horrible day for  me because at J M J Hospital Porvorim, at 2.00 PM my eldest brother popularly known as Cheddo got a massive heart attack when undergoing treatment for some other ailment in that hospital. He was 83 and retired from Goa Police – Panjim, in a Technical Division.  

At his residence

He was a public figure in my village and had a great wish to fight for the downtrodden and weak.  He was very active in the local affairs namely in Panchayat during the Gram Saba Meetings, at Mandd, in the Church and elsewhere. Fighting for justice and right is his forte. Some of the local politicians were even trying to bribe him to prevent him from raising important issues but he was adamant and never submitted because in such matters he was most upright.  He helped so many people to get their work done but never accepted anything in return.   He fought vigorously against injustice in our village. In the last Assembly Election, he totally supported Michael Lobo even going with him house to house for canvassing as he was a firm supporter of Lobo. Many of those who enjoyed his support did not even see him in the hospital when he was sick there,of course unfortunately.

Local Pe. Vigar

He was an ace footballer playing for Goa Police since 1958 gaining name and fame when the word Cheddo means terror for opponents’ defenders and goalie as well. He could use his both the legs with equal ease but his right foot had better power and inspite of this fact, he had an unique distinction of scoring a goal from his left foot against the then mighty team Academica, from the Centre line on Candolim ground.  When he joined Goa Police he was a rare Goan player to get an opportunity to play along with the then mighty Pakle and Khapri players but because of his high calibre he succeeded and went on playing for longest period. Candolim is yet to produce another Cheddo.

His grand daughter on funeral oration

His other plus point is this that he was always a decent player not hurting nor playing rough, he was a speedy centre forward.  For one mighty team of Candolim in late sixties we all three brothers played together, the other brother of mine was the late Josemarie of Sesa.

Abut  15 days before the Opinion Poll he went to Bhopal along with the Goa Polce team to participate in the all India Police tournament held at Bhopal.  While playing against Maharastra he scored two beautiful goals and played very well. Immdiately after the final whistle, the Team manager of Maharastra a ranking Police Oficer  told my brother now not to go back to Goa but come with them to Bombay as they want to induct him in their team since after 2 weeks Goa will be surely merged officially with Mharastra, as per the intelligence report. When my brother said no, the Maharastrian Officer laughed at my brother saying even if you refuse now we will legally bring you to Maharastra after 15 days when Goa surely will be a part of Maharastra.  

May his soul rest in peace AND may the Heavenly God give courage for his both the children Conny and Muller,  grand children, brothers and sisters and all other family members to bear this loss.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

WHO WILL BE OUR NEXT PARTY CANDIDATE?

Many of our elders having great love for Goa and Goans have gone from this planet not only complaining against the dirty politics but also against the corrupt administration given to Goa by our politicians and administration following the invasion of Goa.  These worst aspects of Goa was the result of the forcible annexation of Goa by the “fotting” Nehru’s Bharat because of which the worst type of administration by the worst type of Bharati administrators was imposed on Goa.   Our elders did not want outsider Portuguese domination over us but neither they wanted the domination of Bharati outsiders over us.  Bharati rule over Goa is as external as it was of Portugal.  Both the rulers over us were outsiders.  In fact our elders hated both the external powers.  Many of our elders gone to their graves grieving when they found that under Bharat, Goans will have to live  like slaves.   And what we see now?  Are we masters of our Goa? During Portugese rule the planning for Goa was done in Lisbon and now after the invasion of Goa the same type of planning for Goa was done in New Delhi. In both the places no Goans were involved.  Are we Goans not treated like slaves?

BJP was already given a jolt in Karnataka though inspite of having majority in Goa in the last election, Congress was given a jolt by BJP (Aiz makam faleam tukam.  Korta tea mapan bhogta). Our own MLA’s after getting elected are fooling us by taking law into their own hands. Once they are elected they think they are “the monarchs of what they survey” and hence they do what they feel the best for their own good by neglecting the good of their voters and voters’s wishes. How to avoid this trend in future? It is very difficult in the absence of “Recall” system but political scientists and experts in this field must devise some methods to prevent the elected representatives from changing his party without the consent of the voters? Can we take an affidavit or any such legal guarantee from our representatives that they will not change their parties once they are elected?  Is there any legal method? We can also make them wear upon their Holy Books public that they will not cross their border once elected?

 

Now it is time for Congress Party in Goa to put its own house into order by preparing the selection of their candidates without imposition their own chamchas. In this selection, Congress Party must forget of its High Command based in Delhi, we are the high command in Goa and as such we should be taken into confidence while selecting the next candidates. It is we the voters who will decide the candidates for us and not high command based in Delhi that consisted of idiots as far as Goa is concerned.  It is like decision taking in Lisbon. In this case where is the freedom and liberation for Goa? Is this the way Congress has liberated Goa from the Portuguese?  This is another invasion of the type Afonso de Alburquerqe  done. We don’t want this type of liberation.

In my constituency our representative should be selected with our consent and we will not accept anyone imposed on us either from Delhi high command or by Goa high command.  The voters are the supreme to decide who is the best candidate for them. 

A.Vernica Fernandes.aa

THE DEATH AND FUNERAL OF EX-KUWAIT GOAN - MR. EVARISTO FERNANDES.

With deep regret and  chagrin I write this piece to express my sorrow over the untimely death of our friend  and colleague Evaristo Fernandes on 19th of this month in Goa.  

The late Evaristo became my friend when I first met him at St. Xaviers College Mapsa strating our college education.  He finished hs SSC thru Monte de Guirim and me tru St. Jseph’s High Schol Arpora .

At his residence

Then in 1975 when we both migrated to Kuwait, we fortified our friendship further. A few months earlier than me he came to Kuwait and started his social and spiritual work and after I landed in Kuwait he inducted me in one of the church organized groups “Legion o Mary”.    

His son-wife-daughter

Then when I started my first movement in kuwait for the cause of Konkani, starting first the Novem Goem fund collection, he was my close colleague in this movement himself being one of the members of the executive committee. He has later on helped me to establish Kuwait Konknni Kendr  being its founder member.

First row family members in the Church at Pomburba

Then every activity of mine he was with me both in supporting financially and lending his intellectual advices as he was highly intellectual and literate man.  Men of his intellectual caliber are very rare in Kuwait and I was fortunate to be blessed by God with the companionship of our late Evaristo Fernandes.  

People seen in the Church

We stayed together in Kuwait city for about 15 years in the same Flat of 2 independent rooms from where I organized so many activities.  Because of this house I managed to keep at my place so many visitors coming to Kuwait, most of them the visiting Tiatrists, males and females as well.

Choir singers in the Church

 During the period of invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein of Iraq, especially during the first 4 days when the invading troops were in Kuwait, we both suffered a lot of harassment,  both mental and physical.  My suffering was beyond imagination because of my journalism since Saddam Hussein’s regime do not tolerate intellectual class of people. They tortured me more especially mentally to get some information of Kuwait and India too. 

Bro. Cajetan Fernandes doing the reading

Then we came to Goa thru repatriation and as decision was taken by me in Kuwait on the very first day of the invasion of Kuwait to organize a movement in Goa in support of Kuwait and against Iraq, with his strong support for my decision, Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center was formed.  Evaristo  was an integral part of this organization both as an adviser and also as a participant.

His son Aristotle on funeral oration

Tough he was not much vocal yet many times in the public meetings he raised the issues of Goan interest. When in early 1975 Dr. Vaidya came to Kuwait from Goa to collect funds for the establishment of Goa Cancer Hospital Society, Evaristo asked Dr.Vaidha the following question: 

Parish Priest Fr. Diogo D'souza

When Bandodcar was alive, he gave full patronage to Asilo Hospital situated at Mapusa Bardez because Bardez was the strong citadel of MGP while  Hospicio Hospital in MARGAO Salcette, being in the UGP citadel refused to give even the  the bare minimum. In view of this what role this Hospital  will play when this Hospital put into operation?

Band in attendance

Among the Goans in Kuwait he was highly read Goan and he could quote best of quotes of many of the world’s renowned authors either from Renaicence period, ancient period or mediavel period or from any period.  Philosphy was his very favourite subject and when he was in Kuwait he was  thinking to go to France to join Sorbonne.   

Cemetry

As a human being he is a very good man with very good character and very helpful for any person in trouble. As a Goan, he was the genuine Goan patriot having great love for Goa, Konkani, Goan Culture, tradition and folklore. Personally he was a great help to me in furthering my activities for the goan causes.  In his death I lost a great friend and a colleague.  May his soul rest in peace and may the Heavenly father give courage to his wife and three children (2 daughters and  a son) to bear this colossal loss. 

                         HIS COLLEAGUES IN kkk:Xavier-Elvino-Veronica-Marcus-Mario


A.Veronica Fernandes.

NEW TIATRO "FOREVER YOURS" BY MILAGRES DE CHANDOR.

On Saturday, the 19^th of this month,  I saw the new Tiatro “FOREVER YOURS”, written and directed by the well known director Milagres de Chandor starting at 3.20 PM at Kala Academy Hall, Panjim, attended by a good number of attendees. The cast most of them was new but very encouraging and  good in their acting and singing too.   Many of them were youthful both males and females.

The main story of the play was beautiful where it indicates the power of the love of a young girl who for the  sake of her love to her boyfriend she does great sacrifices till her death. How she does this one has to see by watching this tiatro Forever Yours.

Though the songs in the Side-Show were  good yet some more push was needed to create excitement in the hall among the audience.

The scenes were very beautiful especially the Helicopter, Boat and vehicle.  It shows the artistic mind of the director.

The comedy part was much below the normal level where too much vulgarity was shown even forcing some attendees to leave the hall in between. I hope the director and even some senior artistes will act fast to change the vulgarity part of the comedy.

A.Veronica Fernanndes.

CONGRESS NEEDS STRONG LEADERSHIP.

Referring to the latest results of the Election in Kanataka, I admire the BJP for winning the greater number of seats in this election over the Congress. Though it was a hard fact that BJP won more seats yet BJP must not feel that everywhere in India it will be a BJP wave.  Karnataka is not India though Congress is not flawless.  If today and yesterday BJP gained the foothold in some parts of India including in the otherwise citadels of Congress, it was not because of the plus points of BJP but because of the extremely minus points of Congress.  And if this trend is not stopped by Congress and take the corrective steps to revive its prospects in the coming elections, I am sure Congress will be totally wiped out of India.

The major defect of the Congress is its weak leadership. Rahul Gandhi is not Nehru nor Indira, he cannot withstand the fury of Modi on the public platform. The Congressmen if they still feel that the name of Gandhi should be a prefix or suffix to the Congress leadership then they are sadly mistaken.  Without the prefix and suffix of Gandhi, the Janata Party ruled India and BJP is still ruling since last so many years.  The myth of Nehru and Gandhi names has lost its value, Congress ruled India for so many years after the independence but never eradicated poverty, caste system and communalism.

In Goa under the new leadership, Congress must now only take the stock of their situation and be ready to face the coming election even by preparing the likely election contestants. Otherwise posterity will hold Congress responsible for giving Goa on silver platter to Communal and corrupt forces to destroy Goa totally. As it is the current politicians especially from the ruling faction are on hunt to use maximum benefits for them to loot and rob Goa, they have no shame because they are shameless, they have no self respect nor dignity, some of them are so stupid that they will come to you only once before the election to beg for your vote or to purchase your vote because they have ample of money which they accumulated thru unfair means.

It is a long time now since Goa’s administration is run by ghosts without the regular Chief Minister. He is treated like Pele the Brazilian soccer wizard that is, during his hey days it was said that Pele has no replacement because Pele was the genius which could not be replaced by any other player. It looks Parricar is also reached to that stage of a genius but in reality Parricar is a fake genius. 

      

A.Veronica Fernandes.

THE LATE VINCENTE DE SOUZA-INTERRED.

THE LATE VINCENTE  D’SOUZA.  THE FOGOTTEN HERO

It was on 14^th of this month at about 8.00 AM while I was going to the Hospital to see the ailing Vincente D’Souza, I received a phone call from his daughter Gloria that her dad has been expired already.  Hearing this news, I felt an empire has been collapsed, such a mighty man he was among Kuwait Goans during his most productive period in Kuwait, from mid sixties to the eighties. 

A Veronica on funeral oration

Nobody in Kuwait nor anywhere in the Gulf and probably in the entire expatriate Goan world has done what he has done for the cause of Goa and Goans.  He was the visionary man and thinking far ahead of his time. He knew what was the need of the Goan community and accordingly he acted thus.  It was he who formed the then Goan Association called “Kuwait Goans”, then he formed the other association called   “Goan Arts Circle” to raise funds for Goa Cancer Hospital where lakhs of Rupees were sent.  After that he initiated the movement for the “Direct Flight” from Kuwait to Goa. The next move of his was the initiative of the formation of “Gulf Goans Hotels Co. Ltd” that built the Hotel Goan Heritage at Calangute. Then came the initiative for the establishment of New Indian School at Jabriya Kuwaiti and finally the formation of “Goan Welfare Society Kuwait.”  

The might of this man lies in his sterling qualities to help the Goan community in alleviating their hardships in whatever way he can especially when there was no Godfather for Goan community. It was he who first  introduced and made Goan community known to the outside world from Kuwait.  With his mighty pen of an accredited journalist in Kuwait (being the only one Goan in Kuwait), he opened the eyes of the authorities that were neglecting the needs of our community. Once when he pointed out openly in “Goa  Today” Montly Magazine the flaws of Indian Embassy in dealing wrongly the affairs of Goan maids, he was heavily reprimanded by the Embassy even by warning him of impounding his Passport if he writes again such writings affecting the smooth functioning of the Indian Embassy. 

Both the daughters of late Vincente desouza

His greatness lies in his hunger and lust for doing good for the downtrodden and those who were undergoing traumatic time in the absence of Jobs.  Once in his company at Kuwait Customs, a new department was opened needing about 15 new employees.  When this task of arranging this manpower was given to him by his Boss, he frantically called for Goans to send to him if there is anybody jobless and like this he filled that new department with all Goans only.  But unfortunately, none of these was seen for his funeral nor most of the others who enjoyed his benefits, his influence, his power and his might.

It was a pity to see in the St. Rita’s Church, Camurlim, hardly about 50 persons attending his funeral.  Was he our forgotten hero?  Are we Kuwait Goans so hard hearted against our own people who have done so much for our community?  Are we gone blind to see the great work done by our people for our causes?  Where is our traditional Goanness gone?

I pity my Kuwait Goan community and also those politicians who were coming to Kuwait and enjoying benefits from him.  When Eduard Faleiro first time came to Kuwait on his way to Delhi from an official trip to South America, the late Vincente D’Souza accommodated him at Sahara Hotel by contributing money from the Goans in Kuwait.  Besides, so many other visitors from Goa he helped them to come and stay in Kuwait. 

While concluding I wish the late Vincente D’Souza’s Soul Heavenly Bliss and his immediate family members courage and grace to bear this colossal loss.

A.Veronica Fernandes.   

                             

VULGARITY IN TIATROS.

The yearlong celebrations to mark the 125th birth anniversary of the  Konkani Tiatro is in progress and I compliment all who are involved in this activity.

According to some Tiatrologists, during the second 25 years of Tiatro this beautiful art went into the hands of undisciplined and third grade Tiatrists  who made bad use of this Stage, vulgarity and personal “Zupattis” became top priority of many of such Tiatrists for whom the Pai Tiatrist Joao Agostinho Fernandes with tears in his eyes at Cross Maidan in Bombay, called “ROSTAD TIATRISTS”. He said “I feel sorry for this beautiful art created by Lucazinho Ribeiro and developed  by him and me, is gone into the hands of Rostad Tiatrists”.

Again after 125 years we still see this vulgarity carried forward by some comedian Tiatrists who are encouraged in this direction by their directors to make the audience laugh.  Those who patronize these vulgar comedians mainly the illiterate ones,  are equally vulgar. 

Very few people may have seen what I have seen about Tiatros and Tiatrists and hence  I can rightly say that the yesteryear Tiatirsts were far better than the current ones.  Some of these  young comedians alone will be responsible to drive away the qualitative audience from attending the Tiatros because this audience  will never like the vulgarity. These days after seeing the Tiatros of the so called topmost directors I noticed how cheaply they have mortgaged their leadership to the vulgar comedian Tiatrists. 

As it is, the younger generation is not keen to watch Tiatros and due to their dislike, I am sure in 10-15 years the Tiatros importance will diminish.  Unless there is total revolution to bring back the lost glory of Tiatro, I am afraid and God forbid, Tiatro may see its end. 

A.Veronica Fernandes.

HOTEL GOAN HERITAGE PICNIC/GET TOGETHER.

Seen above is the excellent couple .Mr.& Mrs. F.X.D'souza. 

On 12^th of this month, yesterday, Hotel Goan Hritage , Calangute marked their shareholders day in the form of a Picnic, at their Hotel Goan Heritage premises in a daylong function attended by a good number of Shareholders coming from all over Goa. 

Seen above is father & daughter Marcus (Dost Kumar)

Seen above is the glamorous couple Villa along with Shwan 

The person who took initative to build this Hotel was no doubt Vincente D’Souza a very dynamic man in Kuwait during his long stay in Kuwait but the person who finally developed and brought it up was none other than Wilson Coelho.  If it was not for Wilson’s efforts to get this project erected then according to my assessment and knowledge this project would never come into existence.  The Board  for such a long period was gasping for breadth having no proper way to get all the required documentation because of the hurdles we encountered on our path. Thank God, finally, wen Wilson stepped in thru his solid “Wasta” in Goa, he managed to get us all the required permissions that facilitated us to see this such a majestic and beautiful project.

The directors:Villa-Jerry-A.Veronica -Felix

Directors Villa & A.Veronica along with Shareholders

One view of the attendees

Seen above are the Shareholders-Guests

It was somewhere in 1978/1979 this project came into limelight thus the formation of lf Goan Hotels Co. Ltd. Fored thru the mountainous efforts of Vincente D’Souza and a goodamout of money he spent from his own poclet to form this company. The money the Board volunteered to pay him, vincente D;Souza declined to accept.

Another view of the guests

Seen above is Mr. & Mrs. Figueredo.  Mr. Figueredo is on Wheel Chairwhile 

During those days in Kuwait, we used to have our meetings in the Shuwaikh Modern Restaurant with the participation of elite Goans who were the first batch of Shareholders.  They deserve highest compliments to keep silence or such a long period from the time of purchase of Shares till the completion of the Hotel operation and finally the receipt of the dividend.  It is these Shareholders who were the victims of keeping their investment lying dormant because of the long delay in the construction of this Hotel.

The Music

The daylong picnic was enjoyed by the Shareholders with their participation of different items with the live band in attendance too. The Board is in the hands of good persons an they are ding their job well.  I don’t think any shareholder will have to fear for anything.

A.Veonica ernandes.

NO TO PDA & ODP.

Michael Lobo is the MLA of Calangute constituency which is known to produce some of the worst and cunning MLA’s of Goa who concentrated on accumulating wealth for them only by taking advantage of their MLAship.  These MLA’s when they take entry into this political segment, they always disclosed that they are contesting the election for Goa Legislatve Assembly only to gain better avenues and facilties for the electorate of their constituencies.  However, within a short  time the very MLA’s who were swearing on their Gods in the Temples and Churches, they turn out to be the worst liars, crooks, sex extortionists and in one word “Devils”.  Otherwise, see the wealth of these MLA’s that will give you perfect view of their assets.

On 11^th of this month people opposing PDA& ODP who are since last so many days struggling so hard  to bring pressure on the authorities concerned to abolish PDA & ODP,  joined together and gave a Memorandum to Candolim Panchayat with their demands for the necessary further action. If proper action is failed to take within 15 days,  they said they will intensify their agitation even by gheraoing all the Panch members.

On 12^th of this month at Azad Maidan Panjim, on the 4^th day of the chain hunger strike people from Candolim and Azosim took active part in todays hunger strike. 

A. veronica fernandes,

.

MINING AFFECTED GOANS.

Last  fortnight at Azad Maidan, Panjim, I attended the Hunger strike – a daylong activity in support of the unemployed Goans and also those who were retrenched from the Mining Companies. Some of them are having their families to look after  while others have their loans to repay and still others so many other financial obligations. They cry saying the government is least bothered to know their plight while others say there is no government in Goa functioning in the absence of CM. 

During the whole day they said not a single government emissary visited them to enquire about their plight leave aside the ruling party MLA or any Minister.  And by the way why they should take interest in them?  Let them go to hell, they must be saying.  In Konkani they say  “KUNKOD MELEM FUNKOT GELEM”.

Somewhere in 1957/58 there was a chaos in the Mining belt where because of the dispute between Sesa Goa management and workers the mining activity came to an abrupt halt sending shivers in the veins of many of the Sesa’s employees.  Then Sesa as per my information readied itself to close down its operations in Goa and put the employees on the road.  This news reached to Salazar in Portugal who immediately advised Governador Vassalo e Silva to stop Sesa going ahead with their anti-workers policy but find a solution.  Then Sesa management did not terminate anyone but for few months made the employees sit at home on half the salary till the solution was found.  The question that Salazar posed to Goa Governador was:  Who will then support the employees and their families? 

It is a pity that the outsider Salazar was more sympathetic to Goans than our own insiders who without compassion put the people working in the Mining companies on the road.

The Mining companies accumulated crores and crores and according to the Shah Commission Report thousand of crores these companies owe to Goa and Goans.  Instead of utilising this amount for the benefit of affected Goans, Government is pampering the Mine Owners. There should be justice done to the affected Goans.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

SECOND DAY OF HUNGER STRIKE AGAINST ODP & PDA.

Today  is the second day of hunger strike in Panjim at Azad Maidan organized against the ODP and PDA which according to the people gathered there is pushed on Goans by Michael Lobo who is telling  that it is only the four “boddkam” opposing these. But in reality overwhelming majority of Goans is  opposing this and not the way what Lobo says, said one Striking leader.

Today’s proceedings were handled by people from St. Cruz with Mr. Rudolf Fernandes was answering the questions when I paused him for sometime. He said they will fight till the victory is attained and that victory is not very far. Further he said that they don’t want future generation to suffer because of this mistake government is doing. He also said that we Goans should not be strangers in our own land and what we do not want should not be pushed on us.

Because of the forcefully pushing of ODP and PDA on us, the people from Calangute constituency are very angry on Lobo  and surely this anger they will release during the next election, said one citizen from Calangute.  The power that Lobo wielding now is derived from the people and they only know how to snatch it and when.  Besides, this power is only temporary.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

HUNGER STRIKE IN SUPPORT OF SCRAPPING OF PDA & ODP.

                                           Seen above is the huge Banner of the Strikers.

In Candolim and elsewhere in other villages from the Calangute constituency people are very much dissatisfied with the attempts made by the government to impose the PDA and ODP on them against their wishes.  The locals from these villages are feeling that they are let down by their own MLA whom they have elected with pomp and hope.  This MLA is heading the NGPDA and having been on this CHAIR he wields lot of power to do what he wants of course against the wishes of the local people. Hi dictates like a DICTATOR SAYING "HE WILL GET HIS WISHES FULFILLED".  

A section of the people on Hunger Strike 

Another view of the Hunger Strikers 

This should be the lesson for the voters to know how the power corrupts those who never enjoyed power in their life earlier. It is said by prof. Laski “pwer corrupts and absolute power corrupt absolutely”. It is a pity that the very people who got elected thru our votes are   our wishes.  The next election is not very far and there is no guaranty that the current government will survive till the end.  There is a saying in Konkani “ek teomp maecho ani ek teomp  sunecho”. 

Yet one more view of the people on Hunger Strike

One more view of the Hunger Strikers

In order to draw the attention to their fight against ODP and PDA, the people going to be affected by these ODP and PDA,  got together and organized a daylong hunger strike at Azad Maidan –Panjim. This will be followed by another 3 more days of fasting at the same placle.

                                  Seen lying down is Arturo D'Souza on a daylong Hunger Strike

Some of the photos are shown here of today’s proceedings.

A.Veronica Fernandes.