IS PARRIKAR GOING TO KILL LOKAYUKTA?

CM SHOULD NOT KILL GOA LOKAYUKTA BY SETTING ITS AGENDA
By Aires Rodrigues

The unwarranted, reckless and deplorable recent statements made by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on the issue concerning the setting up and working of the Goa Lokayukta are deplorable. It is dismaying that the Chief Minister has given a clear indication that he intends to guide, monitor and set the agenda for the Lokayukta. This would be in clear violation and contrary to law. The very intent of the Lokayukta legislation is to ensure its total independence in its working and functioning.


Any attempts by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to manipulate the Lokayukta would be strongly opposed, by moving the High Court if required.


Mr. Manohar Parrikar should realize that the Lokayukta would probe and prosecute complaints against all public servants including the Chief Minister. So Mr. Manohar Parrikar must desist and distance himself from directly or indirectly interfering in the setting and functioning of the Goa Lokayukta.


The Lokayukta would be headed by a retired High Court Judge so one wonders how the Chief Minister could be making statements dictating about how the Lokayukta should function and investigate complaints. A good and upright person may desist from accepting the position of Goa Lokayukta if there is such political interference by the Chief Minister even before it is set up.


Regarding the Chief Minister’s threat to those filing false complaints, the Chief Minister may not be aware that filing of false or vexatious complaints is already an offence under the law with courts today imposing stringent costs on such litigations if initiated with vested interest under the guise of public interest litigations.


It is also most improper for the Chief Minister to be advising the Press as to how and what they should be reporting. It may be recalled that on 1st October 2003 Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, had in a legal notice served through his advocate Narendra Sawaikar, warned all newspapers to refrain from publishing any statements issued by the Opposition. Will history repeat itself? The Chief Minister should not to stifle the voice of the opposition which is very vital to the successful working of any democracy.


Mr. Manohar Parrikar has been the Leader of the Opposition and knows for himself how vital that role is. The Goa Lokayukta should be set up without any political interference or manipulation if this government is really serious about its pledge of Zero tolerance to Corruption.

TIATRO "GHONVDHO" IN KUWAIT.

Script writer and director Nazi Rod in his maiden attempt to stage a Tiatro in Kuwait has successfully organized his Tiatro “Ghonvdho” (Mason) on 18th of this month at Kuwait Medical Association Hall starting almost at 5.30 PM and ending at 10.00 PM. This Tiatro was supposed to be held originally on 11th of this month but due to the non-availability at the eleventh hour of 3 visiting artistes from Goa, one of them was the young daughter of Milagres de Chandor Miss Hazel, Miss Steffi was the other and the third was comedian Luis Bachan, the show was postponed to 18th inst. But unfortunately and regretfully as given to understand, inspite of their assurances and promises to the director that they will surely reach in time to participate in Ghonvdho on 18th, they failed in their word. Due to their absence the director was put into total inconvenience to arrange and train the local substitutes who fortunately proved to be not only good replacement but more than the equivalent.

The story revolved around a family life where the husband works abroad and sends money to his unfaithful wife who fritter away the money recklessly with her boyfriend. The title of the play “Ghonvdho” (Mason) used in figurative sense meaning the “Ghonvdho” failed to build his house properly leading to the disaster in family life.

Comedian Junior Silma whom I first time saw doing the comedy role which was supposed to be done by Luis Bachan finally proved to be not only best but the best surpassing not only Luis Bachan and his brother Domnick but all the Goa based comedians. This boy has very bright future on Konkani stage. It was he who stole the major show in the “Ghonvdho” inspite of accepting this role at the eleventh hour. His comedy is very natural and his body is very flexible somewhat like that of Anthony Mendes. In future for any Tiatro in Kuwait I don’t think we need any visiting comedian from Goa. Thru “Ghonvddo” he is become the darling of the audience.

The last minute replacement for the visiting female artiste Steffi, Mangalorean Lucy Aranha with her natural beauty played her role with comedian Silma extremely well even though she was trained only on the eve of the Tiatro when it was confirmed that the three visitors are not coming. Hazel’s absence was not noticed only. As a whole the absence of all the three “Kettis” as remarked by many in the audience went totally unnoticed.

It is proved once again that in Kuwait we can stage our Tiatros very well even without the participation of the visiting artistes from Goa and Bombay.

However, the other reliable visiting artistes Marcus Vaz and Francis de Tuem gave their best to make the side show very successful. Their songs were fabulously applauded by the audience because they were worth applauding.

Among the local artistes who rendered their songs well were Lopes Brothers and their sister Agnes with her mellifluent voice.

The other local artistes who did their roles well were Cajetan de Sanvordem, husband and wife duet Sylvester and Irene and Salu Faleiro.

It was surprising to notice the absence of any trio song of Kuwait based trio of Mario, Cajy & Michael; with the exception of Cajy the other two were totally not seen but their absence went unnoticed though their names and photos appeared in the Souvenir. Those who do not intend to participate in the Tiatro they should not give their photos to be published in the Handbill or Souvenir lest they become “Fotting” in the eyes of the audience.

Musical score was beautifully provided by Sahu and his troupe. Stage setting and Lights were nicely provided by Thomas; so also Sound System by Anand.

Special mention must go to Baba Joshua who as a child artiste did his role extremely well with confidence with his fluency in Konkani which is normally not seen in modern children in Kuwait. His acting reminded me of the somewhat identical role played by Bab Lipo in Aristedes Dias’ Tiatro “Doea” in 1958. I congratulate his parents for inculcating Konkani in their son from very early age.

In 1975 when the late Tony Call first time brought Alfred Rose and his then charming wife Rita to Kuwait to stage their two Tiatros, there was lot of politics and confusion between local artistes and the visiting. After analyzing the whole situation, Alfred Rose advised Tony Call “not to depend on the outstation artistes, you have enough of local artistes to play any role, utilize their talents”. Because of the last minute “Kettam” by the visiting “Kettist” Tiatrists as if they are coming for “Funkott” Show, the local directors must make an attempt to rely more on the local artistes only who are rich in stage talent.

From what has happened to “Ghonvdho” Tiatro, it is dangerous to rely any more on the visiting “Kettist” tiatrists. If they had any difficulty they should advise the director in Kuwait much in advance to facilitate the director to take remedial actions in time. Otherwise the organisers and directors will have to face heavy losses as it happened to “Ghonvdho” director because of the irresponsibility of the three irresponsible artistes.

Most in the audience totally condemned this bad attitude of the three artistes for failing to honour their promised word. As a retaliation many have vowed in future to boycott any Tiatro staged in Kuwait with the participation of “Kettist” tiatrists.

It is not an easy task to organize a Tiatro in Kuwait. I don’t think there is anybody in Kuwait involved in organizing Tiatros as I am and from my experience point of view I have lost my confidence in visiting artistes as a whole though there are many exceptions among them who are really reliable, dignified and respectful.

Once a troupe of 6 visiting artistes was staying at my place. They were brought by us for Rosary Ferns’ Tiatro. Before going to the hall as it is customary we joined together in our hall to say a small prayer. Every artiste to my surprise came for prayer with his luggage of Suitcases as if they are going to the Airport without going for the Show. Then I interrupted and asked them, what is this? They said we will go to the Airport out and out from the Tiatro hall. For this I asked them if for any reason there is delay in finishing the Tiatro in time, what will you do? They had no answer but their selfishness for their own benefit made me nervous.

I became nervous because I have my dignity and name in society which I cannot afford to tarnish in case of failure in properly organizing the Tiatro. For some visiting Tiatrists anything “chalta hai”. For them anything is ok but not for me. Some of the visiting Tiatrists do not care for anything as long as they get their pound of flesh. A few of them are shameless. It is said in Konkani “Kapurleak khuim Kulei sarke and Thanaim sarkim”. This is what the attitude of some visiting Tiatrists.

We spend thousands after them to bring them to Kuwait to participate in our Shows and they take this as if they are travelling from Margao to Panjim? This is called irresponsibility on the part of Tiatrists who ironically propagate from the stage the sense of responsibility to others but not for themselves. For such people I have two proverbs in Konkani “Apunn zanvcho khuim nitt and dusreak marchem mitt”. “Padricho Sermao nhoi Uniek pun lokak”.

Once it happened like this. For one Tiatro in Kuwait one main Musician, Mistiri was brought to play for one particular Tiatro. He came in time but while going he booked his return ticket in the same night after finishing the Tiatro. For some unavoidable reason, the Tiatro was delayed. Seeing this that he is getting late to reach to the Airport, after the interval before ending the tiatro Mistiri left the hall and went straight to the Airport to catch the direct flight to Dabolim. So in such a situation what is the use of spending so much of money after such visiting artistes and musicians? In the beginning itself they should make it clear to the Kuwait organisers their haste in returning back so that proper planning is done in advance only.

Meantime, after “Ghonvdho” Tiatro, the call given to boycott the shows where “Kettist” Tiatrists are involved is gaining momentum in Kuwait. Tiatro contractors and organisers must take serious note of this call.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

CM PARRIKAR IS CHALLENGED BY AIRES.

CHIEF MINISTER MANOHAR PARRIKAR SHOULD PROVE HIS ALLEGATION



By Aires Rodrigues
Am today publicly challenging Goa Chief Minister Mr. Manohar Parrikar to prove his allegation that I have been using the Right to Information Act to blackmail. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar while addressing BJP workers in Panaji yesterday accused me of attempting to blackmail him.
I was not born in an indigent family. Over the years have spent my own time and money raising public issues. Let Mr. Parrikar give details of even a single paisa that I may have illegally accepted and also show where it has been deposited as claimed by him. .
Mr. Manohar Parrikar should uphold and maintain the dignity and decorum of the high constitutional post he is holding. Being the Chief Minister he should not stoop to a street fighter’s level with such cheap gimmicks.
If the swearing in ceremony was held at Raj Bhavan the cost would have been a few thousands only. I reiterate that the 11 lakhs spent on the March 9th function held at SAG grounds was a criminal waste of public funds. In public interest this issue would be raised before the Goa Lokayukta. If Mr. Parrikar was keen on holding that extravaganza, its cost should have been borne by his party and should not have burdened the tax payer.
I have always -- and selflessly -- taken every issue raised to a logical end. It is Mr. Manohar Parrikar infact who has to explain to the people of Goa about his very suspicious U-turn on Casinos, illegal mining and his hoax of zero tolerance to corruption.
I have been in public life fighting against corruption and injustice for almost four decades now, much before Mr. Manohar Parrikar had even entered politics. Have never shied away from raising issues against successive governments, without fear or favour, and the present Chief Minister too should respect this fundamental right of every citizen.

One wonders whether the Chief Minister’s ego was hurt after the fiasco of Alina Saldanha’s proposed cabinet induction. I had raised the issue solely in public interest as Mr. Manohar Parrikar was committing a political impropriety.
Way back in 2001, the then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had appointed me as Vice- Chairman of the NRI facilitation Centre, which position I had declined to accept as I did not want to be indebted to any politician and compromise my freedom to speak out against corruption and nepotism.

Mr. Manohar Parrikar should realize that we are in a democracy and not an autocracy. The Chief Minister’s attempt to stifle the voice of opposition and constructive criticism is deplorable.
I admit that I had been a BJP fan for the last many years, because of my friend Mr. Shripad Naik. I confess that I only realized my mistake, based on the first hand experience at the 2011 CCP elections that the party was extremely communal and that Mr. Manohar Parrikar was a person that could not be trusted.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is trying to fool Goans with promises that can never be fulfilled. The people of Goa would be witness and true judges of this government’s communal and fascist hidden agenda.