DEMOLITION OF SHACKS AT CANDOLIM BEACH.

During Portuguese time the Candolim Beach was very clean having its natural beauty intact.  There was no hindrance of any Shacks there.  The first plain Shack was erected somewhere in 1968 by one local Joaquim Lopes where he was selling Tea, Soft Drink and some eatables like Sandwiches.  Besides this there was one Restaurant “Ceu Mar” built by Mr. Britto.  In this Restaurant  there were two  rooms for rent.

Gradually in seventies due to increase in tourist traffic, somewhere in 1976/77 about half a dozen Shacks were erected by the locals only when there was no Tourism Department nor CRZ formalities in existence because till such time commercialization of tourism as it is now was not in practice. 

In Eighties due to heavy commercialization of tourism, Shacks on the entire Candolim Beach started mushrooming when terms like Tourism Dept. and CRZ became audible and they started exercising their control over all the activities on the Beach.  The people involved in running this Shack business were all locals coming from low income category.  There are about  100 Shacks spread all over the Candolim Beach owned by the locals only who earned their livelihood thru this business. 

The recent spate of demolition of Shacks by the Tourism department on Candolim Beach has put the Shack owners out of their normal track thereby instilling fear into their minds and hearts because of the fear of demolition of their Shacks. Those whose official paper work is not in order are more afraid of losing their only mode of earning their sustenance. The recent demolition of Shacks in Candolim with the excuse that they are illegal has created a very bad image of the government of Goa in general and Tourism Dept. in particular. Tourism Dept. should have stopped these illegal Shacks in the beginning only instead of waiting for the penultimate month of the season ending and thereby killing the huge investment put into this business by the affected Shack owners.  Heaven would not fall if this demolition operation was stayed especially in view of the people involved in this business are all Goans.  What is the use of this government if it does not give preferential treatment to the locals?

The demolition operation of the Shacks done on Candolim Bbeach was very ruthless, the guest tourists mainly the Westerners were not even allowed to have their meals finished eating.  They were evicted from their dining tables as if they were Jews in Naziland. Their beach beds were cut when they were still lying on the beds.  It was totally an inhuman operation  devoid of humane attributes.  These tourists are very much hurt  by the way they were shabbily treated by the demolition squad, these tourists pumped in lot of money into Tourism industry of Goa thereby enriching Goan economy and since this is the case, they naturally deserve decent treatment without any fear of trouble for them.  They want to spend their time peacefully on the Beach without any disturbance, they are not bothered whether the Shacks where they eat and drink are legal or illegal, it is not their business to know this.  All they want is peaceful atmosphere to enjoy their stay in Goa. Some of these tourists have even decided to prevent their Western colleagues from coming to Goa thus giving a strong jolt to Tourism in Goa.  As it is, Tourism boom is waning in Goa and at this juncture government of Goa should do something to give a push forward to Tourism promotion even by eradicating the license system for erecting Shacks.

These tourists are coming to Goa regularly since a long time now and as such they have built a strong rapport between them and the Shack owners who are doing their best to give very good service and treatment to their guests.  But now, these tourists numbering over a thousand have vowed never to return back to Goa from next season to face the humiliation of demolition squad of Tourism department  and of local Police.  Some of these tourists are coming to Goa only to maintain their friendly link and rapport they created with these friendly Shack owners. They patronize Goan tourism only because of these poor Goan Shack owners who promote Goan tourism beautifully where the inputs of Tourism Department and its minister is almost a Big Zero.      

A.     Veronica Fernandes,Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.

 

 

 

WHEN THE LATE WILLIAM DE CURTORIM ASSAULTED BY CONGRESS SUPPORTERS.

According to the Press reports appeared in the print media, Congress Party in Goa condemned the move of the BJP government to introduce censorship on Tiatro.  Good decision but one must also know what the Congress supporters did to the late William de Curtorim a few years back when William de Curtorim rendered a solo in Candolim  criticizing the local Congress leader for his anti-Goan activities in the locality. 

  

While on his way home after finishing the Tiatro along with his colleagues, a few supporters of Congress somewhere in Saligao forcibly stopped the Bus carrying the Tiatro troupe including poor William de Curtorim and physically and mercilessly assaulted William in the presence of all other troupe members.

 

By taking law into their hands the Congress supporters suppressed the freedom of speech of Tiatrist William de Curtorim.  Neither local Congress leader nor Luizin Faleiro condemned this brutality thereby indicating Congress is as worst as BJP in Goa.  They borth are two sides of the same coin. 

 

       A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.

KONKANI ALBUM "SASNNACHEA SASNNAK".

 

As an admirer and ardent fan of the late Tiatrist Nelson Afonso, I must say Eureka – Eureka for getting an opportunity to listen to the Audio CD – Konkani Album - released by his son Tomy –  popularly known as Jr.Nelson.  It is a masterpiece of history, wisdom and boldness all woven in the songs rendered by Jr. Nelson individually and in Trio describing the greatness of his late father as a Tiatrist.  As an old timer Tiatro goer I am well aware of the events taken place then with regards to the stories mentioned in these songs.  I feel all the old timer Tiatro goers must not miss the opportunity to listen this CD.  My admiration goes to Jr. Nelson for inheriting the wisdom and boldness of his father in hitting hard to those who he felt done injustice to his father. 

 

Front cover of CD

His late father Nelson Afonso had distinction of even instilling fear into the mind and heart of the mighty Dayananda Bandodcar and in fact Bandodcar was not afraid of 12 UG members in the Legislative Assembly but was afraid only of Nelson’s Trio.  This was because Nelson’s Trio could do from the Stage what 12 gigantic members of UG could not do in the Assembly.  That was the mighty intellectual power of Nelson’s Trio. Besides, the late Nelson Afonso was the innovative Tiatrist who had unique distinction of staging Tiatros first time on Moving Stage (Dolorosa Tiatro) and Sliding Stage as well.  His compositions were of very high grade as far as story, philosophy and decency are concerned.  His best political Trio was rendered immediately following the Opinion Poll in praise of Goan voters saying “XIKKO MARLO PANALA  ANI DOPKO DILO FULALA”. His best Tiatros were “NATIONALIST, ALMAS DO OUTRO MUNDO, GHORABO and BONDDOLIST. As a human being, Nelson Afonso was a very kind hearted and simple man without having artificial pride.

                                                             Back cover of CD

During the Portuguese rule in Goa many times I saw him singing duets with Anthony D’Souza hitting hard the then mighty Bamon Bhatkarshahi.  He was doing the role of a female since he had beautiful attractive looks. After the invasion of Goa by Bharat, thru his initiative a Tiatro troupe called “Young Stars of Goa” was formed somewhere in 1962/1963 and he was the de facto leader of this group which was just an institution by itself. This group lasted till 1975 when in an internal coup piloted by Conception and Anthony, splitted their mighty Trio keeping Nelson  out.  Shocked over the ingratitude towards him over his ouster by his other two companions whom he brought into limelight, Nelson rendered a beautiful song in 1976/77 saying what  good he did for their Trio.   Because of its superlative quality he was gifted everywhere he rendered this song with some amount of money by the members of the audience. This song one can listen thru the voice of his son in the Album “Sasnnachea Sasnnak” (last song).

In the history of Tiatro the first known Trio was formed by Kid Boxer-Young Menezes-Minguel Rod popularly known as Kid-Young-Rod and this one Trio was enough then to fill the “Mattou” or Hall to capacity.  But gradually because of the fame of this trio, somebody from the Tiatro fraternity became jealous and piloted the split of this trio and took Minguel Rod apart  leaving Kid and Young separately and forming a new quartet consisting of Minguel Rod-Jacinto Vaz- C. Alvares-Alexinho de Candolim.

Conception-Nelson-Anthony Trio was the second known popular Trio on Konkani Stage but more powerful than the first one.   This trio was singing songs mostly on the local politics of which type none of the current Tiatrists sing.  For this reason the memory of this most memorable Trio which served Goa and Goan causes so well  and was formed by Nelson himself,  will remain forever.  

Coming back to the Album “Sasnnachea Sassnak” by Jr. Nelson which was released a year back, consists of 13 beautiful songs comprising Solos, Duets, Trios and Quartets rendered by Jr. Nelson, Com. Selvy, Sabina, Felcy, Cyril Ferrao, Sylvester Vaz, Tony de Ribanda, Saby de Divar, Salu de Loutolim, Joaquim Cabral and Jr. Conception & Jr. Souza Boy.

All the songs are very good but some are the best namely Jr. Nelson’s title song “Sasnnachea Sasnnak”, Trio “Tiatristancho Vavr” by Jr. Conception-Jr. Nelson-Jr. Souza Boy, Solo “Sothache Ulhas” by Jr. Nelson,  Solo “Pope Francis” by Felcy, a romantic solo “Tukach Ravtam” by melodious singer Cyril Ferrao and a comedy duet by Selvy and Sabina.  The songs all but last one were scripted by Jr. Nelson.  Musical score was beautifully provided by Jack Rebello & James Vaz.

It was nice on the part of Jr. Nelson to introduce first time in this Album the sons of the late Conception and Souza Boy and both sing well like their fathers.

 

 

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

7507394349.