NEXT ELECTION AND KUWAIT GOANS.

Very shortly Goan voters in Goa will go to the polls to elect their two representatives to the Parliament. Will Goan voters do justice to their conscience and elect good candidates? Who will guide the Goan voters to exercise their franchise rightly and judiciously to elect good candidates? By the way, are there any good candidates contesting the election? Or will the voters be subjected to bribes and vote buying by the candidates and their parties?

What will be the role of Gulf Goans in general and Kuwait Goans in particular as far as this election is concerned? Can we just remain as silent spectators when the election process is going on in our Goa? I am talking of Goa because it is of our concern. When Kuwait was invaded by Iraq on 2nd August 1990 and when we were all stranded at the mercy of Saddam Hussein in Kuwait, we had two Goan Members in Parliament. What role did they play in and out of Parliament immediately following the invasion of Kuwait to help alleviate our misery? Nothing, they were both dumb and deaf to our sufferings. However, one MP from Kerala to press Government of India to act wisely and immediately on this issue to alleviate the sufferings of Indians in general and Malyalis in particular pushed Indian Government to be active. But when his efforts failed to bear any fruits because Indian Government was under the influence of Hamlet being indecisive – to be or not to be – he at the entrance of Parliament House organized a hunger strike to draw the attention of other MP’s to support him. While he was doing Hunger Strike, both our MP’s were sleeping because they were not fit to sit in the Parliament, they were meant to sit in the “Dukon” with “Feni”. One of the MGP stalwarts said it seems that “why we should involve in this matter since overwhelming majority of Kuwait Goans are Christians. Let them go to hell, our MGP is not for the promotion and protection of Christians”. In view of this, our friends and relatives and well wishers in Goa while voting must take this point into consideration very seriously.

Kuwait Goans always remained on forefront for Goa and Goan causes. What we did for Goa and Goan causes no other expatriate Goans did. Our love for Goa and Goan causes was supreme. Even during the election time many of our Goans in the past especially went down to Goa and participated in voting. While others from Kuwait advised their relatives to vote for the right candidates. To do this and to advise in such a manner those days Kuwait Goans were in a better position being more upright and true to their Goan attributes. But are the current Kuwait Goans and especially our much advertised leaders, much marketed stalwarts in a position to give good advice to our people in Goa? I doubt! The reasons are as explained below with examples:

We have 3 current NRI awardees in Kuwait. They were given these awards not exactly on the basis of their merits but because NRI Commissioner was a bias and ignorant. These all three awardees were undeserving awardees. By receiving these awards they have done injustice to themselves and to the principle of awards though Eduardo Faleiro gave them these awards as Tips to the waiters. Can such unjust people preach justice to Goans and tell Goan voters to cast their votes justly? And even if they advise what they will advise? They will have to advise to vote for Eduardo Faleiro’s Congress Party only to reciprocate the “chamchageri” Faleiro did for them by doling these awards, of course undeservingly. And is it correct to vote for Congress the party that created Maharajas out of beggars and crooks?

Goans in Kuwait are splitted into factions. One faction comes under Football fraternity. When I say football it should be understood rightly that is, our football activities are not recognised by the Kuwaiti authorities and besides us nobody in Kuwait cares for our football. It is more or less like the football we play in the fields in Goa, as it was called once “Xetantlo Khell”. Though it is like a “Xetantlo Khell” yet it gives lot of cheap publicity for cheap people involved in this football especially for the promoters. The person heading our football activities is a pure “Bebdo” and all those who got him there were equally “Bebdes” because Bebdes only can elect a “Bebdo”. Good people will elect good leaders. And during the invasion time, this Bebdo was not supporting Kuwait cause, on the contrary he was anti 'Kuwait movement' in Goa. And supporting such people will it not be tantamount to being anti-Kuwait from where we earn our bread? In view of this, will this faction guide Goans in right direction and tell them to vote for the right and good candidates in the forthcoming election in Goa? I have no faith in these people that they will act with wisdom. Their horizon is only football because it gives them good amusement and cheap prominence which is what they want because back at home they were neglected and rejected in society. For such people especially intellectually bankrupt, this place is good to create a dent in life and in society too. A Ladru-Pedru type of person back at home can easily become Lasarus and Peter in Kuwait.

The other faction of Goans is surrounded around Welfare Society. The person ruling this Society is known to be involved in Sex and Society’s money scandals. His principle of “Narvenkarism” is very simple of telling the young girls, “I do your job today, you do my job tonight”. This man has taken hostage the entire funds of the Society in collaboration with other two rogue colleagues of his, this amount runs into crores of Indian Rupees. This huge amount belongs to the Society and as such it should go to the account of Society for the cause of community. I think, finally it will face the fate of “Bombaiche Kudd” which were robbed by the “bastardized Goans” because only such Goans can do such cheatings. Real Goans fathered by their real fathers will never cheat any organization. This man does not care for anything. It looks he tells everybody, “tumi boslet mojea Sen…” . When this man has such a worst character how is it that he was elected by the members to head their Society? It is a mystery and only mysterious people elect such rogues and rapists. Why did they elect him? Because all those who elected him and associate with him are equally bad, equally worst and equality guilty. They are all partners in the same type of crimes though they may harp saying they are clean and decent people. Decent people will never support indecent person. these indecent supporters may if time comes, even supply their wives and daughters to their indecent leader, this is their quality which they have shown. By the way, will such people advise and guide our Goan voters to act rightly? Surely not because bad people cannot give good advise. And they have no right either to advise Goan voters to act wisely when they themselves acted unwisely. This is the quality of our people in Kuwait and yet they have no shame.

The other segment of Goans in Kuwait is enveloped under Tiatrist circle. This circle was formed not to promote Tiatro and support all Tiatrists but to prevent one Tiatrist from acting in Tiatros in Kuwait and even in Goa. The foundation of this circle was laid down on the principle “To Aslear Aum Nachona” by their leader. When this tiatrist leader put this proposal forward, all the other Rostad members of this circle in chorus said “Yes, we support this proposal”. This proved how unjust these Tiatrists are. When they are so unjust, can they tell the Goan voters to be just in their voting and to elect the just candidates? Impossible!!. Rostad people will never give good advise. Rostad people will tell their relatives and other people in Goa to elect only Rostad candidates.

Yet another faction of Goans in Kuwait making some noise is that which is associated in the Church Circle. Church circle is a very good venue for cheapest people to obtain cheapest prominence. In the name of religious work they get too much importance in life otherwise they deserve no concession, if you test the character of many of them. This is the most dangerous section of our community because by wearing the masks of holy persons in holy place, some of these Goans are acting like “Devils” and they are devils only having worst qualities to create sinful acts. I realized their true colours during the invasion of Kuwait when most of them failed in their just Christian duties in supporting Kuwait’s cause though some of them were fooling by saying “we are praying for Kuwait”.They are in this circle only to get personal, financial, sexual and other devilish benefits. Normally worst of people are involved in the Church affairs because most of the Church leaders are corrupt who are corrupting everything around them including our religion and community.

A. Veronica Fernandes.

GOA SWAYS ....UNDER SAVIOURS.

GOA SWAYS … UNDER SAVIOURS!
By Valmiki Faleiro.

Every Goan politico swears by ‘saving’ Goa. Let’s visit an instance of how that’s done.What I write may sound like fiction, but believe me, it is not. This is common knowledge in the circles of a particular Goa government department, its officers and contractors. Among whom I count many acquaintances. I will name neither the department nor the politician.

Bolting horses do not leave their hides behind. In the dicey domain of defamation law, I’ll tread on the side of caution. This particular politician swore to save Goa. To do that, soon after being elected, he did a rapid-fire flip and a flop. For Rs.30 crores, in hard cash. Twenty crores for withdrawing support to the government and, in about a month, ten crores for not just re-supporting the same government but bedding a milking cash cow, as minister. This particular department annually spends hundreds of crores for the greater glory of Goa.

Of every rupee spent, between 10-15 percent goes directly into the minister’s kitty. Take a Rs.10 crore project. The system, on paper, works on sealed tender basis. Any number of eligible contractors vie to bag the contract. In practice, the serious one musttrudge Margao’s hillock, Monte. Here is the government Rest House and some official bungalows – all now figuratively private property of the minister’s daughter and her escort. The contractor must meet her,but only after surrendering all bugging devices, including mobile camera-phones. If the contractor is the only bidder for the work, a deal is cracked at 10% (in our instance,One Crore Rupees) to be paid to the minister. In case of more than one bidding aspirant,as often is the case, the ministerial daughter turns auctioneer of her father’s 'share'(which could rise to 15-20% of the work value.) Cash is not passed at Monte, once a lovers’ rendezvous, and eons before, the route of demons that tormented Margao. The concerned Executive Engineer must collect the ministerial loot.

And we complain of bureaucratic corruption! Mercifully, I have encountered upright officials in several government departments. Exceptions, to be sure. But in this minister’s department, every official must cough up one percent of project money they handle, esp. around festivals, from Diwali to Carnival. For saving Goa. That’s not all. Highly inflated tenders are now the norm. Crores are accounted as spent on projects difficult to verify, when the actual cost doesn’t cross a few lakh rupees. Venial, though. Crores are siphoned out of the public treasury on projects executed and paid for ages ago. Internal audit is dead, because ‘Goa’ must survive! We’ve created another political monster. Like Taleigao in Tiswadi, this one is set to sway future electoral fortunes in the historically key taluka of Goa: Salcete. With his few hundred crores...

With a series like ‘Goa sways,’ you’d imagine I could go on almost forever, on Goa’smyriad ills, from killer mosquitoes to mines. But let’s move on, from what Goa is to where she is headed, after coming Sunday. As customary, I will share with you an old butinspirational internet story for Easter.

P.S.: Writes an engineer friend about last week’s column … “If water contamination wasas bad, half of Margao would be outside Hospicio’s overcrowded morgue. Of concern is:the Selaulim reservoir, in a mining area, gets manganese in its water. Too much of it canlead to kidney failure. Opt for your well water either boiled or through a reverse osmosisfilter, so you continue writing in Herald dated 1st April 2056.”

P.P.S.: A final farewell to friend, guide and motivator, my former college lecturer DiogoManuel Silveira. Hailing from Goltim-Divar, DMS was brilliant at academics and was laterEditor at Mumbai’s ‘Free Press Journal’ group. Fit and sprightly, given not to mundanevices like booze and smoke, DMS, who would turn 60 this month, suffered a heart attack– his first and, alas, last – around 6am, March 31, in Mumbai. He had launched me into writing, with a co-signed piece, published in ‘The Navhind Times’ in 1975.Eternal peace! (ENDS.)

The Valmiki Faleiro.

Francis Correia nominated President of Young Goans Club, Bahrain

Manama: The Annual General Body of Young Goans Club held on April 2, nominated a new managing committee for the year 2009 – 2010. Mr. Francis Correia leads the team as the President of the club. Oswald D’Souza is retained as the internal auditor.

From left to right: Standing Savio Rebeiro, Noel Fernandes, Francis Vaz, Steven Fernandes, Felix Rodrigues, Steven Dias and Cajetan Pereira.
Sitting: Agnelo Victor, Gerard Fernandes, Francis Correia & Roland Varella.

The new committee will be formally introduced to the members during Easter Dance on April 12 starting at 7.30 p.m. at the new club premises in Manama. The Easter celebrations with live music by ‘V-The Band’ will also feature distribution of Easter Eggs to members children. Refreshments and snacks will be served to members. Members are urged to come in time as the celebrations will continue only upto 11 pm.

As part of the many indoor games lined up by the new committee, a mendi kot (cards game) tournament will be held on April 23 at 8 pm at the club premises with attractive prizes on offer.