DEATH IN KUWAIT OF MRS. JUDY.

Mrs. Judy Fernandes e Barreto (Nuvem Mujer/Murda Grande-Goa), Staff of Fawaz Airconditioning Co., Kuwait, expired today on 18/8/2011.

Beloved Wife of Constancio Barreto (KTS Co).

Mass on Saturday 20/8/2011 at 6.30 PM, at Holy Family Cathedral,

Kuwait City.

Body will be flown to GOA on Saturday 20/8/2011.

Funeral will be held on Sunday 21/8/2011 at Jesus-Maria-Jose Church, Nuvem.

Relatives and friends kindly accept this as the only intimation.

WHO WILL WIN IN NAVELIM? CHURCHILL OR LUIZINHO OR AVERTANOS?

By Nisser Dias.
18th August 2011

Does Churchill Alemao have an uphill task against Luizinho and Avertano in the forthcoming elections?

With the elections to the general assembly in Goa fast approaching politicians – rejected or otherwise are not only preparing grounds to contest but also pampering respective high and low commands to allot them the tickets to contest. It is not that they will not contest if not given a party ticket. They will contest independently or what politicians like Churchill Alemao calls on ‘people’s ticket’.

The scene will unfold in all the assembly constituencies as the elections get nearer. But the picture in delimited Navelim constituency has got clearer with former chief minister Luizinho Faleiro showing his willingness to make a come-back in local politics. This former legislator had withdrawn completely from public life for the last five years after his defeat at the hands of Churchill Alemao. Infact Faleiro in his own words had said in 2008 that he had taken a ‘sanyas’ from politics. With election at the doorsteps he seems to be waking up from hibernation and has made his intention clear of contesting against his bête noire Churchill Alemao. The third person in the fray is supposed to be Avertano Furtado – a close ally of Faleiro and a former goalkeeper of Churchill Brothers. Therefore an interesting triangular match to represent Navelim constituency is on the cards between a football team owner, a former footballer and a smooth operator.

Of course with the victory of Churchill Alemao over Luizinho Faleiro at the lasting hustings constituents of the old Navelim constituency comprising of villages of Varca, Orlim, Carmona, Cavelossim and Navelim had actually jumped from the frying pan to the fire. At the same time anti-incumbency had played a major role in dethroning Faleiro. For a long time, leaders were not forthcoming to contest against him till Churchill came along and changed the tide. So much so that even the BJP which has a vote bank of close to 4500 transferred their votes to him by not fielding a candidate against him. Churchill victory margin was over 4500. Which indicated that Navelim constituents needed a change, unfortunately the change did not bring about any constructive development in the constituency. During the erstwhile Luizinho Faleiro’s reign the main state highways in the constituency would get a fresh coat of premix carpet every five years, which we have not seen during the current five years rule. Of course Churchill has installed reflectors on the either sides of the road throughout his constituency at huge costs. Its golden glow infuses life even in the most tired motorist, but then gold is known to do that to people and whose knows it better then Varca strong man. Another of his achievement is to allow electrification of ornamental street lights installed during the fag end of Luizinho’s term and that too on his birthday. Initially for almost two years Churchill tried to block electrification of these lights questioning, who would pay the bill. Surely it would not come from his pocket as the tax payer would be made to foot it anyway. Of course he can be credited of building a bridge between Varca and Telaulim.

Besides fulfilling this aspect on his election manifesto, Churchill Alemao has done a volte facie on Mopa airport, six laning of national highway, solving the problems between tourist taxi drivers and tour operators. Infact Navelim MLA has inflicted more harm by distancing his voters from himself by blatantly supporting builders and developers against the wishes of his constituents.
Coming to Luizinho Faleiro he seems to have used the last five years not to lick his wounds, but to build a strong rapport with the bigwigs in the Congress at the centre. To add to that he let the Navelim constituents decide for themselves the difference between his reign and Churchill’s rule by maintaining a distance. Of course his hand in backroom politics could be seen when former Tourism minister and Benaulim NCP MLA, Mickky Pacheco filed a disqualification petition before the Speaker, which is yet to be decided. That Pacheco tried to withdraw it is a different matter. Then there are rumours that Faleiro played a major role in sticking to the decision of FAME (Foundation for Advanced Management of Elections) disqualifying Valanka Alemao as a candidate for the post of Youth Congress president. Ofcourse in no way Valanka can be considered as a role model for the youth of Goa as there are too many controversies dogging her popularity. Nonetheless, in no way am I of the opinion that Faleiro is a paradigm of virtues. But can politicians ever be?

That leaves the constituents of Navelim with a fresh face and a green horn in politics Avertano Furtado. This probable candidate can match Churchill Alemao with muscle power because of his security business. It would be not out of place to remind the voters that Avertano had provided muscle flexing, armed bouncers for an Education Fest organized by the government in Varca in 2005 during Luizinho’s tenure as Education minister. If having money and muscle power to contest assembly election as the only criteria then Furtado qualifies for it.

Basically Avertano is a shy person who is not very interactive. A person whose oratory skills are yet to known as he has not addressed any public meetings. As elections nears Churchill and Luizinho will start playing their stuck-record of development and their vision, but voters are yet to know what Avertano has to offer. It seems that he held back from openly endorsing his candidature as his close friend Luizinho Faleiro did not give the go-ahead. A leader should have self confidence and conviction to bring about a change but if godfathers are sought then the person shows the qualities of opporturnism. Avertano is also a parent of an unaided school in Margao wherein the management has violated Goa School Education Act and Rules. Parents have raised a banner of protest and even approached the High Court however Avertano has not even lent support to the parents lest voiced his opinion about commercialization of Education. So far he has acted as a silent spectator. People need leaders who will take genuine issues and debate it in Legislative Assembly in a bid to alleviate grievances of the people and stamp, endorse and enforce the law of the land and not be a mere onlooker.

We need to elect candidates who have the courage to fight the existing corruption and communalism. We need candidates who will face the tide instead of flow with it and we need legislators who are willing to undo the mess we are currently in. The constituents of Navelim should decide who among these three have the qualities and will abide by it.

Send your comments/reactions to nisserdias@gmail.com Or SMS 9422437029)
(Nisser Dias writes a regular column in GT every Thursday).
For Goa News Log on to WWW.nizgoenkar.net

ANNA HAZARE & ANTI-CORRUPTION.

The great patriot and architect of Indian Constitution Dr Ambedcar once said when he could not bear the humiliation directed against his law caste people, “IF THERE IS A CLASH BETWEEN MY PEOPLE ON ONE SIDE AND MY COUNTRY BHARAT ON THE OTHER SIDE, I WILL SUPORT MY PEOPLE AND OPPOSE MY BHARAT”.

On the basis of this statement I say “If there is a clash between India on one side and fight against corruption on the other side, I will oppose India but fight against corruption in India”

The value of independence is become a big joke in India in the midst of all round corruption and the benefits of independence and liberation are better enjoyed by those who are in the promotion of corruption supported by Congressmen and Congress Government. For this reason during the last half a century Congress has kept the Lokpal Bill in Cold Storage. Thanks to Anna Hazare, Lokpal Bill otherwise would have gone into extinction.

The Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh is a toothless tiger, he does not show the qualities normally inherited in Sardars. He is a coward, just a mouthpiece of rogue Congressmen. If he is brave like a real Sardarji he would include his office too in the purview of Lokpal Bill along with persons of higher judiciary. In case his wishes are not acceded, he would have thrown his resignation on the face of Sonia Gandhi and come out of the rot that India is now undergoing. Having such a weak premier is not only a shame on all Indians but more on the Sikh community which is normally considered as bold and daring citizens of India.

By piloting this movement against corruption, Anna Hazare is become the mouthpiece of every Indian who is opposing corruption. Anna Hazare is not for himself only but he is for all Indians who are thinking to fight against corruption. I am also thinking to fight against corruption but not in a position as Anna is and precisely because of this I strongly support Anna’s campaign. What I cannot do Anna does and as such he deserves my support to clean India of the rot of corruption accumulated all over India. Likewise is the wish of all Indians for this reason the entire India stood by Anna Hazare as one unit.

After Gandhiji, no Indian leader received such a tumultuous support as Anna Hazare received. In view of this I can rightly say it is a movement for second independence for India. Because of corruption, Indians have lost their taste in independence, freedom for India is become meaningless and it looks like a joke. People in power alone enjoying thru corrupt practices benefits of freedom and independence. Thru their massive support to Anna’s movement against corruption, people in India and Indians abroad declared that “Anna Hazare is also our voice and as such Government of India must pay heed to this voice”.

By acceding to the voice of the people thru Anna’s movement, Government of India will not show the sign of weakness, on the contrary Government of India will show it boldness by acceding to the demands of Anna. If the government of India is the government of the people, for the people and by the people, then government of India must show courage and give in to the demands of Anna Hazare.

Every person involved in this movement is a true Indian and that it is so, he carries Indian and not Pakistani or Chinese Flags in the demonstrations showing his patriotism towards India. In view of this they cannot be called anti-Indians as Indira Gandhi falsely called her Emergency opponents.

To make this movement still powerful, the celebrities from the Film Industry and Cricketing world if they are interested in the good of their country should also lend their all round support to Anna Hazare’s anti corruption movement. Where are the Gavaskars, Tendukars, Dhonis, Kapildevs and others gone now? They have no power to think what is right and what is wrong? It is not enough to show their patriotism to India from Cricket field, they must also show their patriotism by opposing antipatriotic activities going on in India thru corruption promoted by the Congress Government.

The end of America’s involvement in Vietnam War was hastily brought by the anti- Vietnam war crusade carried on by the Heavyweight World Champion Boxer Muhammed Ali.

The end of dictatorship in Brazil brought hastily by the campaign of Brazilian soccer team captain Socrates when he carried a strong campaign from the soccer field for Democracy in Brazil.

Where are the Bollywood artistes gone now? Do Amitabh Bacchan like corruption? What about Sharuk Khan and others who on the screen show that they are for corruption free India? Their silence now at this moment is unwarranted. IF THEY ARE PATRIOTIC Indians then they must fight anti patriotic corruption system prevalent in India.

Finally it is a time now for all the to retired persons no only from Police Department but also from Army, Navy and Air force to come of their seclusion and openly declare their support for Ana’s campaign. Kiran Bedi has done wonderful job by actively and openly showing her support to Anna. We need more Kiran Bedis now to awaken the entire India to make India corruption free. Where is our friend Julio Ribeiro gone now?

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.