TOURIST UNFRIENDLY GOA.

 

 

 

In a shocking incident today 18^th February 2015,  two Shacks, on Lucky 7 and the other Paradise,  at Candolim Beach were demolished at about 2.00 pm by the demolishing squad from Tourism Department in co-operation with the local Police squad.  After completing the demolition, the local MLA Michael Lobo reached on the scene and stopped further demolition by intervening directly into this matter.

According to the demolition squad, the demolished Shacks are unlicensed ones but according to the Shack owners they already have licenses to run their Shacks and they even paid the license fees for three years.  In view of this the government should have refrained from touching these Shacks.

One of the demolished Shacks

 

Both the owners of these demolished Shacks are Goans and they are totally dejected the way the demolishing squads have ruthlessly did this operation in an inhuman manner with lightning speed.  Good that Michael Lobo reached on the scene in time otherwise with the same excuse some more Shacks  would have been demolished. If these Shacks are illegal, the action should have been taken in the beginning only.  Besides, advance notice for this demolition was imperative and not suddenly appearing on the scene  

 

Another demolished Shack in total disorder

 

The European guests enjoying their food in these Shacks had to be evacuated and they were very much angry to see this type of harassment for the tourists.  Some of them have already declared their intention never to come back again to Goa where they say the government is Tourists Unfriendly.  Some of them have even vowed to spread the news of harassment for tourists to other Western tourists thru their network.

Seen how the Poles are cut to demolish Shacks

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel:7507394349.

VALENTINE’S DAY WITH NATURE AT BIG FOOT

VALENTINE’S DAY WITH  NATURE  AT BIG FOOT

Balloons and red merchandise crowd shop windows, beckoning the viewer to a Valentine’s feast, we forward text messages, exchange gifts, plan elaborate and unforgettable dates. Amidst all this fanfare, we tend to forget Mother Nature; she who surrounds us, constantly giving us her love. ‘Nature our Valentine’ was the theme for the day at the Spice Yard at Ancestral Goa, Big Foot in Lotoulim where Valentine’s Day was celebrated with a twist. On display were different plants and trees along with their medicinal values. Guests were asked to tie ribbons around trees to establish their love for nature. The ribbons signified the symbiotic bond that humankind shares with nature. Jc. Ram Kumar Menon, Executive Vice President for Zone XI Comprising Goa and Part of Maharashtra, Mr. Mohan Sathe Zone President Zone XI and Mrs Patricia Mendonca Secretary of JCI Salcete Coastal and Members of JCI Salcete Coastal who visited Ancestral Goa also took part in the celebration, he said that this drive was an innovative and motivating way to promote such a noble cause.

Ancestral Goa
Big Foot - Loutolim
www.ancestralgoa.com

 

CENSORSHIP ON TIATRO AND TIATRISTS.

In the most strongest terms I condemn the move of Goa government to re-impose Salazarist censorship on Tiatros and Tiatrists’ songs in Goa.  Though Portuguez rule ended from Goa almost 55 years back and brought democratic government in Goa to give right to every Goan to express himself freely yet the current BJP government in Goa thinking to curtail this freedom by introducing Censorship on Tiatros. Though during the Portuguese time Censorship was existing yet there was lot of freedom  for Tiatrists to express their views freely and they did express their views very freely on many topics except they had to control their tongues when airing their views on the topic on freedom for Goa.  Otherwise many times Tiatrists expressed their views against malfunctioning of government machinery and government departments. To oversee the conduct of the Tiatrists on this subject the Village Regidor, a Goan, was to remain present to see the Tiatro to note any infringement. 

If it was not for this freedom of expression for Tiatrists,  they would not have heavily criticized from the Stage the Bamonn Bhattkarshai that was heavily leaning towards colonial regime as they alone enjoyed better dividends from the Portuguese regime in Goa. Portuguese government has given all the freedom for Tiatrists in Goa except to talk ill of the regime.  And by the way during those days every department of Goa government was functioning well leaving no room for corruption and giving no chance for Tiatrists to criticize the government.

The first Chief Minister of Goa Dayananda Bandodcar who was the strong anti-Goan Portuguese supporter had the guts  of introducing Salazarist censorship in late sixties on Goan Tiatro as a means of revenge against the late Nelson Afonso who scripted a new Tiatro “BONDOLCAR” a satirical criticsm of Bandodcar’s anti-Goan rule in Goa.  Before releasing this Tiatro, government authority in Goa stopped Nelson from staging it in this name as it looked defaming Bandodcar. Then Nelson changed its title to “BONDOLIST” and released it and staged it all over Goa. In this Tiaitro Nelson tears Bandodcar into pieces and because of his anger on Nelson, Bandodcar introduced Censorship on Tiatro in Goa.   The direct victim of this cruel censorship was the Trio of Nelson where all their Trio songs were stopped by the Censor Board during that particular period.  But as a matter of solidarity the entire Tiatrist fraternity stood behind Nelson.  There was an uproar in the Goa Assembly by the UG members and everywhere in Goa.   

Then Bandodcar realized his mistake and lifted the Censorship and as a punishment for Nelson Afonso, Bandodcar introduced Entertainment Tax on Tiatro because of which the Ticket  Rate was enhanced but Tiatro goers accepted this without grumblings. Gradually to woo Nelson towards him, Bandodcar removed this Tax from Nelson’s new Tiatro “O DOLOROSA”. Yet Nelson never changed his stand on Bandodcar for his anti-Goan policy till Bandodcar’s death.  Interestingly, after his death, Nelson composed a very good song which was beautifully  rendered by his Trio in praise of Bandodcar as a human being and not as a politician.      This song  started  with  a   saying  “MELOLLEA MUNXEACHEM VAITT ULOINAE”.

Now, the latest news of introducing Censorship on Tiatro is very disturbing but Tiatrists  at this hour must remain firmly united to oppose this Censorship, if required they must be ready to knock at the door of the highest judiciary in India.  This move of Goa government is a sign of weakness and defeatism.  It also indicates the mighty power of Tiatros and the influence Tiatrists wield.  Goa government will surely condescend and accept its folly because Censorship on Tiatros will never materialize. 

Meatime, Tiatrists must campaign hard against this move of government, if necessary by calling public meetings and rallies to awaken the whole Goa on this issue.  And they must know that in this hour of crisis,  Tiatro lovers like me are with them in solidarity. This is a plan of BJP to harass Christians in Goa by  imposing censorship on their cultural programme.  MLA's Caitu and Mickey  must be told in strongest terms that the next election is approaching very fast and they will have to answer to the public why they supported this Censorship while other Christian MLA's for their silence on this move will have to pay a very heavy price.

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim,  Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.