GREATNESS OF PORTUGUESE CULTURE.

It is said, Goans are by nature mild and soft people.  This is partly because of the long term influence of Portuguese rule in Goa for 451 years since Portuguese culture is mild,  soft and decent.   Even the top dignitaries coming to Goa from Portugal, given an opportunity to integrate with the local commoners, would create a very good impact of themselves.  Most of them proved to be humble just as I indicate below.

It was in 1958 when I was a student of Portuguese school in Candolim,  suddenly at 8.00 AM returning from Aguada, the Goa Governador Vassalo e Silva, appeared at the door of our class and wishing us “Bom Dia”, slowly  walked smilingly to the Platfrom where our Professor Oliveira was seated.  Then turning towards me, a skinny ugly looking shabbily dressed boy,  seated on the first bench,  asked in Portuguese “Do you have a Bag?”  Seeing him talking to me, a commoner,  thus, the Governador of Goa, I became nervous. Noticing my nervousness, he felt pity on me and humbly put his hand in my desk like a commoner and when he found the desk empty, he realized my proletarian background and humbly presented me one Bag.  During this whole episode, I found him a very simple, humble and a kind hearted man without any pride normally associated with  our disgraceful politicians.

Somewhere in 1959 during his visit to Portugal, Pe. Chico Monteiro from Candolim met Salazar in his office and while returning, Pe. Chico  forgot his Hat on Salazar’s table. After a few seconds walk, Pe. Chico heard calling him from behind thus, “Senhor Pardre – Senhor Pardre, Seu Chapeu !!”. Turning his back, Pe. Chico noticed Salazar personally coming running, putting the security men into disarray, to return the Hat instead of sending it thru his Peon.  This is yet another sign of simplicity of Portuguese culture shown by the Portuguese Dictator. Such simplicity and humility are not existing in our land because our politicians are barbarians.

The same type of simplicity and humility  I noticed in Portuguese Premier during his recent reception at Bambolim Hayat Hotel, on 12th of this month where I was one of the official invitee. During his interaction with the attendees, I found the Portuguese Premier Antonio Costa totally a simple and humble man, accessible to anyone without any pride normally associated even with our ordinary Panchayat member.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

AN OPEN PLEA TO SAXTTIKARS.

The contribution of our Saxttikars in the protection of Goa and Goanness was immense.  From the time of freedom movement for Goa, the tallest Goan Feedom Fighters were from  Salcette and moreover they were not communal, they involved in freedom movement to protect Goa as it was with all the characteristics intact without liquidating anything nor merging Goa with  Maharastra  with Marathi as official language.  The degree of patriotism of Saxttikars towards Goa, as seen, was high.  

After the invasion of Goa by Bharat under the leadership of Nehru on 19.12.1961 without the consent of Goans, the entire Salcette stood firmly behind the protection of Goa.  The victory for Goans in the Opinion Poll was entirely due to the Salcette voters.  The Konkani language movement got success mainly because of Saxttikars where our Ilhaskar brothers also suffered martyrdom  leading to the granting of Statehood on Goa.

Saxttikars are known to be the strong followers of democratic norms.  Following this principle they must now vote for the right candidates who will not align with any communal party especially the BJP or MGP to form the next government.  In the past the Saxttikars, most of the time did vote for the right candidates.  Now the Saxttikars will have to be extra cautious to elect the right candidates in the midst of most of the corrupt candidates contesting the next election from Salcette. Currently some of the candidates who merged with the ruling party BJP when they were not mandated by the voters to do the same, have done great injustice and betrayal to the voters. These candidates should be voted out in the coming election along with the habitual defectors known to be corrupt.

There are some candidates in Salcette who are contesting as Independents like Avertano Furtado but once elected they will jump into the ruling party for the receipt of the ministerial berths or any financial gains.  By doing this they are committing a breach of trust posed in them by the voters who elected them as Independents to occupy their Seats in the Assembly as Independents only and not as  "Baddeache Boil" in any party. In the last election the Independents were not given the mandate to sleep on the same bed with the BJP and commit adultery. This time Saxtikars must prevent these Independents acting like Prostitutes because during the last decade there are more political prostitutes in Salcette than anywhere in Goa.   Voters must ask from these Independents publicly that they will remain as Independents only as per the wishes of the Voters. 

A.Veronica Fernandes.

                                                           

ALLIANCE OF CONG. & GFP NEEDED TO OUST BJP.

Non-BJP government our 2017 goal: GFP

GFP has been talking of alliance with the Congress party right from day one and we have no intention to break the alliance if it works to install a non-BJP government in Goa. If not, we are prepared to sit in opposition for Goa, Goemkar and Goemkarponn. The alliance partner should be equally serious to form the government.

Give Goa Forward five seats ------ Velim, Fatorda, Siolim, Saligao and Mapusa and we guarantee five MLAs to the alliance to form the next non-BJP government. The field reality and our foot soldiers will ensure 100 per cent strike rate. Goa Forward Party can also wrest Navelim for the alliance but when the President of the Congress wants it, etiquette demands that we simply shut our shop and seal our mouth.

Prabhakar Timble
President
Goa Forward Party