HAPLESS CITIZENS
Colin Sequeira, Margao.

“CAN LAW MAKERS be law breakers?” This was the topic of a talk given by an eminent speaker at a recently held function at Margao. The Government of Goa seems to have answered that question which is aptly illustrated when you see the construction of IFFI-related infrastructure in front of the Old Secretariat Building at Panjim being carried out by the GSIDC.

A visit to the site shows that the Government has reclaimed about 12 to 13 metres of the Mandovi River in order to widen the existing road. Concrete is being poured directly on the filled up mud in order to support the girders and superstructure. This is in blatant violation of the CRZ clearance given by the Goa Coastal Zone Regulation and Management Authority, which stipulates that the super structure be supported on pile foundations without filling or reclamation of the river. It is also in contradiction of the EIA report of the NIO which was based on this construction method.

It is observed that extensive reclamation has also taken place at the new Patto Bridge site as well as in front of the old Goa Medical College and Panjim market. It seems that the law makers (the Government in this particular case) are flouting all the regulations which they are supposed to enforce while the GCZMA, the Director of Science and Environment and the NIO which has prepared the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) are looking the other way.

Can the citizen at least expect action from the judiciary or is there no hope? When all Law Enforcing Authorities connive to subvert the law, who do citizens turn to?

ROGUES GALLERY
A.S. Prabhu, Moira.

THE POINGUINIM bye-elections slated for October 13 is an acid test and will bring to the fore the real face of Goan politics.

Goan politicians have fought several elections and a lot of hanky panky has taken place during the past 40 years. But never were they fought in such an organised manner as done by Isidore Fernandes. In the past there was lot of floor crossings, defections, back stabbing and back biting, etc., etc.. But no candidate has ever set a trend of resigning his seat and contesting afresh. There is lot of loose talk that a lot of money has changed hands but those who level these accusations have no right because these very same people had adopted the same ’modus operandi’ in the past to lure candidates from opposite camps and defect to sustain governments. There are so many cases under anti-defection law pending which may not come to finality and die a premature death.

People who have resorted to all unethical modes to run governments cannot talk of ‘ethics,’ much less the GPCC President Luizinho Faleiro and his accomplices. He is now accusing Manohar Parrikar of engineering the present episode. Whatever may be the merits or demerits of the case, Isidore Fernandes has set an example by resigning and contesting again. No politician in Goa, or for that matter in the whole of India, is wedded to ethics, and they cannot point an accusing finger at others. Those who stay in glass houses should not throw stones.

Was it not Luizinho Faleiro who was instrumental in ushering the BJP rule in Goa? Is Francisco Sardinha not guilty of supporting Manohar Parrikar for the sake of the coveted chair? Has not the Congress indulged in blatant corruption to the extent of selling government land to industrialists at exorbitant cost? Where has the huge wealth come from for some of them who could hardly afford a normal life? I have challenged them in the past and now once again challenge then to come to an open platform and swear that they do not have ill gotten wealth. On my part I will tender an unqualified or unconditional apology at the same platform if they do it.

The Goan electorate has matured and will not take things lying down. They are watching the developments. Isidore Fernandes has only followed in the footsteps of the past scoundrels. Congress should not shed crocodile tears now. It is the normal course through which Goa politics should pass. As you sow so shall you reap? Soglech chor - all are rogues!

BRAVO INDIES
Jerry Fernandes, Vanxim.

THEREE CHEERS to the West Indies team for craving out a most memorable two wicket win over England in the final of the ICC Champions in England . Ian Bradshaw and Courtney Browne names will be written in gold in the annals of cricket of West Indies for a long time to come as both these players put up a record unbeaten ninth wicket partnership of 71 runs to stun the host country England. What an effort! What determination! I always admire the West Indies team for their gentlemanly behaviour. Always respecting the umpire’s decision even when it goes against them. Such a team deserves this win. They should cherish it for a long time.

In this connection, all India Radio should be complimented for broadcasting the running commentary of the match even though India was not featuring in the finals. However, the commentators, specially the English commentator Prakash’s act of predicting the result of the match was not in a good taste. Umpteen times like a ‘philosopher’ he aired his views after West Indies were reduced to 147 for eight that England has already won the match and their captain has placed one hand and 4 fingers of the other hand on the trophy. Even when the West Indies were on 190 for 8 and when the Hindi commentator Bennergi asked him about the outcome of the match, Prakash was still adamant that England was winning without battling his eyelid.

Only when the West Indians crossed the 200 run mark he changed his stand saying “cricket is the game of glorious uncertainty and no one can say which team will win unless the last ball in bowled”. If he knew this why was he predicting like a fortune teller the result of the match before hand? Finally he had to eat his words when West Indies won the match with 7 balls to spare by 2 wickets.

I remember some years back in the Natwest Trophy it was the same story. When India lost some quick wickets and their target was 300 plus runs, the then commentators had concluded that India had lost the game and it was all over for them. But all knew afterwards that Yuvraj and Kaif had played the innings of their lives and bailed out India with what we considered as the most historic win.

So if these commentators predict the result before hand and if the result is contrary to what they say, then what can we as listeners expect from them? I do not say that commentators should not air their views on which team is winning or in a better position to win. Predicting the result at one time is fine but to repeat it again and again and that too contrary to the trend, then it is really in bad taste. Are the commentators listening?”

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