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The Changing
faces of Goa
Alda Figueiredo ~ A
discontented daughter of Goa
Posted on Goanet | Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:58:03 -0700
Dear Readers,
I am sending this article to all Goans living abroad
to make them aware what is happening in Goa today.
If anyone who have had similar experiences as I have
had should write to the authorities concened and may
be something will be done to improve the present
situation in Goa.
A discontented daughter of Goa
The Changing Face of Goa
I am a proud Goan by birth, living abroad for the
past 48 years. I love my motherland and visit every
year religiously, spending on average three months a
year. I have many relatives and friends in this
beautiful place. During my youth (all of it spent
here in Goa) I came to see Goans as sincere and
God-fearing individuals. This was my real
experience. This image has now become rather
distorted and I feel that each year I return Goa is
getting from bad to worse. Once upon a time, Goa was
considered to be so safe that people would sleep at
night with doors and windows open. But not today,
our houses are like oppressive cages, where
burglaries still occur, often taking place in broad
daylight.
Every year people from abroad experience some very
upsetting situations in Goa. I address in this
letter some of these issues. I believe, the major
reasons for these difficulties are the greed,
exploitation, incompetence and corruption from the
authorities, including politicians, government
officials, ministers, lawyers, the corrupt police,
bank officials, hoteliers, and taxi-drivers. Even
the lowest wage earner like messengers will demand
bribes to perform a simple task for which they are
already paid.
In the past I have written articles to three main
newspapers about these grievances, but to my
knowledge none were published. This year I have been
living in Goa for a longer period of five months and
have been following very carefully the interesting
newspaper articles written by individuals on various
themes about Goa. I feel very much grieved and ask
why our beloved country is made to look like a
scapegoat. In the past many foreigners were killed
in Goa, but none of the deaths were scrutinised and
every time their families were made to believe that
the cause of death was a suspected drug overdose.
The case of British teenager Scarlett Keeling’s rape
and murder has highlighted the hidden evil of the
drug mafia which has been going on for years
unnoticed under the protection of the corrupt police
officers and the politicians. Yet the Government of
Goa continues to fail to recognise these
shortcomings, thus causing an embarrassing situation
for the country abroad and nationally.
To illustrate my point, I recount just a few tales
of my own experiences. In Nov 2002 I booked a guest
house for my family of six for two weeks and paid a
deposit a year in advance. The following November I
visited the owner of the guest house to confirm the
reservation. I was reassured that all was well. A
week before my family’s arrival I received a
telephone call from the owner of the guest house
that the booking I made last year was now not
available, as he had found a larger family looking
for an accommodation for three weeks (who obviously
were paying more). To my dismay, the owner refused
to refund my deposit. Being the Christmas season, I
had to pay an exorbitant amount to find an
alternative accommodation at such a short notice.
Sadly, the sorry tale does not end there. I made new
arrangements with the Manager of a reputable holiday
resort and paid a large deposit in the presence of a
witness I had taken with me at the time. When my
family arrived I was astonished to hear the remarks
made by the staff of the hotel. The booking clerk
asked me to speak in Konkani because there were
white members in the group. He stated that the
original offer had to be re-negotiated because of
the white members. I was flabbergasted that such a
racist attitude could happen here in Goa. To this I
replied the so called ‘white’ members were part of
my family and I refused to speak in Konkani. The
Manager of the hotel later apologised for this act
of ignorance. It appears that some of our Goans do
not know the meaning of integrity and manners.
I have been a resident in the UK for the past 37
years. There are approximately 53,000 ex-pat Goans
settled permanently and happily in the UK enjoying a
level of security that our legitimate Goans lack in
their own motherland. How sad this is for me. In the
UK, we UK Goans can buy and sell homes just like any
citizen of the country without any restrictions. We
can buy properties abroad in Europe without fear of
it being confiscated or being made to feel
unwelcome. I love Goa and despite the obstacles I
have endured I will continue to visit my motherland
to live in hope that the wonderful image of Goa that
existed before will be restored to its glory.
Surprisingly, there has been a lot of publicity that
foreigners are banned in purchasing properties in
Goa. Some of the foreigners I have spoken to were
very distressed about this sudden change in the law.
Particularly, the pensioners who have invested their
hard-earned retirement benefits into buying a
holiday home in Goa. This is because they liked the
place and the people. Moreover, a few years ago
buying the property in Goa was so easy and tempting
– houses were available on the internet to anyone
who wished to purchase and a lot of people showed
interest and bought the properties. Therefore, in my
opinion, those who have already purchased the
properties should not be affected and be allowed to
live happily in Goa, just like we Goans live in the
United Kingdom and other foreign countries.
Nevertheless, it is necessary for the benefit of the
country to amend the law in the future. Goa is a
small state with a population of approximately 14
lakhs and the area is about 3,700 square kilometres.
But those who are already there should have equal
rights to live in the country, because they have
legally bought their properties according to the
existing law of that period. Retrospective changes
in the law seem to be a form of legitimising theft.
What is happening in Goa now is a similar story to
that of Idi Amin and what he did to Ugandan Asians.
This brings back for me the bitter memories of 1972,
when Ugandan Asians were deported by Idi Amin of
Uganda. I was one of them. These poor unfortunate
people were given three months’ notice to evacuate
the country. They left behind all their possessions,
homes, their life savings and flee to whoever gave
them sanctuary. The British Government took 80,000
Uganda Asians from Uganda. These Asians have repaid
that kindness and have created prosperity and wealth
in the UK. We are eternally grateful to the United
Kingdom. On the other hand, after more than three
decades the poor Ugandans are still suffering the
economic damage done to the country by Idi Amin’s
Government. Let’s take this example and treat people
as you would like to be treated.
In January 2007, I flew to Goa to take stock of my
brother’s desperate life. He was terrorised,
stripped of his possessions, made homeless and
penniless. My sixty year old brother is a retired
Government servant with 33 years of service. In
April 2005 he opened the account with the State Bank
of India, (SBI) Margao in order to receive his
gratuity. Within six months from opening the account
his total amount exceeding Rupees 5 lakhs was
swindled by someone in collaboration with the staff
of the SBI Margao. On the 20 February 2007 a
complaint was lodged with the Police of Margao and
Colva. I spent two months investigating the case
with my brother’s lawyer. The ex-managers of SBI
Margao, Panjim and the police have been unhelpful,
un-cooperative and conveniently wash their hands to
pervert the course of justice. This is another sad
tale of my recent experiences in Goa.
In January 2008 I went back again to Goa to
investigate the case further. The SBI and the Police
are still prolonging the case without any fruitful
resolution. My unfortunate brother continues to
suffer financially, emotionally and is now
undergoing physical ailments due to stress. He
cannot afford to pay for medical treatment. This is
true injustice done to an innocent victim. In Goa
the culprits prosper and the innocent victims
undergo unnecessary sufferings without any mercy and
justice. If people in India really want the country
to become a major commercial power then they had
better recognise foreign investors will want to know
that India is a place where contracts are honoured
and the rule of law upheld.
Last year I encountered another shocking incident as
a result of simple mutation work on the property I
purchased thirty-seven years ago. After my interview
with the Mamlatdar I had to prepare a deed of
declaration/rectification with the help of the
lawyer. Therefore I consulted a lawyer who advised
me that the mutation can be done quickly if I pay
the sum of Rps 10,000. Since I did not know the fee
for mutation work I agreed to pay the sum, but
insisted that I would like the receipt for it. At
that point the lawyer looked at me rather
surprisingly and said that no receipt will be given
and he will not accept the cheque. I was rather
perplexed and asked him why, as I do not have cash
on me. He then made a gesture with his fingers to
make me understand that the money is required for a
‘bribe’. I handed over Rps 3000 as an advance and
the remaining sum to be paid when the work is
complete. I visited him several times to find out
the progress of the work and every time I was asked
to come back next week.
Unfortunately, it was time for me to return back to
the UK. I left my certified documents of the deeds
with him and instructed him to get in touch with the
person to whom I have given my power of Attorney for
the mutation work. Nothing happened for another four
months. I returned to Goa in January this year and
visited him at the beginning of February to find out
why he was prolonging the case. As usual, I was
asked to come next week and the lame excuse was that
the Talhati who is dealing with the case is
unavailable. I made eight visits in the short space
of two and half months. I was so exasperated to get
back my certified documents from him. I asked him to
give me the name of the Talhati so that I can see
him personally. His answer was that he could not
reveal his name. I visited the Mamlatdar office to
find out whether the mutation case has been
registered, but they could not help me without the
copy of the application. I then asked him to give me
the copy of the application he submitted for
mutation. At this juncture he threatened to call the
police, as I was giving him hassle. He reiterated
that he would not entertain harassment from
foreigners. I asked him if he treats all foreigners
in this manner. For his information I am a Goan born
in Goa, but residing abroad.
Since I was running out of time I asked my brother
to intervene. He told him that the documents are
lost and he returned the advance. I can only say
this was a farce to save his glory. He wasted seven
months of my valuable time, energy and cost of two
visits to Goa from the UK. I did not expect a lawyer
to be so corrupt and devious. Now I understand why
the Goan media is repeatedly condemning lawyers as
cheats, who do illegal deals, fleece people and
cheat them. Lawyers deliberately prolong cases for
their monetary benefits and nothing is done in the
interest of the client. If you cannot trust a lawyer
and police, whom can you trust in Goa? It appears
that Goa has become a lawless State, where law is
rarely enforced and hence some people feel free to
behave as they want, without the fear of being
punished. It is a fact that people in Goa do not
trust policemen because they believe that policemen
will do nothing if they are bribed by the culprit.
Today Goa is leading the way in corruption and poor
governance. The reason for this malaise is that the
self-serving and greedy politicians, bank officials,
lawyers, hotel owners, corrupt police and other
bureaucrats will do anything to stay in power and
help themselves rather than help the poor and the
needy. No change can come unless the citizens of Goa
themselves refuse to bribe, ostracize the criminals
from their social circles and most importantly do
away from their own criminality and dishonesty.
Goans must all join hands together and show
solidarity to preserve and nurture their beautiful
land from disharmony, promiscuity, corruption,
abductions, drug mafia, injustice, rapes, murders
and the ugly incidents on our beautiful beaches.
There is so much hidden evil in Goa and it is time
for the people of Goa to wake up and take the matter
into their hands in order to prevent further damage
to India’s little jewel.
I congratulate my village of Carmona and Carmoncars
for their brave united front to protect their
beautiful village from the episode of land sharks
trying to build monstrous buildings without giving
due consideration to the lives of the villagers.
Let’s hope that many more villages will follow the
example of Carmona and save their villages of
becoming extinct or concrete jungles with huge
building projects. It is of paramount importance
that the people of Goa must protect the limited
resources, the pristine beauty and the
socio-cultural identity of the people. For the sake
of tourism Goa should not be turned into another
Western tourist resort – over developed and full of
ugly social problems. Its heritage must be kept
intact for the future generations. The successive
Governments will come and go, but the villagers are
the backbone of the country. They will either
benefit or suffer the consequences as a result of
the actions taken by Governments in power.
A discontented daughter of Goa |
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Keep kids
moving
http://www.bramptonguardian.com/print/807964
April 30, 2010
The 2010 report card from Active Healthy Kids
Canada, released Tuesday, reveals we are raising a
baby nation of couch potatoes. The findings were
part of the group’s sixth annual report card, which
draws on a range of data and is produced in
partnership with the Children’s Hospital of Eastern
Ontario.
According to the report, less than half the children
between ages one and five are getting the necessary
two hours of exercise they need each day for healthy
growth and development. This lack of exercise, be it
time spent in the playground or running around the
backyard, is putting youngsters at risk for obesity
and other health problems before they’ve completed
kindergarten.
“Active play (is) not frivolous,” says Mark
Tremblay, chief scientific officer for the
organization. “Kids have a biological need to move.”
But, according to the study, our modern lifestyles
are conditioning kids out of their instinct to move
around. Strapped into strollers or car seats, kids
today are not getting the exercise previous
generations did. Perhaps the most concerning aspect
of the study is the amount of time we allow our kids
to watch TV. In 1971, the average age kids started
watching television was 4; today it’s five months.
Failure to reverse this trend today will only lead
to bigger problems— both literally and figuratively—
down the road.
http://www.bramptonguardian.com/print/807964
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