FIRST it was Churchill Alemao supporting mega builders at Carmona and now it is Mauvin Godinho supporting a mega project at Cansaulim. Both these politicians are working against the interests of the very people who elected them into power. Both have been using their political clout and muscle power to intimidate citizens who object to their kind of “development”…and their motives are obvious! Politicians are an ungrateful lot and will take on locals to give their blessings to any illegality that will benefit them. They are backstabbing their voters at every opportunity. Now it looks like Goan votes don’t count for much as their chieftain Ali Baba has already announced that he doesn’t need Goan votes.

THE once beautiful Bougainville Garden (maintained by the Forest Department?) near the O’Coqueiro Circle, adjacent to CHOGM Road, is fast disappearing! There is virtually no trace of the garden left now. This stretch of the famed CHOGM Road is used by hundreds of people every day. It is surprising that a garden can disappear day by day and in its stead business activities like a steel and building materials stock-yard, parking of vehicles, and so on flourish. Soon we may see a mini steel unit takeover here.

Recently, it was reported that MP’s have demanded a hike in their pay packet and this is under active consideration by a committee. The demand is for an increase of almost 500% of the present packet! This, in addition to their existing perks and free benefits such as travel, phone, and accommodation, etc. It’s an endless list and will continue to be endless.

A TOURISM business portal, TripAdvisor which some days back listed Goa as India’s top favourite for vacationing families, has now tagged Goa as the second most unsafe destination in India after Delhi. What a humiliation to Goans that even crime infested places like Patna and Noida are rated as more safe. Goa did hit international headlines after British teenager Scarlet Keeling was found dead on the Anjuna shore in 2008. Some warped media coverage has dogged Goa after a few highly publicised cases of rape and deaths involving foreigners.

NAGUESH KARMALI’S senseless and biased tirade against Portuguese rule has become a yearly affair now. I have the highest respect for this great son of Goa, but these comments are totally uncalled for. What good would it now serve for Portuguese nameplates to be removed? Is it more important than providing basic necessities like water and electricity to Goans? Where were Naguesh Karmali and other freedom fighters when Goa needed them to agitate against the Regional Plan? Where were the freedom fighters when Goa needed them for anti SEZ, anti mining and anti mega project agitations?

All the buildings that are built are not according to the approved plan; one sees practically no space around each and every building. Some of the buildings are actually supposed to be renovations of old buildings, according to the Mapusa municipality, but what one sees in reality is a posh building or a posh commercial centre.

LOOKING at the cover story of Goan Observer of June 6, 2010, I was appalled to see a coloured photograph of Mickky happily dancing on Nadia Torrado’s grave. What sort of humour was GO aiming at, if at all, it was humour? It was indeed distasteful. Reporting on the ills or the colourful lifestyle of Mickky is one thing, but making a mockery of our dead is most certainly uncalled for. GO’s apathy towards our dead is not acceptable. We Christians consider our resting place sacred and so our feelings should be respected.

THIS IS in reference to the cover story named ‘Ungodly Business’ on GO (May 15-21, 2010). I always follow Rajan Narayan’s write-ups with keen interest. His pen is fluent, his knowledge and study excellent. He saved us quite number of times and we are very much grateful to him.

THE CHIEF Minister’s remarks “I don’t depend on your votes” and “I don’t care, do what you want” have been widely reported in the newspapers. It is a well known fact that migrants and the minority community are pampered with benefits including free ration and schemes prepared to suit them. A vote bank has been systematically built up and hence he does not need our votes. It is a good lesson for all of us to learn.

The Archbishop and the priests are held in great respect and esteem by the Catholic community. This is not to say that all priests are above board or that they should enjoy immunity from criticism. Humans, as they are, they are bound to fall and commit mistakes like all of us do.