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 CM has got all the time in the world to inaugurate gutters, go for birthdays/funerals, visit temples/churches. And if this is not enough, there are bars, shops, offices, seminars, cultural programmes, etc. But he has no time to talk to a group who has been making efforts to preserve Goa and its identity.
This is a serious blow to Niz Goenkars, who are under the impression that we are electing these politicians. The intentions of the CM and his gang, and for that matter Congress party, are very clear - they don’t care for us and are determined to finish Goa. Will this incident turn out to be a ‘blessing in disguise’ for every one of us to seriously ponder over and be united to fight and eradicate ‘this disease’ before it ruins us totally?

B V S Priolkar,
Margao.

GOAN PERILS

HOUSING is one of the basic needs of mankind. All over the world, there are official housing programmes to provide more housing possibilities or to improve existing housing. Goa had its very own such schemes through the Goa Housing Board. Have they catered to Goans’ housing needs?  Certainly not, but the government has provided migrants from other states cheap houses and created vote banks for political masters.

Mega project is the buzz word in Goa, but what is a mega project?  To my mind, it not about the size, but rather a concept housing project. Mega project developers must study various factors such as water, energy, ecosystems and sustainable resources to maintain these projects.  Let us try to understand the economics of this so called ‘development’, which the overwhelming majority of people oppose in Goa. The resources of our ‘development’ in the economic sense are land, labour and capital.

Goa has land and natural resources. But Goa does not have the labour, which is the most important resource, and so we bring in migrants.  Goa does not have capital to invest in these projects, so we invite real estate developers from other states.

Tourism is important to our economy. But what will be the case if we start to sell every piece of our land to non Goans? If tourists start to own their own houses, who will stay in hotels?  The beauty of Goa lies in greenery, but if we destroy this green cover to make way for construction (mining), will tourists still come to Goa?  Are we not killing the goose that is giving us golden eggs?

The day is not far away when we will lose not only tourists, but also our land to outsiders. What the Portuguese could not destroy in 451 years, you and I will in less than 50 years.

Agnelo Pinheiro,
Raia/Dubai.

FOOL’S PARADISE

FOR all those who have been threatened by the article ‘Ungodly Business’, we are living in a fool’s paradise. Not only are our eyes closed, but even if they are open, we refuse to accept the things happening around us. I am not taking any sides here. There are many things mentioned by the editor which are true as he has backed them by facts. However, there are many instances where priests have stood their ground for simplicity and the growth of spirituality in the parish and have been beaten up by parishioners for not complying with their wishes.

If our priests are what they are today it’s because of the parishioners. The priests are only meeting the needs of the people of the parish. If the priest goes against the needs of the people, they are condemned by them. When the priests are transferred, they are bestowed with gifts as big as refrigerators, washing machines, computers and the like. If the parishioners want a cross built or a chapel renovated or a statue placed outside the church, who is the priest to say no to them? And if among these parishioners there are bigwigs like politicians, builders and rich people, can the priest go against them?

Can the priests be absolved because of the above? No. Priests do have powers. They must realise that they have made a choice, willingly, to join the priesthood. That entails walking the path Jesus walked. If they are called to live the life of simplicity, they must refuse gifts. I know of two good priests in my parish who refused gifts and went away empty handed. We, the parishioners, respected their wishes. They devoted their time to pastoral work meeting the parishioners, listening to their grievances, etc and yet never got involved in politics or politicians. So it’s possible for priests to walk the narrow path if they want to. Secondly, they can move the masses with their sermons, preaching the word of god only, and the values that Jesus stood for. Through their exemplary life and their preaching, they can change people.

I am so glad you have ruffled a few feathers for unless feathers are ruffled, the people won’t wake up to face reality.

Name and address withheld.