The renovated Dona Paula jetty.
Photo Credits: The Goan
An incident earlier this week at the Dona Paula jetty, where some locals involved in tourist trade were protesting over entry fee being charged to visitors there affecting footfalls and thus their business, quite aptly describes the "Ministers/MLAs are lords of their constituencies" syndrome plaguing our democracy.
It so happened that Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao and the other two Congress legislators -- Altone D'Costa and Carlos Alvares-Ferreira -- reached the site along with their party's State president Amit Patkar where they began confabulating with the agitating locals.
Within minutes, Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate, reached the spot and shooed the Congress politicians away advising them to serve the people in their own constituencies.
Babush, who between him and now his wife Jennifer, has represented Taleigao constituency uninterruptedly for over two decades since 2002, didn't take the attempt of the Alemao-led Congress gang to score political brownie points in his backyard too kindly and the Congressmen didn't, surprisingly, resist his fightback.
While many in today's age of politics may endorse Babush's stance and the street-smart politician may even have gained a notch it nonetheless raises questions over the state of our democracy where MLAs and ministers wield almost monarchical powers.
It's over six decades that Goa broke free from colonial rule but the power structure at the grassroots still resembles the Portuguese days where the administration-appointed 'Regidor' lorded over the territory in his jurisdiction. Not a stone could be moved without his permission or approval and he would brook no interference from anybody else: Lords of their constituencies indeed.
Shripad under attack?
Union minister Shripad Naik may have won the North Goa parliamentary constituency five times in a row since 1999 and readying himself for a sixth inning in the Lok Sabha but a few "nhovre" from his own saffron stable, particularly those in the political wilderness, have their own ideas and are looking to trip him.
The most startling and brazen attempt came from former Mandrem MLA, Dayanand Sopte, who against the run of play so to say, publicly voiced the demand that 'Shripad bhau' hang his boots as he has grown old. He did not fail to lace this demand with his own desire to replace him
This was followed by another saffron politician in the wilderness -- Dilip Parulekar -- making his own pitch for the party candidature. Shripad bhau, the much-respected elder in Goa's saffron stable, is under attack and the ammunition being fired at him is seemingly coming not from the Sopte-Parulekar duo of 'sipahis' but from a general in the backroom. Who could it be? Let's wait and see.
The show that goes on!
It's that time of the year when politicians in power and out of power, activists, environmentalists, all and sundry have to indulge in the annual ritual of raising objections and issues about the mother of all electronic dance music (EDM) festivals -- Sunburn.
This year has been no exception with right-wing outfit Hindu Janjagruti Samiti firing the first salvo some two weeks ago, presenting memoranda to the Collector and the government demanding that the festival be banned as it "promotes drug culture".
Within days, the Calangute MLA, Michael Lobo surprised many by fretting over the event and demanding that the show, scheduled for December 28-31 (as per the organisers' website) at Vagator be shut down on each of these days at 8.30 pm. Lobo, who is heavily invested in tourism, is otherwise a strong votary of any and every event which has the potential to attract visitors.
Vagator where the event has been held in recent years, is in the jurisdiction of the neighbouring Siolim constituency, which incidentally is represented by his wife Delilah. Taking a cue from hubby, Delilah too began raising issues about the EDM festival joining issue with some locals who objected to it being also held on New Year's Eve -- December 31.
Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte too joined the chorus and was soon followed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant who ruled that Sunburn will not be held on December 31 as per the wishes of the people in Vagator and adjoining localities.
What amuses us though, is how despite all the brouhaha, organisers eventually have their way and the last laugh. After all, their 'show' goes on...each year, every year!
