He has always been at the forefront.
Taking on either the influential five star lobby or thegovernment of the day.
For over 15 years Cruz Cardozo has been fighting for thewelfare of shack owners with utmost application and dedication.
Today, once again he leads from the front. Fighting themight of the government against what it calls “a shack policy to finish thetraditional shack owners”.
“In 1992, I earned Rs 375 per month at the Old Anchor. Ieven planned to go abroad. An agent promised me a job and ran away with mypassport and Rs 50,000. I didn’t even have a passport to apply elsewhere.That’s when I joined hands with three others and started a shack,” recallsCardozo.
In those days the only tourists were Scandinavians,Norwegians and Finnish who loved to come to Goa to relax on the beach.
“My season was so good that I had made enough money tosurvive for the entire year. My shack in 2005 was featured on the Sunday Timesin England in 2005, which got me foreign tourists even from North Goa,” hesaid.
In the ’90’s there was no shack policy in the State.
“Licenses were issued at the politicians homes. I got minebecause I was in good books with Luizinho Faleiro then. But when he denied meone in 1996, I appealed to the High Court. I finally got the licence inFebruary 1996. I told the court, I’ll put a shack for even five days but won’tgive up on my traditional occupation,” explains Cruz whose shack faceddemolition 11 times because of political pressure.
Cruz Cardozo, president of the Shack Owners Welfare Societymade his entry into politics in 1997, when he won as a panch from Cavelossim.He recalls he won the election despite all odds. A five star hotel financed hisrival in that election.
But between his sojourns to the courts, Cardozo is alsoknown for his unique ‘Pearl’s Shack’ that serves best seafood to Russians andEnglish.
