A million agonies do not wake the Government. It is miseryfirst hand that moves ministers. In a press conference a fortnight ago, TourismMinister Dilip Parulekar candidly confessed to two dozen media people how hewas accosted by taxi men outside a five star hotel in South Goa. For a statethat suffers the tyranny of the taxi mafia 24x7 (exposed by The Goan on July28), the confession of Tourisms top boss was unique not because he admittedthat he witnessed it firsthand. The Minister gave an almost cinematic narrationof how he saw guests being bullied out of buses, taxis waylaying haplesstourists but what he did not tell disappointed journos was whether he intendedto do anything about it. Political Patrao wonders if Parulekar had read TheGoan’s Taxi Gangs story, would he have kept off the South Goa tourism belt orused his ministerial privileges every time he was caught in a jam.
The badshah of Baina
Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida continues his predecessorsobsession with Baina Beach. While former Vasco MLA Jose Philip D’Souza hadraised eyebrows pushing Ravindra Bhavan on Baina beach in neighbouring MormugaoConstituency, Carlos finds more time to concentrate on the Baina beautificationproject on the seafront. On Thursday, PP saw the former Vasco Chairperson spendhours overseeing construction of a retaining wall on the beach with Vasco ChiefOfficer Agnelo Fernandes. Almeida is pushing forth a mega-beautificationproject for the beach as his pet project. The fact that the area lies inMormugao constituency under Power Minister Milind Naik does not deter him. WhatPP wonders is that Almeida himself had engineered a High Court decision againstbuilding of permanent structures in CRZ zone on the same beach, does being anMLA ensure legal immunity.
Look who's messing with the Alemoas
Hell hath no fury more than an Alemao scorned and they are bidingtheir time. Senior Churchill was always serious when he uttered those famous words.“I can win on any ground, Fatorda grounds”. But Churwchillbab and Sharonbaiwere meted bad treatment for two successive weeks back to back at the Fatordastadium. Week One had Avertano and Caitu taking front row seats at the I-Leagueinauguration while Chuchill and Joaquim huddled on one of the back benches inthe offi cials box. The second week was even worse. Avertano’s brother Shubertis believed to have chosen a peon for the GFA offi cial to escort Sharon as ChiefGuest during a man-of-the-match presentation. While the cat was out of the bag,the opponents were laughing and the Alemaos weren’t amused. A little birdietells PP that the Alemaos are raring to fling some mud back at their rivals andpayback.
Goan cop management German-style
Goan Cops might not be the best in terms of integrity butfor a German backpacker writing for Goa, the primer on How To bribe an Indianpolicemen successfully in 5 simple steps is turning out to be quite a hit. PPrecommends a look at what makes for very interesting reading.
First, stop, dismount and hand over keys to the police
Second, secure and hide all important valuables (cell phone,clock, glasses) in the storage compartment of the moped and faithfully followthe police car.
Third, Play the absolutely innocent, poor unsuspectingtourists and tell how great India (which you felt the policeman wanted to hearbut unfortunately he isn’t).
Fourth, Get startled by Rs 25,000 penalty and the fact thatthe vehicle is now confiscated (even though only borrowed) by the police.
Fifth, Give all the money you have (the backpacker paid Rs210 for driving without a helmet) and with a grin on his face.
But German excellence goes further, the backpacker suggestfor “Optimization potential of the 5-easy-steps“ Always wear fake sunglasses(something European!) that you hand over to the police, since it wouldcertainly make him very happy unless of course if at the last minute hediscovered the "Made-in-China" mark on the inside temple.
