The 2022 election has thrown up a major deficiency of the MLA aspirants: poor negotiating techniques and problem solving. Rajdeep Sardesai interviewed the 3 regional leaders of Goa. All were adamant that: jobs cannot be reserved for Goans, and land sale cannot be denied to outsiders. That it? Why bring Cipla to Goa handing scarce land to them if they appoint only Maharashtrians in Goa? Before they set up industry, they must ensure they will use local people. They can’t go on saying Goans don’t work. This will be true if the Ministers insist only their people get jobs. If land cannot be denied to outsiders, then surely land acquisition must also be done from them. It is not so. Why? Enough land has been acquired from locals and Communidade: next 10 years only new land holders must give up their land. If this rule is there, you will see how ‘well’ they negotiate the acquisition. Mining and tourism are not the key assets in Goa: it is land. The 3 regional leaders spoke of keeping this ‘revenue’ open and not for the locals’ rights. Local professionals/retired ones must comprise a body in each constituency and the MLA must take all issues to them rather than decide on their own. Goans will go the way of the aboriginals and the American natives.
R Fernandes, Margao
