Goa has yet another jewel, this time in the form of the UN Asst Secretary General! Perhaps, now Goans will pay more heed to the UN on all matters from sustainable Goals to mask wearing! More gratifying than the appointment was the Goa industry praising the appointment! Even the Goa mining sector praised Ligia Noronha's achievement. Yet, ‘sustainability’ has been her central idea around which she worked.
Recently, Goa had another world-renowned figure: co-head of the Morgan Stanley, India branch. What we see is the culmination of what we read in local ‘dailies’: girls outsmart boys yet again at public exams! Both capitalised on this and their Goanness: both were always smiling. Hard work pays not partying hard. Check today's industry now praising her and what do you see? Grim faces! Well, you cannot say things like: I will take care of anyone opposing the industry’ while sporting a smile, for sure. What is the difference? Why is local industry not changing? Both, the UN Asst Sec Gen and the Goan industry have ‘green’ as their objective: the former has greenbacks while the latter has the environment. Is it colour blind? Here lies the key: keep the true green and get the smile back!
What is the difference between her and the many NGOs fighting for the same goals? She was paid to do the job she did: no one could dare threaten her. The latter too work for the same issues with no remuneration and a lot of danger. We must change with the times and honour them too. Can Goa Inc. send out the olive branch? This must come in the form of making sustainability the central idea. Goa is now facing the prospect of rising Covid cases in neighbouring States and Goa industry must speak now. When one is silent you can be sure they are working for their interests alone.
