Goanet meets in Goa: December 27, 12 noon and January 7, 4 pm (meeting point: Kala Academy canteen). See you there! ------------------------------
Dear Tony, You write: >It has become fashionable for us to slam any >initiative taken by others without offering >any viable alternative or willingness to >participate in it� This is a predictable response but surely you must know that there is no truth in such an allegation. To remind you, Aires Rodrigues arranged the 1999 and 2000 Goan Int. Conventions. He felt unable to continue to do so and we discussed the need for someone suitable to take over. Aires suggested only one candidate, you. He asked me to put out the feelers so I spoke to you and after considerable hesitation you agreed. Before, during or after the 2001 Convention at the Kala Academy, Aires did not slam the initiatives that you took. Far from it, he supported you fully and did all the work in arranging the post-Convention cocktail party in my Goa apartment. Remember it? Unfortunately you chose to drop out of WorldWide Goans after the 2001 event. However, we respect that decision and do not hold it against you. My understanding it that Aires is not critical of your role and is not attacking you personally. He is critical of the Goa Facilitation Centre (GFC) for the reasons he has made abundantly clear. I do not myself agree with all he says but fully support the main thrusts of his criticism. Why? I was invited to the post-Convention meeting at EDC House after the 2002 event. I voiced by criticism of NRIs seeking special privileges and handouts from the Goa Government at the expense of the locals. I emphasized that to be taken seriously, the GFC should set itself easy targets that were affordable, benefited a substantial number of NRIs and had the effect on improving the image of the GFC. I described three such possibilities: 1. Publish a regular (initially monthly) GFC e-mail newsletter notifying NRIs of the GFC developments and outlining opportunities, case studies etc. 2. Create a central enquiry point in Goa for dealing with requests for information from NRIs and advising them regarding their complaints. 3. Produce a short weekly Goa News video clips service on the Internet, in Konkani with English sub-titles. This could, very gradually, be developed into a 24 hours service with learn Konkani courses, teatrs, Village feasts and yatras, cookings demos, travel programmes, etc. and funded by advertising. Basically a web-based 24/7 service. All this was received with great acclaim. I was subsequently informed that the CM had agreed to the suggestions and they would be implemented �very soon.� I have heard nothing further. Is it just a talking shop? With the greatest respect for the difficult role you face, Eddie Fernandes. ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
