------------------------------------------------------------------------ * * * 2006 ANNUAL GOANETTERS MEET - GOA * * * ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WHERE: Foodland Cafe - Miramar Residency - Miramar, Goa
WHEN: December 21, 2006 @ 4:00pm More info: http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2006-December/051412.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hi Bosco, A few clarifications and comments regarding your interesting reply. Bosco writes: Sunith, I think you need to correct your perceptions. I haven't talked about "Goans selling houses, proper healthcare, etc, etc".... I think only Roland and you have tried to make comparisons of Goa with other places. So when you say 'you', I think you mean Roland ?? Sunith responds: I mean't all Goanetters who do use this comparison(mainly Roland and Selma). I don't believe you've ever done so in this context. Bosco writes: Don't you think the authorities and people in Goa would be best served by learning from the mistakes of others? Sunith responds: I fully agree. That is the way the Wise would learn. Fools learn through needless pain and suffering, but they too learn eventually. Which is my main point. Bosco writes: I think your point b) is out of context here. It would help to understand what was the purpose of raising this issue of fiscal imbalance between the state and national governments in this exchange. Sunith responds: My point was perhaps a little out of context to this discussion. What I was trying to highlight here is that many people think because of the revenue generated in Goa through Government levies annually(approx Rs 2,500 Crores or 550 million USD) the Goan government is rich. However it is worthwhile to point out that only about Rs. 250-350 Crores comes back to the Goan Government. So while we have many rich Goan individuals, our Government coffers are quite empty. Hence there is a chronic lack of funds to spend on infrastructure, healthcare, etc. This shortage of funds(that already exists) is undoubtedly made worse by a corrupt executive and legislature. Bosco writes: If I could choose one area that displeases me - its the transport/transit system and its allied sphere of influences. Sunith responds: The joke that is public transport and transit in our beloved Goa has baffled me for a long time. But what do we do with a people so genetically programmed to oppose change. An example of the functioning of the Goan brain... Just before I left Goa, there were a series of truck mishaps on the ridiculously narrow National Highway 17 passing through Canacona that halted traffic for many hours for a couple of days in a row. The local residents protested vociferously(and rightly so!) against Governement inaction. When the North- South Six Lane Access Controlled Highway Project was announced guess who were the first ones to oppose it. The Canconkars themselves!! My hopes now rest with Santosh or his brain researching colleagues because this behaviour is now beyond amateurs like me or even experienced psychologists/psychiatrics. Bosco writes: You may want to do some serious reading on the nexus between various levels of governments in southern Italy and the Mafia in the 60s, 70s & 80s especially how the Mafia made money while cutting into infrastructure development projects of the time, abetted by individuals in government. Protection money is still paid - to this day. Sunith responds: I agree again, only one difference though.In India no such nexus exists because the biggest criminals and extortionists are all politicians themselves. Best Regards Sunith -- Sunith D Velho [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Goanet supports BMX, the alumni network of Britto's, St Mary's and Xavier's -- three prominent institutions in Mapusa, Goa. Events scheduled from Dec 16 to 21, 2006 For more details visit http://www.bmxgoa.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------