*Letter to the Editor - Herald 19 March 2017 * Reduce debt In utter dismay I listened to candidate after candidate, some of whom are now MLAs that they will do development in the state of Goa. CM also says the same. State of Goa is in debt to the tune of Rs 15000+ crores. Is the government going to borrow still more and burden the state further? Without money it is not possible to do development. It is not so intelligent on the part of the candidates to promise development but they don’t have anything else to say, so they go about promising development. It might be because of the percentage that the contractor is force to pay to these elected representatives. Goa should reduce the number of the welfare schemes so that the burden of debt is reduced. Welfare should go to the really deserving families. Stop development till the debt of the state is brought under control. Otherwise we will be a bankrupt state soon. Antonio Barbosa, Colva
COMMENTS: A very thoughtful letter indeed. Mr. Barbosa must be congratulated, as this is what Goans must dwell upon. Can one prosper when loaded upto the neck with debts? This leads to dispair and ultimate disaster, the suicide, as we have seen happening with the 'farmers' in India. Yes, Mr. Barbosa, the figure of 15,000 crores public debt of Goa is just the tip of the iceberg. It is actually close to 70,000 crores and galloping towards a lakh crores which race shall be a reality shortly at the way Goa's administration is handled. And yes, development must be curtailed until Goa is clear of all crippling debts, loans and bonds redemption, only permitting dire essential and necessary developmental works. The good old Goan saying says: 'ANTUN POUN PAEM SODUNK ZAI' .... [EXTEND YOUR LEGS AS ACCORDING TO THE BEDDING]. In its election manifesto GSRP has given 5 years to bring the public debts of Goa under control through belt-tightening exercises where tax-payer's money shall not be squandered on vote-bank freebees, on foreign jaunts by ministers and MLAs, and on high-profile life-styles of the representatives of the people, and through the recovery of money due to the Govt of Goa on account of illegal mining which is a whopping more than 35,000 crores and others which are waived off on whims and fancies of the Govt. GSRP thanks Mr. Barbosa for his thoughtful concern over growing public debts of Goa. floriano lobo GSRP 9890470896 http://www.goasu-raj.com/gen/display_commentsOnNews_data.asp?pg=3914