--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2008 International Goan Convention Toronto, Canada
Early Bird Discount Registration closes March 31, 2008 http://2008goanconvention.com/registration.html --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yesterday I attended one birthday party where the topic of discussion was Scarlett Keeling murder case. Discussion started with first and second autopsy report and latter moved on to Scarlett's mother and finally concluded with generalized talk on the prevailing scenario. Towards the end of discussion one elderly person briefed the group on what Dr. Nandakumar Kamat had to say in his article titled Moral Externalities of Coastal Tourism. As told by that elderly person Dr. Nandakumar Kamat cites three reasons to sum up the growing nuisance along the coastal tourism in Goa. According to Dr. Nandakumar, First reason is due to the social subsidy - the accommodation and tolerance by the local people who smelt windfall income from beach tourism. Second being the moral subsidies liberally granted by the religious leaders who are afraid of losing their support because practical economic offers make more sense to the people than moral and spiritual lectures. Third, the legal subsidies extended by the state, which actually are not expected to show mercy to anyone, breaking the law. Thus the proverbial "long arm" of the law gets paralyzed when it comes to taking legal actions on unwanted happenings. The very same elderly gentlemen also briefed the group about the NDTV News channel showing the footage of a sting operation which claimed that Home Minister Ravi Naik's son Roy Naik is involved in the criminal and illegal narcotics drug trade in Goa!! He even told us about a small front page report of the same that appeared on Wednesday edition of Tarun Bharat. >From the very discussion I gather that Goans must take up Scarlett Keeling murder case as a wake-up call. Demand for CBI inquiry in Scarlett Keeling's episode including narcotic drug trading that is going on in Goa. Today under the pretext of Tourism Industry we see these trades flourishing beyond one's expectations. The Goan politicians have become a laughing stock worldwide and our joker politicians are still busy making their silly comments about their honesty. While Goa's reputation as paradise destination is definitely growing towards dark and violent side world over. We see this happening and instead of us getting united to drive the evil out of our society we are getting busy arguing amongst us pointing fingers to each others. Goans must get united to achieve one single mission i.e. clean Goa of Corrupt Politicians no matter even if we have to create and empower Goan Bal Thackeray!! Best regards, Dr. U. G. Barad