Strong Competent Governance Needed Agnelo Fernandes, Vasco NT-Reader's View 30 May, 2009
We the citizens of Goa have often seen that the government makes a decision first and then thinks of the consequences. This is creating a problem and nuisances for investors, employees, youth and the law-abiding citizen. This is exactly what has happened in the case of SEZs, other developmental projects and now casinos. The offshore casino operators were given licences to operate and now that there is a little public opposition to the casinos, the government is likely to wash its hands off the whole matter. This approach is lacking in intelligence and basic regards for public interest. The government cannot take this sort of stand, where they give a go-ahead to a project and then backout due to public pressure. If the dicision is in public interest and is good for the economic activity of the state, then the government needs to clarify it, justify the decision and go ahead. The people of Goa don't want a government that reacts only when there is a degree of opposition. We need a government that can take an informed dicision and also justity it when the need arises. Comments: It is a well known fact that the cobling of the governments in Goa since its so called liberation in 1961 has been on the basis of self-interest of the elected persons. A minister handling a particular portfolio is the whole and sole who decides what to do and what not to do. Take the example of our present Health Minister. If he should decide that a hospital be built in the sky, it will be built. Policies are decided by individual Ministers and cabinet clearances are a sham i.e 'you scratch my back and I will scratch yours ... Or else SHUT UP.' We commend Agnelo Fernandes for his inputs and would suggest to him that he goes through the Su-Raj's ROADMAP FOR GOA which doubles up as the party's permanent manifesto, its hand-book on governance and which is available to download on www.goasu-raj.org home page. With Su-Raj, the policies and the type of governance to be followed is decided by the party well in advance and not by elected individuals as a stop-gap arrangement. The party considers its elected representatives as mere drivers of the vehicle on a given route or course with destination schedules to stick to and nothing else. BTW this party appreciates the warning issued by the Congress President Ms. Sonia Gandhi to the newly inducted ministers recently to 'deliver' or 'perish'. We hope that this does not stay a mere warning only but hard kicking of some behinds will take place sooner than later to send a clear signal. floriano lobo general secretary/spokesperson goasuraj 9890470896