GS Floriano Lobo addresses the Press
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA
GSRP appreciates you taking time to attend this interaction and at the same
time thank you for the same.
The Main Programme today is the launching of the Party's Youth Wing in real
earnest. We shall hand you the leader of this youth wing Young Jocelyn
Pereira as soon as this brief is completed.
This Party has been in existence since the year 2000. As they say, a sapling
requires time to grow deep roots, this Party has been growing it's roots for
the past 12 years. Content with the below ground growth, so to speak, this
Party now wants to grow sky-wards and the target is the Goa Legislative
Assembly Elections - 2017.
This Party has already started the work of identifying the respective
candidates from various constituencies and intends to field not less than
thirty candidates ( if not more) in Elections-2017. Most of these slots will
be going to the YOUTH of GOA. The 2017 Election Campaign shall be led by me
(God willing) contesting from either Aldona or Porvorim Constituencies.
This Party is seized of multiple issues that are dividing Goans instead of
uniting them. Therefore this party has made it's stand clear with respect to
these various issues as stated in the Party's permanent manifesto, the ROAD
MAP FOR GOA. Governance cannot be on ad-hoc basis. This Party knows exactly
where GOA needs to go in this 21 century.
This Party's Manifesto for Elections- 2017 is contained in the package is
being given to you for reference along with the copy of the Party's ROAD
MAP FOR GOA.
This Party stands thus on the following issues:
1. MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTIONS: This Party has a stand on this issue that
will satisfy one and all without endangering the well-being of the people of
Goa. It should not be the LANGUAGE that needs to be protected but the
well-being of the Primary Students of Goa.
2. MOPA - Is totally and completely undesirable and a catastrophe for
Goa. Dabolim is the Civilian Airport of GOA, most centrally located. The
Navy must relinquish it's illegal hold on this airport and move out, the
sooner the better.
3. MINING - Let it lie untouched and undisturbed since mining has not
benefited Goa and Goans and is not benefitting Goa and Goans, until a
4. comprehensive mining policy is brought about, discussed and debated
in the public arena and is accepted by the people of Goa.
5. That Goa needs to acquire SPECIAL STATUS through Special Provisions
of Article 371 of the Indian Constitution [not the economic or monetary
Special Status as is branded by the government], there is not doubt. Goa's
dwindling land and identity needs to be safeguarded and protected.
6. No piece of land must be given to the Central Agencies like MPT,
CISF, BSF, Army and the Navy. Goa is not the military back-yard of India and
Goa's militarization will not be permitted at all costs. Goa, as small that
it is does not have the obligation to cater to the security of this vast
nation at it's own cost.
7. This Party has taken up the issue of the dismissal from service of
the Police Sub-Inspector presently posted at Valpoi for brutally
man-handling this Party's Youth Wing Member Mr. Vincent Fernandes ( who is
present here). The representation made to the CM, Home Minister, Under
Secretary Law and the Governor of Goa is enclosed in the said packet to be
given to you. It is not right that such Police Officers should be extended
political patronage at the cost of the citizens of Goa.
Address of the Youth President
Hanv Konkani bashen komes korta kiteak Goem amcho ganv, ami goenkar ani
konkni amchi mai baas. Amche Pavdeank, Patrakarak , Pokxache Pratinidi'ank
ani zogleanck azir asleleank amcho maye mogacho ievkar.
Amchea youth panelar boslele GSRP - youth wingacho General Secretary Bab Meg
Keni, North Goa Vice president bab Ramesh Malgi ani South Goa Vice president
Bai Gemma Noronha.
The primary reason for the GSRP youth wing convening this press conference
are two major youth issues that need immediate attention and action.
The first being the rising unemployment and the second the drug menace that
has begun to haunt Goan youth.
Our Goan youth today transcend religion and languages..There has been a huge
change in the outlook of the youth with the advent of the internet and we
are on the brink of a new order. Yet with all this progress we the Goan
youth are yet not on par with other developed states like ours as far as
employment is concerned.
Jobs by the previous and current government appear to be given on a basis of
familiarity to the political patronage rather than merit or government
procedures that are non-political.
As per the Economic Survey of Goa, the population in the State in the age
group between 10 - 20 is 2,45,000 who have/will enter the job market in next
few years and during the same period around 1,10,000 who are in the age
group 50-60 will retire. Presently, there are already 1,00,000 unemployed
youth in the state, hence there will be 2,35,000 youth for whom jobs will
have to be created and they will require employment or career opportunities.
Today, the rate of job creation in the state is negligible. In the absence
of any job opportunities, nearly 90 per cent of engineering graduates are
going out of the state to seek employment. Major colleges have not been able
to find placements for over 50 per cent of their graduates. Hence Goan
youths have no alternative but to look for jobs and career opportunities
outside of Goa.
The Government on its own will not be in a position to provide employment to
these youths. Already, the ratio of Government employees to population
is about 1: 25 ( one Government employee for every 25 persons), which
is one of the highest. According to some sources, there is already
an excess employment of about 15-20 per cent in the Government
departments.
Tourism accounts for nearly 35 per cent of the SGDP. This sector has good
potential for creation of job/gainful employment opportunities. But a
cursory look at the mass jobs in the tourism sector will show
that cheaper migrant labour has eaten into the job opportunities of
Goans.
A small example*even taxi driving which was once the bastion or exclusive
domain of Goemkars only has collapsed. Migrant labor now drive our taxi's.
There is a solution we envisage though. We advise the Government to take
immediate proactive steps to invite environment friendly industries which
match local skill sets so that the local youth get good employment
opportunities. Goa should invite clean and green & service industries to
the hinterland and create an economic growth centre. We have to understand
that the USP of Goa is its beauty and at no point we should compromise to
this effect. Developing the hinterland will create employment opportunities
in the rural sector and thus maintaining a good rural to urban population
balance/ratio.
A lot has been written in the press with regards to the drug scenario in
Goa. In recent news a Hospitality Industry leader said it would be nice if
the drug menace was curbed if not stopped totally. A sitting MLA mentioned
the involvement of Kenyans in the drug trade, A national TV Channel clearly
asked who the faces behind the Goan drug mafia are on national television
not to forget the recent British travel advisory on drugs in Goa.
A lot of what is said about the drug business in Goa is confused between
facts and myths. That Goa is a drug paradise is no myth though. Of course
there is no denial that major Indian metropolitan cities have their share of
the drug trade but the ready availability of drugs here mixed with the
holiday atmosphere as well as media hype after the Scarlett murder has made
Goa a drug destination for young Indian men and women.
We have every possible kind of drug available in Goa. Even DMT
(Dimethyltryptamine), mescaline (trimethoxyphenethylamine) and Magic
Mushrooms (psilocybin) are available.
Goan youth are the most exposed and succumb to this easy availability of
drugs and for them being local they are immediately accepted in the circles.
They can avail anything on credit and are allowed free entrance at most of
the party zones. LSD and Cocaine are the most widely used drugs besides
Hashish amongst the local Goan youth.
It is shocking to notice the rampant rise in the percentage of drug addicts
in schools, colleges and universities in this tiny state. Coupled with
rising unemployment and stress it makes a very heady cocktail.
Drugs arrive from various destinations around the world into Goa. There are
different dealers and distributors operating in Goa comprising of local,
Kashmiris, Nigerian and foreigners (Russians, Israelis and others) but so
far though it appears to be like a cartel, there is no monopoly on the
market by any particular group but their individual markets are clearly
defined. The Nigerians currently are operating alone and trade only in
synthetic cocaine which is coming from their labs in Mira Road Mumbai.
Kashmiri's deal in everything and so do the locals. The foreigners sell only
to foreigners (like a Russian will only sell drugs to a Russians). The
locals and foreigners share a good rapport. But it is the locals that
control most of the market with connections across supply lines of drugs.
During the season time and especially during New Years, you find many mules
(drug carriers) coming into Goa from different parts of India to bring in
supplies for the surged tourist market at that time; in fact most celebrity
mules (known but not famous media faces from Bollywood, cricket etc are used
sometimes) are used at that time. European women are the most preferred
mules for LSD and Cocaine coming from Amsterdam, Spain and South America.
Lets face it: Drugs are a social evil that spare nobody. Rich and poor alike
the Goan youth are slowly getting enticed into the dark void of drugs. It's
like a cancer among Goan youth today and its destroying the very fabric of
society.
Lets look at some figures:
The size of the drug market in Goa is anywhere between Rs 15 crore to Rs 20
crores a month during peak season. And the trend shows that the market is
growing at an alarming rate in South Goa more than North Goa. In fact if you
take the consumption of the most sold drug, you will see that Marijuana or
Ganja consumption in South Goa is on an average 100-120kg a month from local
dealers; while North Goa is about 50-75 kg a month. But Cocaine and
Synthetic Cocaine is sold extensively in the North. Hashish or charas as its
known tops the consumption list (overall consumption in Goa being anywhere
between 300-350 kgs per month)
The Goa Police seized a total quantity of 21.405.43 kg drugs in the year
2011. The total value of the drugs seized by the Goa police for the year
2011 was Rs 79, 33,700.00 approximately from 53 cases that were booked for
the year 2011 out of which 56 arrests were made.
Breaking down the records for the year 2011, out the 56 persons arrested, 30
were Indian and 26 were foreigners. Out of the 26 foreigners, 10 were
Nigerian, 5 were Nepalese, 3 were French, 2 were Italian, 2 were British,
and there was a German, Korean, U.S and a Ghana citizen who were all
arrested. From these 56 arrests, 16.319 kg of Charas, 4.043 kg of Ganja,
72.95 gms of Heroine, 219.41 gms of Cocaine, 131 gms of MDMA, 11 gms of
Brown Sugar, 6.7 gms of LSD Liquid and 0.3 gms of LSD was seized.
Now you do the math. What was caught was a drop in the ocean. Just a tiny
little drop.
With the protection offered by certain politicians and police the drug trade
is now a lucrative business for a few people spread along the coastline of
Goa extending from Patnem in the south to Arambol in the north. Protection
is extended to certain individuals who run hotels/shacks in order to
facilitate the drug trade. We have restrictions on sound pollution after
10pm and there are shacks which enjoy the patronage of the police blatantly
disobeying the law and cater to loud music rave parties till dawn.
The Nigerian drug mafia comprises of Nigerian male nationals who come to
India as students and over stay and continue staying here without passports
or visa's. To sustain themselves they turn to various get rich quick
schemes. One of them is drug peddling.
A group of 450-500 Nigerian men are currently in Goa. If you ask the FRO
they will have records of a handful and nobody not even Goa Police is aware
of how many Nigerian's are currently living in Goa.
Spread all over India and running rackets ranging from email fraud to
cellfone credit hacks they are a community unto themselves.
In Goa they have earned a reputation for quick delivery of drugs and are
much sought after by youth from Goa, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and
Pune. Using the handfone network they make quick drug drops and are very
popular for their fast service.
They manufacture synthetic cocaine and amphetamines including the popular
date rape drugs which are in high demand. Their factories are assembled in
apartments or rented houses. Of recent they have started meth labs in Morjim
in partnership with the Russian network.
They live in dormitories in Parra (junction) and Porvorim (behind the
church). 25 to a room. The locals there have been complaining about their
presence but nothing has been done yet.
Their place of business being the coastline they have chosen well not to
live on the coast as it attracts attention to themselves.
If questioned they openly claim that they pay the police for protection.
Of recent the Calangute youth have told us that they feel threathened by the
Nigerian presence because there have been sporadic incidents of Nigerians
trying to dominate Goan Youth.
It's a very volatile situation at the moment and we maintain a close watch
on the main perpetrators and leaders of the Nigerian syndicate.
If we the Goan youth can painstakingly collate this information then Goa
Police is not aware of this SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE??? Maybe with half the
ANC dept behind bars they don't. Maybe that was the reason why a outgone SP
was sitting outside ZOORIE'S in Anjuna wearing a lungi. When we
questioned a constable he informed us that they were gathering intelligence.
We the youth of GSRP will soon conduct awareness camps, programs and
lectures in schools, colleges and the University with permissions from
relevant authorities on the evils of drugs. We urge the Goa government and
our respected CM to sit down with us and prepare a TASK FORCE to combat this
menace on an immediate basis before the new season starts.
We shall also become party to petitions and RTI's in different Courts
including the High Court of Bombay at Goa with matters concerning
restricting the drug trade.
GSRP youth is in possession of photographic and videographic evidence of
those involved directly in the drug trade, the drug dens where drugs are
sold openly, their revenue figures and the destination lists.
So why does the Goa Government, the stalwarts of society including industry
leaders have such a complacent approach to this menace? Why are we quiet
when our own children are suffering? We have no community centers, no youth
programs, absolutely nothing, to create an awareness among Goan Youth.
Lets stop for a moment and think..Think of those minors in the age group of
14-17 who are regularly buying drugs. Let's think of those mothers in
anguish who silently suffer.
We need to raise upstanding members of society and leaders for tomorrow not
junkies and drug zombies. I appeal to parents to join our online initiative
for a Goa against Drugs.
I especially thank the leadership of GSRP for offering the YOUTH OF GOA this
most desirable PLATFORM in the form of YOUTH WING of GSPRS
THANK YOU
JOCELYN PEREIRA
PRESIDENT
GSRP YOUTH WING.
[Speech delivered at the GSRP YOUTH WING PRESS CONFERENCE, CARITAS, PANJIM
ON 10 JULY, 2012]
