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*SHACK ATTACK: Following the script - 4* *Lionel Messias* It’s not only the shack owners that are given the short shrift by the government. The guesthouse owner (also the taxi owner) is another fly in the ointment in the eyes of the government. The smallest guesthouse in Benaulim is required to pay a registration fee of Rs 1,000 to the village panchayat (VP) annually and Rs 500 to the Tourism Department. In return, the department issues it a totally worthless “approved by government” certificate. The village panchayat nothing! The estimated 30 plus guesthouses are part of the VP’s village garbage clearance programme, and no special treatment is accorded to them. Their garbage is cleared twice monthly only. Patxa a six-room guesthouse in Benaulim is a typical example, built on the labours of Geraldine Fernandes and her carpenter husband and after knocking at the doors of quite a few banks and being shown the door. Full story: http://goanspirit.com/index.php/lead/354-shack-attack-following-the-script-4 August 19-25, 2013 *Lionroars – 19* *Land of no rules* With every passing month a new hotel is built or a new restaurant opened somewhere between Candolim and Arpora on the coast and towards Saligao inland but where mostly new restaurants are opened. The thrust of course is on the touristy coastal belt between Candolim and Baga. Their owners, unknown even to locals even if you happen to be living next door to them. It is said that an estimated 90 per cent of these are illegal and 100 per cent owned by mainly north Indians, with the only exception currently being the Calangute BJP Legislator Michael Lobo who himself added the De Baga Deck on the Baga main road to his growing collection of business venture and properties in his constitution. Lobo reportedly bought the hot property for Rs 3,00,00,000 not too long ago. Full story: http://goanspirit.com/index.php/lion-roars/lion-roars-2013/355-lion-roars-19 August 19-25, 2013 *Pushpa Iyengar* *Vendors say fair not fair* Did chief minister Manohar Parrikar wave a magic wand when he visited Vasco town on Tuesday that led to the Vasco Bhajani Saptah magically getting off the ground, after almost two days were lost amidst much drama? Did he become a ‘trader-whisperer’ and calmed the cacophony of traders, even some councilors who did a volte face after backing a resolution by the Mormugao Municipal Council to bring some order in the stalls which were so haphazard that they shut down the port town for ten days? It is interesting that when Parrikar went to Vasco on Tuesday morning, it was assumed that pacifying vendors who refused to occupy the 700-odd stalls would be crucial to his agenda….. Full Story: http://www.goanspirit.com/index.php/letters/357-vendors-say-fair-not-fair August 19-25, 2013 *Team GS* *Dog and the bone* So far on the appointment of the State Information Commissioner, chief minister Manohar Parrikar, has been bested by advocate-activist Aires Rodrigues. In fact, it may not be far-fetched to say that Rodrigues has been the only fly in the ointment for Parrikar and on the SIC/CIC he’s like a dog with a juicy bone. He won’t let go. So was the real reason to vitiate the choices to further delay appointment of a SIC? So the million dollar question is did Parrikar eat crow or was there a more diabolical plan afoot? Full Story: http://www.goanspirit.com/index.php/contact-us/letters/111-the-week-that-was/359-dog-and-the-bone -- Lionel Messias Editor, *Goan Spirit*, *Goa's Spirited Online Weekly Magazine.* ** Website:www.goanspirit.com Worked for the best: Goa Today, Gomantak Times, Herald, Mid-Day, The Pioneer, Indian Express (Bangalore), Economic Times (Chennai, Hyderabad), Newstime (Hyderabad), Gulf News (Hyderabad) 125-E, Bellem, Velsao, P.O. Cansaulim, Goa 403712 Tel: 0832-2884484 Mob:9822152164