Goa being a very small state cannot withstand mega events. Earlier this year we were lumbered with that Defexpo and now it’s the BRICS summit. Good governance demands that nothing should be throttled down the throat without taking the local residents into confidence.
In fact Goans are in no way benefitting from BRICS, with even some local businesses including fishing operations highhandedly ordered to be shut down citing security reasons. While all the possible Tar poured to make the road swanky for the dignitaries, the rest of Goa is enduring with potholes and the worst being Mapusa’s ravaged roads. For almost a month the entire administration in the State has come to a virtual paralysis in the name of preparation for BRICS. For this event almost the entire police force has been deployed on duty with police stations across Goa nearly abandoned. With no traffic cops around in the North of Goa, travelling has become a nightmare. No event should ever disrupt the normal life of the people or be a public nuisance, but this BRICS conclave has been a terrible ordeal especially for the residents of South Goa for which the Government needs to apologize for the distress the people have had to put up with. Under the guise of BRICS even some age old trees were ruthlessly axed and less said the better on that very inhumane and slavish treatment meted out to the police personnel who have been made to work very long hours and that too without food, drinking water and toilet facilities. This is indeed the real side of the BRICS which the visiting dignitaries must be made aware of while they wine, dine and make merry in the land of fish, feni and fun. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com Or airesrodrig...@yahoo.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com