------------------------------------------------------- CONVENTION OF THE GOAN DIASPORA FROM GOA INTO THE WORLD Lisbon, Portugal June 15-17, 2007 Details at: http://www.goacom.org/casa-de-goa/noticias.html -------------------------------------------------------
CAMPAIGN TRAIL/SALIGAO Herald: Will the 'kolo' of Saligao succeed once again? Herald, Panjim, Thursday, May 31, 2007 BY HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, May 30: Saligao is a very prestigious seat for the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) as its Goa unit president and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Wilfred de Souza is engaged in a four-cornered contest for the June 2 election. Will Dr Willy be able to withstand the anti-incumbency undercurrents and prove his detractors wrong once again? Well, this will be known on June 5 but for the moment, the picture is not very clear. The main challenger to Dr Willy is his former PA Trajan D'Mello. BJP has fielded a businessman Dilip Parulekar, while Save Goa Front has nominated Salim Shaikh who last time contested on an MGP ticket. In the fray are also MGP's Anand Tulaskar and Kanchan Aruna Thool (Independent). In the 2002 elections, Trajan lost by little more than 600 votes as the Congress candidate. This time, he is contesting as an Independent and has the backing of several prominent citizens. This includes a Jesuit priest Fr Braz FAleiro, who on a public platform said that to cleanse Goa's murky politics, the electorate should vote against politicians like Dr Willy. Trajan's brush with spiritualism seems to be another factor for the Jesuit to back the Independent candidate. Former minister Chandrakant Chodankar, who quit the NCP recently, has been canvassing for Trajan in the last few days, boosting his campaign. Consisting of villages of Saligao, Sangolda, Guirim, Parra, Arpora-Nagoa, Ucassaim-Paliem-Punola and Bastora, the constituency has a voter population of around 22,023. The constituency is dogged by several problems, some major, some minor. Saligao is facing a garbage menace due to the dumping of Calangute waste at the Saligao plateau, which has not ended despite the villlagers' protest against dumping from time to time. The constituency also lacks in infrastructural facilities. The Saligao MLA's detractors in the election campaign are highlighting that though Dr Willy held the health portfolio for a long time, besides being the chief minister on three occasions, there is no full-fledged health centre in the constituency. Though his own village, Saligao, produced several national and international footballers, there is no full-fledged ground to boost the talent of the youth. The existing grounds are in paddy fields. He has already come in for criticism in the campaign for his statement that he wants to make Saligao a model village. Noted architect Dean D'Cruz, who lives in the village, said, "Dr Willy has hardly done anything for Saligao even as problems -- like dumping of garbage at Saligao plateau and illegal constructions -- continue unabated." Ironically, the crucial issue of garbage in Saligao has remained unattended even as Dr Willy, since the last two years, continues to be the minister for environment. He however took the initiative, after a public outcry, to preserve the Salmona springs. Though Dr Willy has failed his constituents, the fact is that he is still most respected in Saligao and people call his "dotor". Dr Willy's success in maintaining his seat for four consecutive terms can be attributed to his political acumen, unfamiliar to his opponents. ------------------------------------------------------- Goanet recommends, and is proud to be associated with, 'Domnic's Goa' - A nostalgic romp through a bygone era. This book is the perfect gift for any Goan, or anyone wanting to understand Goa. Distributed locally by Broadway, near Caculo Island, Panjim & internationally by OtherIndiaBookStore.Com. For trade enquiries contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------------------------------------