I would like the following article published please. It is addressed to the
organisers of the Carnival
Every year Goans wait eagerly for the Carnival. The 3 days are filled with fun
and festivities. Tourists from around the world plan their travels to coincide
with this occasion.
The participants work hard to make the event a success, putting in hours of
work to get everything just right. The dance routines are worked out, costumes
tailored and the trucks decorated with themed messages. The reward for all this
hard work was the prize money at the end of the competition. A couple of years
ago, the organisers decided to do away with this and replace it with trophies
to the winners. But typical of how everything in Goa works, these trophies are
still being manufactured. The 2009 Carnival is over and the 2008 trophies are
yet to see the light of day.
This year too, the same excuse is being used. The trophies are still being
manufactured. If the participants can pull the whole event together in time,
can the organisers not arrange for the trophies to be ready at the end of the
carnival? This is just an excuse with the money allocated towards the trophies
being pocketed by some organiser along the way.
The Vasco MLA Jose Philip has to be commended. Under his patronage the Vasco
floats were held successfully and he personally ensured that the participants
were given their trophies. That is called good planning and working for the
encouragement and betterment of your people. There are a lot of folk out there
who could learn a thing or two from him.
Elaine Toscano
