There is no doubt that "vox populi" from the villages
of Cavelossim, Carmona, Betul, Ambelim, & Velim in
Salcete, Goa, will prevail.
The passenger catamaran re-christened m.v. Leela now
moored at the Cutbona fisheries jetty, Salcete Goa
and intended to be used as a casino by Hotel Leela
Venture Ltd Cavelossim Mobor Salcete Goa will
eventually have to go to its offshore site 12 nautical
miles into the Arabian sea and not stay in rivers.
This is notwithstanding the obvious threats by the
Management of Hotel Leela Venture Ltd Mobor Cavelossim
Salcete Goa to stake claims for compensation from the
Government for doing a "volte face" on its earlier
policy formulated to enhance the tourisminfrastructure
--in Goa.
Incidentally a source in Western Australia recently
informed this writer, that the vessel christened m.v.
Leela could be a high speed passenger catamaran of
length: 40.1 metres capacity: 216 pax Speed: 27 knots
built by Austal, Western Australia and delivered in
1991 to their earlier client J N Cruises Pte Ltd
Singapore. J N Cruises has since ceased operations in
1998. Apparently this passenger catamaran has now
found its way into the Leela's books of accounts in
2003 -2004 (?)
Interestingly another top official of the Goa
Government disclosed to this writer off the records
that the Government was pursuing clandestinely a " Las
Vegas casino policy" . Under this plan of action
comceptualised during the tenure of Mr Luizinho
Faleiro the ex CM and ex MLA of Goa each of the five
and seven starred hotel in this tiny State could set
up a casino "off shore" . This is to avoid tempation
by local to get into the casino habit if the same is
on shore.
One such casino the Caravella belonging to M/s Ramada
Hotels found its operations successful off Panaji in
the River Mandovi despite initial protests by some
women organisations headed by Ms Sabina Martins and
others. They had then objected to the amendment
effected by the Indian National Congress regime to the
Goa Gambling Act 1976 allowing for the setting up of
casinos . They had also protested the "casino culture"
in the state for fear of the locals indulging in
prostitution, emergence of paedophiles ruination of
families and other associated ills. But all this
notwithstanding sources within the offshore casino
disclosed that elected representatives police
officials were favourites at the casinos on shore /
off shore. (Gambling ofcourse is as old as the worlds
oldest profession -- prostitution and there are no
immediate indications that these two will beseige
humankind for eternity and Goa and Goans are not
exception to these viceremember "godgodo" "tabla")
Eventually this meant that the three prominent rivers
in the State Zuari, Mandovi, and Sal could eventually
allow for others to follow suit. If there is no
public outcry from environmentalist the plan envisaged
extending "off shore" casinos to other rivers like
Talpona, etc.
Another source who spoke to this writer today informed
that the Salgaocars too who own the Goa Marriot
Resort at Miramar Tiswadi have ventured into this
business and have plans to run a casino 1200 pax
capacity? . They have already acquired a floating
casino from Argosys ( a world famous casino gaming
Inc) in North America for Rs 20 crores and have got
into the act of re modification to the vessel with
investments to the tune of some crores at a private
shipyard in Mormugao Harbour.
The vessel when ready for operations will be
re-christened "Boa Sorte" in Portuguese ( literally
translated to mean Good Lottery ). However now with
the voice of protests and threats to the mv Leela at
Cutbona/ Mobor the investors in the casino trade have
to think twice.
A retired official, a seemingly knowledgeable
authority on marine and environmental matters pointed
out to this writer that the International Maritime
Organisation have upgraded their environment concerns
owing the dismal picture on the prospects of global
warnings and continued violations in the oceans. It is
discreetly learnt that following the grounding of the
mv River Princess in June 2000 and tar balls found on
the shores of Goa's 105 kms coastline they have become
sensitive to violations of IMO regulations and the
issue of the present casino too seems to received
their attention for investigation early August 2007
through the local office in India at Dehradun UP North
India.
This is notwithstanding the fact that an influential
official of the Hotel Leela Ventura Ltd one Brigadier
(Retd ) Shakti Prasad is at the helm of affairs
overseeing the interests of the "continued stay of the
passenger catamaran" at Mobor despite public outcry.
Meanwhile top officials in the Archdiocese of Goa &
Daman were shocked to learn that more casinos would be
licenced in Goa, despite their strong opposition on
the grounds of this gaming being not in tune with the
moral fabric of the state. What was perhaps shocking
as disclosed to this writer by a Jesuit priest, was
that while the Archbishop of Goa His Grace Filipe Neri
Ferrao was seen pictured on the local English dailies
extended full support and co-operation to the Chief
Minister Mr Digamber Kamat when the later called on
him at the "Paco Patriacal" at Altinho informally
---it was the very next day that his Government
announced plans for six more casinos in the State.
One staunch INC veteran politician wondered whether
the politicians intended to pursue their own goals or
that of those who elected them to power. They fear
that if the INC NCP SGF Ind combine with the
"unsolicited" support of the UGDP push down policies
not atuned to the wishes of the people, the coming
days do not augur well for "niz Goencars".
This will also imply that the Government will
eventually resort to "police raj" in the near future
to quell sporadic public outbursts.
from the Cavelossim Mobor end.
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,
BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA)
+91 98221 58584 (24 HRS)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Do you get hundreds of mails everyday? Delete none. Go to
http://in.rd.yahoo.com/tagline_mail_9/*https://edit.india.yahoo.com/config/eval_register
