Corruption in customs is as old as prostitution, world wide. I am a frequently traveller to India and I have seen , if not all, most of it. I have also seen how some passengers behave and what great lengths they will go to, to avoid custom duties. Incidently your e-mail sugggests that you might not have declared the CPU. Noel Almeida ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2003 10:43 AM Subject: [Goanet] Re: Corruption in the Customs - Goa.
> In a message dated 5/28/03 6:55:24 AM Pacific Daylight Time, EdgarStmartins > writes: > > << > As a young man, I often travelled by ship to Bombay from Africa. I also > travelled from Goa to Bombay overland through Londa and Castle Rock. I have > always been curious and had observed the ease with which one entered Goa and > Africa from Bombay without much harassment from the Customs authorities and > without having to bribe the Goan or African Customs authorities. > > This goodwill shown to travellers leaving India is not reciprocated by > Indian authorities. I can imagine the 'fight to death' attitude of Indians > trying to succeed monetarily, to get a position in the Indian Customs, They, > most probably amass wealth and live in palaces having been born in mud houses. > Ha! Nothing but parasites preying on their own kind who would sell their mothers > and sisters for the proverbial thirty pieces. I even feel that Judas was more > honourable as he felt guilty and threw the money back at those who bribed him. > > I know of a handicapped person in my village needing a wheelchair. He > moves around in a rusty wheelchair and I am sure that he would appreciate a > better one. I know of hospitals that need beds and equipment. It is true that > India manufactures these items (some of which lack quality) and has laws to > protect industry. I know of schools that need books, computers, software and many > poor Indians who would appreciate clothes. But the problems of sending these > from abroad are insurmountable. The hawks in the Customs will not allow > anything to pass their departments unless their hands are heavily greased. India is > a seething,corrupt and nefarious hinterland where religion, nationalism and > moral valuesare openly bartered for personal gain. > > I had sent quite a few books to Goa a few years ago. The Goans here > had sent medicines, clothes and other things in a container. Hurdles erected by > greedy customs led Caritas to refuse gifts from outside India. > > Two years ago, I took an old CPU in my baggage which being electronic was > easily detected and the hawk at the Sahar Airport demanded Rs.8000.00 as a > bribe to allow me to get through. > > I wish that the Government of India would as a gesture of goodwill to > the NRI's allow gifts to charitable institutions without custom duties. We > should not beg for anything only when there is a calamity like an earthquake (as > in Algeria) or flooding (as in Sri Lanka) or even famine as in Ethiopia. I > know the reasons for this callous behaviour but disagree with the hardships meted > out to people who deserve respect and consideration. > > > Edgar Martins > > ########################################################################## > # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # > # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # > # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # > # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # > ########################################################################## > > _______________________________________________ > Goanet mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.goanet.org/mailman/listinfo/goanet > ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
