------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660 Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------- Identifying Development Priorities -------------------------------------------- The underlying agenda behind the hurry in creating the IFFI infrastructure in Panaji and the reluctance to share information with the people of Panaji by the concerned authorities is that it was yet another Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to fund the party's election coffers.
This is the only reason that can explain the truculence shown by our leader at the helm of affairs while being questioned about the IFFI issues. The intransigence and stone-walling tactics employed when requested by the Citizens' Committee show that he has something to hide.
This is the precise reason why in democracy you need a mechanism by which the people can exercise control on their elected representatives not only during election time but during the term of office. This is to stop the political leadership from committing civilised society to changes which have the power to drastically impact the lives of the people like acts of war, issues related to projects having major environmental impact, projects which are initiated purely for the pleasure of a privileged few etc.
The perfect example of the acts of war issue is the Iraq war when Mr Bush and Mr Blair, in spite of substantial public opinion against the war in their own countries and around the world, committed themselves to military action resulting in massive loss of life, property and resources. In the last category comes our CM's indulgence in the IFFI infrastructure at the cost of other projects of the state.
One of the ways to bring some sanity to the political leadership in the state is that the voting population should come out in large numbers in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and defeat their candidates to at least show that the people of Panaji and Goa will not allow the squandering of public money on accelerated implementation of projects which have less of short-term relevance to the development of the state.
S Kamat, Porvorim in a letter to the Editor ---------------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 7/4/04 page 10 ----------------------------------------------
======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Tel: 2252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goadesc.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy =======================================
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