Law makers (ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES) in Goa have been given a deserving rest.
After the Tsunamis that have struck India's twenty fifth tiny state - the people in Goa are wondering whether a defamation case could be filed against the lawmakers -- for tarnishing the fair image of Goa and Goans by the mockery that they have resorted to since 27/1/2005 to 4/3/2005. Like the proverbial what came first the chicken or egg there will be discussions ad nausem on whether the BJP or the INC are to be blamed for the mess. Atleast as per the present --- many suscribe to the view that Mr Manohar Parrikar ex CM should have been allowed to carry on his developmental activities until term end 2007 but there were others among the secularists who said "what use is development if a "Cristao and a Konkno or Moir" cannot walk hand in hand and there they score a point over the BJP. Governance has suffered worst still development works will suffer on two counts. One if the bye-elections are declared to the five vacant seats (the code of conduct will come into force stopping all development activity) and two the monsoons approach in just another two months and no one risks development activity as all migrant (menial ) work force desert Goa to attend to their agricultural activities in their home state. Worst still economy will tend to suffer because the introduction of Value Added Tax come the new fiscal year April 2005 this will need a lot of cobwebs and clatter to be cleared for smooth sailings. This Monday, 2005 all the Ministerial cars will be returned to the "stable" and for once Goans will be seeing their elected representatives sans the redlights. But the lucky ones are those that became Chairpersons of the various Corporations for they will continue in office unless the Governor decides otherwise ----and decide he must to ensure fair play atleast when Presidents Rule --- with the House under suspended animation is in vogue 4/3/2005 to 3/9/2005 (for the time being) or revoked earlier if a stable Government can be ensured following the results of the bye elections --which in any case has to be held between now and latest by the first week of June 2005 to avoid the onset of monsoons. Now that Mr S C Jamir (one of the 16 tribes (a Baptist Christian ) of the North Eastern State of Nagaland also called the "Switzerland of the East" and ex Chief Minister of Nagaland since 1982 ) Governor will rule the State with his aides (appointment expected in the next 48 hrs) Goa can expect a lot from the Governor. He has rich experience in governance having been in politics from the time of late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as a Deputy Minister in the Union Cabinet and also as Chief Minister in the fifth Legislative Assembly of Nagaland. He has been witness to unseating and seating of governments like Goa has witnessed since 1990 )in his tiny state then of 40 directly elected law makers + 4 nominated and subsequently 60 elected lawmakers. His state has set up in capital Kohima the Administrative Training Institute to upgrade skills of the bureaucracy and therefore the right thing he has done under the Presidents rule regime is to invite the bureaucracy to give them a "piece of his mind" as his first step. This one single measure of work ethics and a sensitive executive (bureaucracy) can change overnight the lackadaisical attitude of the staff. Here one expects the Governor to hold the leash and strike when the ocassion arises. The people of Goa had been witness to Presidents rule in the past and given a choice between and elected government and the Presidents rule -- it is "Rashtrapati rajvott" that the masses prefer for a tiny state like Goa. Some of the Governors that have won the admiration of Goans( exluding the politicians who invariably despise the word "Presidents rule" for obvious reasons) were late Col P S Gill in 1977 - 1981 (father of ex Chief Election Commisioner Govt of India M S Gill )late Dr Gopal Singh (1984 - 1989) Lt General J F R G Jacob PVSM Retd 1998 to 1999 for they in their conduct while in office displayed exemplary rapport with those that they "ruled over" to earn the sobriquet of "People's Governor" It must be remembered too at this stage that Goans during the Portuguse rule were accustomed to a bit of regimentation --- the rule of law must prevail -- and no Goan will regret this adage -- because with a bit of regimentation comes discipline and with dicipline less corruption and orderly conduct of public life. Goans respect the rule and law and they expect those in high offices to set this trend. There is no doubt that His Excellency Mr S C Jamir who has a self confessed love for Goa (hailing from Nagaland which except for its climate resembles the natural settings of much of what his home state enjoys) will definitely address himself to the needs of the people of Goa during this brief tenure. But one expects Mr Jamir to display neutrality in conduct though he may be inclined to lean a little towards his "alma mater" the Indian National Congress. Therefore now all eyes need to be focussed on Raj Bhavan at Dona Paula and the people of Goa would do well to visit the site www.rajbhavangoa.org and address their aspirations difficulties suggestions to His Excellency Mr S C Jamir email address [EMAIL PROTECTED] for a cleaner Goa . Meanwhile on the political front the battles of battles are being fought in the judiciary at the High Court and the Supreme Court and developments in Jarkhand and Bihar will surely have a bearing on Goa even if the ex CM Mr Pratapsing Raoji Rane disagrees as the Central authorities and the Home Ministry are convinced that there are parallels both in Ministry formation and otherwise since the Governorship in both states are held by INC loyalists. GODFREY J I GONSALVES BORDA MARGAO GOA [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your life partner online Go to: http://yahoo.shaadi.com/india-matrimony
