It is indeed shocking and a disgrace that the 4 Goan MLAs who after being exposed on the controversial junket to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil are now refusing to pay the outstanding dues owed by them. As it is they wanted to have a blast on the Goan taxpayers' expense and became the laughing stock of the world. May we remind them all Goans are watching and waiting to see the outcome. Shame on them! To think these scoundrels are supposed to be our representatives! Via this email we would like to remind fisheries minister and Navelim MLA Avertano Furtado, Aldona MLA Glen Ticlo, Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida and Velim MLA Benjamin Silva that they can't get away with this. They better get cracking and pay up as everyone has wised up to their antics.
Brazil tour: Goa’s MLAs ignore 3rd notice to clear dues *Marcus Mergulhao* <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toireporter/author-Marcus-Mergulhao.cms>Marcus Mergulhao,TNN | Dec 10, 2014, PANAJI: Five months after returning home from a controversial and much-publicized junket to the Fifa World Cup 2014 in Brazil, four Goa MLAs continue to drag their feet over payment to the state government. Led by fisheries minister Avertano Furtado, the four-member group which also included Aldona MLA Glen Ticlo, Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida and Velim MLA Benjamin Silva, were originally scheduled to travel on a state-sponsored junket to Brazil at a cost of 89 lakh but agreed to foot their own bill after receiving flak from across the country. The Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) had already made the payment and are now finding it difficult to recover the money from the MLAs. SAG joint director (accounts) M D Morajkar has been writing letters to the MLAs reminding them to clear their dues. The last of such letters was written on November 3 but more than a month later, there has not even been an acknowledgement. Avertano, the fisheries minister, had paid an amount of 3 lakh to the SAG but still has to pay the remainder of 11.10 lakh. The three other MLAs, all of whom paid 2 lakh each, are yet to shell out 12,09,861 each. SAG's first deadline to make the payments was 45 days after their return in mid-July but the MLAs sought time, ostensibly because they were busy with the monsoon assembly session. The then chief minister Manohar Parrikar -- also the chairman of the SAG -- himself agreed to extend the deadline by 30 to 45 days but even a second notice by SAG, sent on October 21, failed to evoke any response from the defaulting MLAs. "As regard to the balance amount, the same will be paid subsequently as I am occupied with work connected with assembly matter for which time limit may be extended for further period of 45 days," Velim MLA Benjamin Silva had requested in a letter to the SAG on July 31. Even Carlos Almeida, while making an initial payment of 2 lakh, had sought 45 days around the same time. "I am unable to mobilize the entire amount due to SAG. I request to give me at least 45 days by which time I will pay the entire amount," Carlos wrote in his letter to SAG executive director Sandip Jacques. The SAG agreed and gave the MLAs time till September 15 but close to three months since, the MLAs have failed to keep their word. tnn Here's how Goan MLAs spent Rs 84.59 lakhs on a junket to World Cup in Brazil Goa CM justifies MLAs' Brazil junket, criticizes Sachin Tendulkar <http://www.firstpost.com/india/goa-cm-justifies-mlas-brazil-junket-criticizes-sachin-tendulkar-1569133.html> · Goa: After furore, World Cup junket to be funded by MLAs or corporates <http://www.firstpost.com/india/goa-after-furore-world-cup-junket-to-be-funded-by-mlas-or-corporates-1569009.html> · News of six Goan MLAs — Ramesh Tawadkar (Sports), Avertano Furtado (Fisheries), Milind Naik (Power)- and MLAs Carlos Almeida, Glen Ticlo (both BJP) and Benjamin Silva (Independent) — going on an expensive 'study tour' to the FIFA World Cup first broke during the tournament. Today, the *a report in Times of India* <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/MLAs-spent-Rs-48-lakh-on-match-tickets-Rs-7-65-lakh-on-sightseeing-in-Brazil/articleshow/40382261.cms> breaks down the cost of the sojourn. <http://s2.firstpost.in/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/World-Cup-tickets-AFP.jpg> Out of Rs 84.59 lakhs, the MLAs spent a whopping Rs 48,12,550 on match tickets alone. AFP Out of Rs 84.59 lakhs, the MLAs spent a whopping Rs 48,12,550 on match tickets alone. Clearly, these were no ordinary tickets. The MLAs bought tickets for two quarterfinals ($2,550/ticket) and two semifinals ($4,200/ticket) that included included buffet style catering, guaranteed parking, premium bar service, a commemorative gift and a dedicated welcome area with multilingual hostesses. Bills also show that that Rs 7.65 lakhs was spent on sightseeing. The bookings were done through Fans on Stands, who have now presented the bill to the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG). The MLAs had agreed to travel to Brazil at their own cost, which means they will have to cough up around Rs 14 lakhs per head to to the SAG. The payment was supposed to be made before 31 July but the deadline has been extended to 15 September. Perhaps the MLAs are still trying to get someone else *to fund their trip?* <http://www.firstpost.com/india/goa-after-furore-world-cup-junket-to-be-funded-by-mlas-or-corporates-1569009.html> . *Click here* <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/MLAs-spent-Rs-48-lakh-on-match-tickets-Rs-7-65-lakh-on-sightseeing-in-Brazil/articleshow/40382261.cms> to read the full *Times of India* report Goa ministers, MLAs go ahead with Brazil junket on tax payers' money CNN-IBN <http://ibnlive.in.com/agency/CNN-IBN.html>@ibnlive <javascript:%20void(0)> *Panaji:* Despite the widespread criticism and Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar officially announcing the cancellation of the junket to FIFA World Cup, two state ministers and four MLAs have gone ahead with the trip on tax payers' money and are currently in Brazil. The trip to Brazil by the six leaders has cost the state exchequer Rs 89 lakh. Under fire from various quarters, the Goa government had on June 13 cancelled the trip. The state government, however, now says that as the tickets were already booked, it made no sense to cancel the trip. Explaining the change of events, Goa Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar told CNN-IBN, "We ministers wanted to go for the Brazil tour but so much chaos was created about it that some of us cancelled as well. Now what is the issue? The ministers have left." He added that the ministers who have taken the trip will reimburse the money when they are back. But, facts tell a different story. CNN-IBN has accessed copies of the tickets and they were in fact booked on June 17 i.e. four days after CM cancelled the trip 4 MLAs leave for Brazil on ‘personal’ trip Posted by: nt <http://www.navhindtimes.in/author/nt/>in Goa News <http://www.navhindtimes.in/category/goanews/> NT NETWORK PANAJI: Four Goan legislators, including a minister, who had been part of the now-cancelled official tour, left for Brazil on Tuesday for watching the football World Cup matches on an almost fortnight long tour, which the government said was a personal trip and that it was not at the cost of public funds, even as two ministers (part of original government delegation) opted out of the tour. The four legislators who left for Brazil were Avertano Furtado (Fisheries Minister and Navelim MLA), Benjamin Silva (Velim), Glenn Ticlo (Aldona) and Carlos Almeida (Vasco). They were joined by another ruling party legislator Michael Lobo, who though not part of the original tour decided to go to Brazil later at his own cost. Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar had opted out of what was supposed to be a study tour of ministers and legislators to Brazil, following public criticism that state funds were being blown away on a “junket”. Another member, Power Minister Milind Naik dropped out of the tour at the last minute.
