------------------------------------------------------- CONVENTION OF THE GOAN DIASPORA FROM GOA INTO THE WORLD Lisbon, Portugal June 15-17, 2007 Details at: http://www.casadegoa.org -------------------------------------------------------
I would like to clarify a few points with the regard to the programme on Goa's "land mafia" on the channel CNN-IBN on May 29, 2007 and subsequent posting of the article on the channel's wesite, ibnlive.com. It had also been widely circulated on Goanet, a virtual community of Goans and those connected with Goa. I have been quoted in the programme and article. First, I had no idea I was speaking to CNN-IBN or its representatives. A person claiming to be Sashi Mukherjee, Managing Director of Elite Builders of Noida, visited my office to seek advise about foreign investments in Goa. Mr Mukherjee--the person claiming to be Mr Mukherjee, clearly a fictitious person used to deliberately mislead me--mentioned that he and his orhganisation were interested in carrying on real estate development in Goa and probably, selling apartments to foreign nationals. I expalined to him at length on the various provisions of law. "Mr Mukherjee" later asked about zoning laws and Goa's Regional Plan 2011, and said he heard that that huge amounts were paid to various individuals, including politicians, for getting zones and classifications of land changed. He sought a clarification if this was the case. I replied to him that I had read in various sections of the press that huge bribes were paid to politicians and others for getting the so-called conversions done. Second, I would further like to clarify that I did not name any individual, minister or ex-minister or any other person as I have no personal knowledge or experience of the same. Third, a Mr Leonid Beyzer was mentioned as being my client. Mr Beyzer has been my client in the past for professional legal advice, and has not been my client for the last two years. Finally, would I be correct in saying that "Mr Mukherjee's" unethical pursuit of information, by posing as someone else, with elaborate false identity, puts such a respected channel in poor light? As far as my position is concerned, the representative of CNN-IBN did not contextualise what I said correctly. Sincerely, Augustus Monteiro Advocate ------------------------------------------------------- Goanet recommends, and is proud to be associated with, 'Domnic's Goa' - A nostalgic romp through a bygone era. This book is the perfect gift for any Goan, or anyone wanting to understand Goa. Distributed locally by Broadway, near Caculo Island, Panjim & internationally by OtherIndiaBookStore.Com. For trade enquiries contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------------------------------------
