GILBERT LAWRENCE Responded to Stephen Dias letter on Casinos: DEAR GILBERT I think you are talking without knowing the present scenario or ground reality how we Panjimite live and how we are suffering due to Casino menace. I do not want to elaborate to this person who is away from Panjim and India and shouting from his country although he is a Goan by birth possibly. As he says, we all know that Casino industry is a must for the state of Goa to live and getting profits coming from casino industry with the flow of tourist from all parts of the world. Fine, this looks logic but at what cost? Does this person dictating terms from a distance to us .We are living with such a menace in the river Mandovi. HAVING river Mandovi poluted with dump of sewage into the river and tankers running all the 24x7 with additional sewage into our city roads to the Sewage Treatment Plant at St.Inez and again this plant when it cannot cope up this supply it overflows into the creek and back to river where these casinos are parked. Does Gilbert knows that Goa Government pockets casino income into the ministers and mlas reservoir which could be almost 70 percent of profit. Government not yet appointted a Gaming Commissioner. Government is just passing their time and we Panjimite are suffering from pollution and environment problem where Capt of Ports is allegedly hand in gloves with the government where a building is likely to come up at the jetty itself under the nose of Captain of Ports where our ex-CM and ex-Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar gave the blessing for this project but unfortunately is no more with us. He inaugurated this building construction and a plaque is standing there near the jetty . Panjim residents see day and night this heavy construction with noise going on and for those residing closeby is still worst. . Even a police complaint is made by a nearby resident Dr Joe De Souza for stopping this construction but nobody bothers. This project is at CRZ and No Development Zone. This building will house these casinos at the jetty in future. Then this is going to create much more movement with more number of vessels going to anchor thus polluting our river Mandovi with sewage. Why we need such income at the cost of destroying the river and the youth which gives rise for prostitution and gambling without the control of Gaming Commissioner? Several Nepalis and Biaris girls are roaming throughout the city streets of Panjim for searching clients and taxis drivers taking them for prostitution into 5 Star hotels and city lanes for sexual pleasures. I have proofs that such complaints were lodged to police station but they too are hand in gloves as the system continues. With this elaborate explanation do we need Casinos? GILBERT MUST REALISE THAT HE SHOUT FROM ROOFTOPS FROM ABROAD AND GIVING LESSONS OR ADVICES TO US WHICH HE NEEDS TO COME DOWN AND SEE WHAT IS GOING ON.
STEPHEN DIAS DONA PAULA ---------------------------------------------------------- GILBERT LAWRENCE RESPONDS TO STEPHEN DIAS LETTER TO GOANET I hope all realize that this is a one person opinion; notwithstanding that the opinion is expressed in capital letters. It is also likely the author's livelihood is not dependent on the casinos or on tourism.? Irrespective of our personal opinion about casinos, in the 21st century one cannot have a tourist destination in India, and certainly through out the world, without some casino entertainments.? In fact today's state-of-the-art casinos are more into hotel accommodation and family entertainment, venues for competitions, exhibitions, and artistic performances, etc (to attract the youth) than merely into gambling.? Goa's dialog should be how to upgrade their casinos and compete with tourist destinations in India, rest of Asia and the world; including Indian and international cruise boats, now docking in Goa.? Goans, Indians and tourism is not waiting for Goa to catch-up.? Regards, GL Sent from my Samsung device
