In what has now become a bi-annual routine ritual, the government has this month given another six month extension to those Casinos in the River Mandovi. Former Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar had branded the Casinos as 'Dens of Vice' but the current Chief Minister is on record stating that the Casinos are now an integral and vital component of Goa's Tourism Trade.
In May last year during that Panaji by-election Babush Monserrate had solemnly assured the voters of Panaji that he would ensure that all the Casinos in the River Mandovi would be removed within 100 days of being elected. Having failed without even trying to implement his promise, was he just playing Russian roulette with peoples’ aspirations, emotions, trust and lives? Having taken oath on May 28th Babush Monserrate it is now almost 11 long months and the Casinos continue firmly embedded in the River Mandovi while the infrastructure of their lounges along the Dayanand Bandodkar Road only having further bolstered. Our politicians having failed us with false promises, it took COVID-19 for Panaji to get a temporary relief from the Casino chaos, pollution and mayhem the city and people have been enduring for years. During the election campaign, when asked how he planned to remove the Casinos, Babush Monserrate said that he had a plan in place and would get them removed whether he was in the ruling party or Opposition. And now that he is in the ruling party, the Panaji MLA has no excuse for having failed to fulfill that election promise. Enough is enough. Babush must stop being chancers and taking chances with peoples’ lives and the environment and implement his so-called plan to remove the casinos, faster than the roll of a dice. He owes an apology to the people of Panaji whom he has taken for a ride by getting elected as a Congress MLA and within the first 100 days having jumped ship to join the BJP. Playing Russian roulette and Gambling with peoples’ precious vote, aspirations and trust is no good Governance. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com Or airesrodrig...@yahoo.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com