------------------------------------------------------------------------ TRI Continental Film Festival - Dona Paula, Goa, Sep 28 - Oct 2, 2007
http://www.moviesgoa.org/tricontinental/tricon.htm For public viewing. Registration at The International Centre Goa. (Ph: +91-832-2452805 to 10) Online Media Partner: http://www.GOANET.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Margao 27th September 2007. Majority of the young budding speakers from the Higher Secondary Schools were voicefrous against Casinos in Goa during the 9th All Goa Elocution Competition for High Schools and Higher Secondary Elocution Competition held at Fatima Convent Hall at Margao conducted by Tourism Airline Management Education TAME to commemorate the World Tourism Day. The topic for the High Schools was IS TOURISM A THREAT TO GOANS IDENTITY ? and for the Higher Secondary Students was CASINO Boon or Bane - Majority of the speakers minced no words that Tourism is definitely a threat to Goan's identity with the influx of Foreign tourist today's Goan youth adapt to the western culture and lifestyle thereby ignoring Goa's own rich cultural heritage. They voiced the shift in jobs to Tourism has left agriculture sector neglected and paddy fields uncultivated which is a eco-concern to society. The need of the hour being that the Government comes out with concrete plans to ensure of basic infrastructure and also seek remedies to the ongoing garbage meance, littering of the beaches and the power problem. They felt that Tourism is welcomed provided that Goa is not sold to Developers as was set forth in the scrapped Regional Plan. The Higher Secondary Students spoke about the Casions and the speakers speaking against the Casions did make a mention of the River Sal Agitation and how Casinos are even a threat to the back waters of Goa. They wondered whether Goa needed to be a Las Vegas to attract tourists when we have been blessed by mother nature. The ill effects of Casinos is just not the gambling on off shore but rather the other dreadful vices that follow sit suit which are drug peddling, prostitution, and underworld mafia. Speaker after Speaker condemned the slow action of the Government when it came to 5 star hotels specially the Leela Casino issue. The eminent Judges were Prof. Borges, Lecturer Brenda Coutinho and Mr. Lincoln Pereira Freelance journalist. The Chief Guest Dr. Francisco Colaco renowned cardiologist and social worker speaking on the Occasion congratulated the Management of TAME for bringing in a forum for the youth to express the views on core subjects thus bringing in awareness about the adverse effects of Tourism. The Guest of Honours Mr. R. S. Kamat C.E.O. Western Beverages Ltd., Cuncolim and Rev. Fr. James Torres e Silva Parish Priest St. Sebastian Church Aquem congratulated the budding speakers. Earlier Mrs. Farrel Furtado e Gracias was felicitated at the hands of Dr. Francisco Colaco with a Shawl and AVC Personality Award for her dedicated social work and specially working for the upliftment of the village youth. Mr. Francis Braz Director of TAME in his address said that today Goan institutions are being victimized, where there is gross discrimination and utter no respect to law. He categorically sated that TAME stands as a true testament which is fighting this evil dictator and inspite of TAME enjoying the blessings of our Chief Minister Mr. Digambar Kamat, however in a Coalition Government even honest Chief Minister is unable to stop one Dictator who has the blessings of a minister. Such is sad saga wherein our students still continue to like under mental torture and agony – We hope that better sense will prevail and finally we hope the students of the Amm Admi do not have to move to High Court of Goa and expose the dictatorial regime of HRDF Chairman and his high handiness and also total incompetence in managing the private institutions. The said Director has the knack to misrepresent the facts to the government. He reminded the students that in todays world one has to fight justice and that TAME insists the government to start a judicial probe into the HRDF examination scam He vowed on this World Tourism Day that his request to the Government of Goa specially the SDCT Minister Vishwajeet Rane only to grant justice and not even a single favour. He ended up saying that he firmly believed that Truth will ultimately prevail and GOANS SHALL OVERCOME Vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Kevin Colaco and Miss Reina Rodrigues of Airline Management compeered the competition. Higher Secondary section Winner was Sonia Naik (St. Xavier Mapusa) ; Runners Up - Gaurang Panandiker (Damodar Margao) ; and Consolation Prizes Prajyoti Varik (S.S. Angle H. S, Canacona ) ; Apoorvag Poojary (RMS Margao) ; - Marushka Da Costa (Carmel Nuvem) ; - Nazira Sheikh (Cuncolim United H. S) ; Apoorva D. Jingabe (G.V.M.S Ponda ) 8th Place - Abigail Pires ( Fr. Agnel H.S. Verna, - Mauzicio Diniz (Rosary Navelim) and Rencia Mascarenhas (Guardian Angel, Curchorem ) High School Winner was Miss Gretchen Barretto (Maria Bambina, Cuncolim) ; Runners Up. - Ganapati Bhat (Guardian Angel H. S, Curchorem ) ; Consolation - Vighnesh Birodkar (A. J. De Almeida H. S, Ponda) ; Chandhni C. L. (Mahila Nutan, Margao ; - Naheera Almeida Coutinho (Fatima Convent Margao ) ; Aurley Bernad (Loyola Margao) ; Sonu Valyan (Our Lady of Health, Cuncolim) ; Minoshka Gomes ( Fr. Agnel, Verna) ; Carissa Pereira (Presentation Convent Margao) ; Ayesha Mueller (St. Pius Orlim ) ; Kimberlyne Pereira (St. Joseph Aquem) > > > > >
