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Convenor of Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) Dr Oscar Rebello has been nominated
for CNN-IBN's Indian of the Year Award 2007 in public service category
Vote for him at:
http://www.cnnibnindianoftheyear.com/publicservice_voting_new.php
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Another visit to Goa and was able to leave unscathed. Yup!! Unscathed!!
While we are in the midst of Traffic Week/Fortnight (in Goa), many people
have several ideas to ease traffic woes albeit all those ideas will come to
nought if the drivers on the road continue their callous attitude when
behind the wheel of a car or astride a two-wheeler. Almost every roadway big
or small is lined with its customary share of crosses, temples, and other
places of worship...but the occupiers of the road appear to worship
Beelzebul instead. The list of dangerous driving attributes displayed is
long and scary. Some of the vehicles seen in Goa are far too powerful for
Goa's roads.
Its unfortunate for a society, when a man of the stature of Gurunath Kelekar
has to undergo a fast to draw attention to Traffic issues in Goa. On another
front Roland Martins and his band of Consumer Forum volunteers have to be
complemented for their efforts in promoting a 'Road Safety' culture.
Everybody should be a Road Safety advocate, not just these volunteers. Road
Safety is no Accident!!
The Goa Police are quick to brush off the rise in accidents with the rise in
the number of vehicles. And while the government is publishing/distributing
handbills and erecting signage in towns to raise awareness on Road Safety
issues, it appears the message is not getting through. And therein lies the
(possible) problem. If the government legislates strict fines for traffic
infractions and the police enforce those legislations, drivers would be
mindful. That includes cash fines and impounding of vehicles. Hitting
consumers in the wallet always works to discipline us. Traffic fines are a
cash-cow in any jusrisdiction around the world. The Goa Govt/Police should
maximize returns to the state exchequer.
To put things in perspective, this is my third visit to Goa in 6 years and
I've seen the volume of traffic grow. Drivers are turning into deadly
ambuscaders and the consequences will be serious.
It was nice to meet people at the Goanetters meet - Rico, George Pinto (came
straight from the airport) (USA), VM, Ariosto Coelho (USA), Cecil Pinto,
JoeGoaUK (who said he came all the way from Pune), Nasci Caldeira (AUS),
Pari Kamat, Mariano Pereira (GER), Richard Cabral, Marlon Menezes (with
young son in tow) (USA), John Eric Gomes, Schubert Cotta, Rajan Parrikar
(USA), Eustaquio Santimano (SIN), Jerry Fernandes (SAU), Alexyz, Cajetan
Vaz, Miguel Braganza, Ana Maria Goswami, Melinda Powell, Jason Monseratte,
Cip Fernandes (ENG), Roy Pimenta, Joe Sequeira, Eli & Jennifer Furtado
alongwith their young children, Keegan and Ivana - Two-time World Chess
Champion. Augusto Pinto & Shrikant Barve organized the chess game at the
Goanetters meet. More on that another time. I hope I haven't forgotten any
names.
A few of those that wrote saying they would come to the Goanetters meet did
not make it and I met a few other Goanetters during my stay. Did a fair bit
of travelling too. Will write about it, time permitting.
For all its ailing glory and glorious ailments, going home to Goa is still
the destination of choice for my next extended vacation.........as long as I
can escape unscathed. Time for some shut-eye!!
- Bosco
