To Goanet - **************** From: Soter D'Souza, Centre for Panchayati Raj, Core Member of GBA
While GBA requests all core team members to restrain themselves from talking to the press, how is it that the Convenor has continued to give comments in GT and NT? If the Convenor can go to the press and try to cover up his betrayal of the people before the Task-force, the GBA members are also free to go to the press and bring the record straight. The accusation that some members are against the government is misleading. An attempt is being made to give a political twist to the entire debate. This very accusation reveals that the convenor is hell bent on pleasing the present dispensation. If anyone is of the opinion that GBA will crumble with the departure of the present convenor and Jt. Convenor south then they should forget about it. In fact, some people have kept away from GBA because of a particular coterie. The Convenor must be removed if the GBA is to survive. The behaviour of the convenor over the last few months is definitely detrimental to any movement. The convenor feels he is an authority by himself on all matters and takes suo moto decisions. He goes to the TF and gives his consent for a change in mandate without even bothering to check the decision of the core team. He comes from a holiday and without consulting the team makes a statement just opposite to that of the GBA. The constant challenge that if anyone dispproves of his functioning then they can remove him, is definitely blackmail. The convenor has caused irreparable damage to the GBA through his actions over the last 6 months. There definitely exists a conflict of interest in some members and every move is being weighed depending on their personal benefit, not the people. That explains why feet are being dragged on doing the right thing at the right time. How can GBA be expected to deliver when the very benefactors of a builder lobby that is now caught in the cross-fire at benaulim with several irregularities is trying to dominate the decision making of GBA? It is my personal opinion that those GBA members who disagree with what is going on in the GBA should come open in the press. By allowing the betrayers of the people to get their view point across while the truth gets suppressed is only confusing people. There is already a mass campaign to rope in all editors to portray that the convenor is a victim of betrayal and elements against the Congress govenment. With everyday lost irreparable damage is being done in Goa's fight to save itself from the maurading builder lobby. Nothing will happen to GBA and if it does happen it will definitely be for the good of Goa as the people can look at other options to defend their rights. Allowing GBA to be held to ransom by one or two persons is as good as there being no GBA. GBA bachao! Convenor hatao! -soter *******************************
