Roland Francis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> (1) It would be interesting if a Goan tax payer asked for a public accounting of the finances of the Saldanha Convention that took place in Toronto recently in view of the fact that the NRI Commissioner handed over a cheque for 5000 Euros to the organizers.
(2) It does leave a funny feeling in the pit of one's stomach to think that Goan tax payers were asked to partly finance what was in effect a pointless gathering. (3) Having made this vinegar posting let me add a little Goan jaggery to it. -- re # 1: I agree absolutely with Roland Francis. If the NRI commissioner handed a cheque worth 5000 euros made in the name of "the Saldanha convention", the Saldanhas must provide open accounting of the funds. They should NOT wait for any post-dated cheques to be cleared (or bounced) before making this 'open accounting'. re #2: I too would have had a " funny feeling in the pit of my stomach" IF I (like one among the negative crabby Goans) had predicted in March 2008 that this convention will not happen. What gall these 8 Goans have to pull out all the stops and make this convention happen - when one of the Crabs predicted (did he do it in writing?) that this convention would not happen. If I was such a person, I would be ashamed to be in Toronto during this event. I would run away to another part of Canada and hide under the excuse of something urgent a medical conference on the "Beneficial effects of Goan Crab Curry. But I would be in contact with the Vinegar dispenser from Sandy Point. The two of us could pour a whole pile of Vinegar on the hard work of people I would later call friends. re #3: Having said that, adding jaggery after pouring Vinegar into Crab-Codi does not make it all very nice and tasty. It might make it a wee bit sweeter - but everyone who knows how to make Crab-Codi knows that it is not authentic. It is Fake. Here is to Lisette, Kevin and the rest of the magnificent 8 from Toronto. With your effort, in the face of such negative crabs, you have made me feel good about Goans again. jc BTW: dear magnificent 8, did you also experience the "band-wagoners' syndrome? Where you do all the hard work, and others conveniently try muscle their way into doing coochie-coochie with the Chief Guest etc? If my experience (and knowledge) is anything to go by, there would be people (not on the planning committee) already making the itinerary for YOUR invitee ...while he was still in Goa! When will Goans leave alone this depressing habit of "touching the feet" of politicians?
