Dear Mr. Fernandes: I find it deliciously hypocritical that NRI Commissioner Faleiro who having done so much to encourage and promote out migration of Goans and others as Gulf guest-workers who daily toil in inhospitable climes, and who attempts faux Goan unity with repeat junkets (paid for by resident Goan tax payers) to these areas, now has the cajones to "stress" the importance of retaining Goan identity and culture of his dwindling countrymen. Ha! Man talks with forked tongue. best, I. Nunes
--- On Tue, 11/17/09, Freddy Fernandes <ffernandes....@emaar.ae> wrote: Preserve the Culture and Identity of Goa, says, NRI Commissioner Eduardo Faleiro. "Commissioner of NRI affairs Eduardo Faleiro highlighted the importance of preserving the culture and identity of Goa. He was speaking at the Bal Mela organized by Jan Ugahi and Big Foot Trust at Loutolim. Faleiro also said that "in the present century, the deterioration of global environment poses a serious threat to the future generations'. Around 800 children from weaker sections of society participated in the mela" After decades in politics this is the first time I have heard Mr. Faleiro talk some sense at last, there might not be any concrete action coming out of the 4th Global Goan Convention in Oman, and a lot of people too had said that nothing good is going to happen and it's just a total waste of public money, but the hot topic of preserving Goan Culture and It's Identity at the convention must have got through into Mr. Faleiro. Hope this contagion does not cure it's self half way into it's treatment. Mr. Faleiro, in the position that he was in the Congress Party, could have done a lot for Goa, but what has he achieved in over three decades in Delhi, except may be part in the statehood process, overall he has been a failure. Last couple of years Goa has seen so much turmoil due to mega housing and mining but we did not hear anything from Mr. Faleiro. A couple of months back, he did open his mouth, but unfortunately bit his own tongue in the process, when he made a statement that, Government should take over the running of Church properties. Goa has infinite number of issues that are much more important, which need immediate attention and all that Mr. Faleiro could think of was protecting Church properties and that too from the clergy. It is agreed that there have been some discrepancies on the part of the clergy but has the Government done any better for us to put our faith and belief in them rather than our clergy ? Is there any Cummunidade property left in Goa ? What has the Government done with the Lakhs of Sq meters of land that were acquired ? Land scams involving Government officials and politicians in Goa, out number any other scams, and all that Mr. Faleiro could think off was, ask the tiger to guard the goat. Mr Faleiro also talks of global environment concern, when his own government has done nothing, absolutely nothing to protect and preserve our ecology and our environment in Goa, on the contrary Congress Government in Goa has been supporting rampant mining, hill cutting and land filling, which has contributed to the devastation of our ecology and our environment. If Mr. Faleiro is serious about his newly acquired concern to protect Goan Culture, it's Identity and it's environment, please show it in actions not just words. Freddy Agnelo Fernandes