>We allknow that Goa (its government, its bureaucracy and its citizens) >havebeen slow as >institution builders, at getting the job done, at taking >advantage of opportunities, at building on >their strengths. That iswhy we are >not an Andhra Pradesh or a Punjab or some other >morevibrant State. We spend >so much of our energies targeting one another,blaming and >building up >non-issues, that we have very little energiesleft to build or create. >Obvious!The NRI >Commission needs critical feedback on what it is >doingwrong... not just the money aspect. If it >won't be open, then we needto >move beyond the blame-game and show that initiatives are >possibleon our own, >which can comlpement, supplement (and even compete with)the official >bodies. NOTHING AGAINST MR EDUARDO FALEIRO >On 17 July 2010 06:18, Aires Rodrigues < airesrodrigues1 at gmail.com > >wrote:[1] I have >nothing personal against Mr. Eduardo Faleiro or any one else >aboutwhom I have raised issues >over the last over 30 years. [2] I strongly >believe that public funds and government >machineryshould not be misused for >one’s personal benefit. [3] One should not wine, dine and >make merry at the >cost of the State exchequer. COMMENT: Now, ALL that Aires Rodrigues has >to do >(using his own formula) is toprove that he has nothing personal against Mr. >Eduardo >Faleiro....(and if he wishes) against Fr Newton Fernandes.He may then >proceed to confirm >here that he personally has never doneanything unethical >since his qualification as a lawyer. >(Let us leavethe 'over 30 years' >undisturbed.)Let's see if we can 'open the door'. jc
NRIs (counting and including Goans) are urged to join hands with people back home to work towards a better Goa, a better India. The best and brightest among the NRI Goans should take politics as a calling and not as a business. A small group of thoughtful and committed individuals can change the world. Although, I have not known Mr. Eduardo Faleiro, the former External Affairs Minister and presently the NRI Commissioner with a cabinet ranking, having met with him and interacted with him, my observation of what’s going on as a daily thoroughfare at the Commissioner’s office in Porvorim, has made me realise that just reading comments on the Net forums and hearsays, only amounts to pointing fingers and is just a way of life for Goans. I have found the Commissioner and his officers, prompt and responsive in dealing with those visiting his office with appeals, grievenances and advice. People whose loved one has departed while abroad, builders and the greedy (including Goans) encroaching NRIs properties, bank disputes, etc. Just a visit to the NRI commissioner’s office will establish these facts for you. The role of Goan bureaucrats, politicians, the common man (aam admi as the Goa CM oftens says) and social workers together with the NRIs in India since pre-Independence days till recent tech revolution has been an active role player. Today the visiting delegations together with the NRIs, who had seen various societies of the world, and how they could promote good things back. NRIs could build a bridge between themselves and the rest of the world. Hence in the Commissioner’s budget and mandate, a few frequent trips for interaction with the persons who has grievances and issues are appropriate. We should also focus on the visiting delegation’s strength, the number of accompanying dignitaries as well as the riff-raff. It must not be forgotten that we have seen a galaxy of leaders who fought for social justice and many of whom studied abroad. They were the brightest of the brightest and privileged of privileged, without doubt. Many of them came back for fighting for the Independence of India, so also many Goans at that time of liberation of Goa as history tells us. A few opportunist did also barge into Goa, from neighbouring Indian States with the Jai Hind slogan, after the Portuguese left, and managed to get themselves elected once/twice on the sentiments of the Goans and in the process made sure that their siblings get into almost every trade the government offered. The achievements of the NRIs, the problems with the Indian political system and bureaucracy and how one could go about changing the system are to be followed up with a wide-ranging topics like, solutions to corruption, how NRIs could contribute, things that would bring about change, secularism, foreign policy, women in politics, and establishing a national think-tank and a national judicial commission along with a host of other things. The energy, enthusiasm, and passion shown by the people of Indian origin/NRIs, has deeply inspired many others to work hard and replicate the same for their nations. The Goans specially in the Gulf are known to have been calling upon all, time and again, specially the educated middle class to indulge more in the democratic process. We need to overcome the narcissism of small differences in the interest of the bigger cause of reformation and the NRIs have been praised for their achievements and the laurels that they had earned for themselves and for their State, their country. The NRIs should not lose heart if the expected progress was not visible, but slowly and sure, as it is happening in the rest of India, Goa will also follow suit. It takes time as it is still a nation in progress. With the technology and resources we now have, we can hope for a change in the country sooner or later. All should give a bit of your energy, your time, your organizational ability, your technological capability and your resources, most of all, your passion, your love to fellow Goans and your country of origin. Like a friend told me: You try to please everyone while you occupy the chair at the panchayat level as a panch or sarpanch. When one's work cannot be done favourably, you become the bad guy’. Cheers. G. Almeida - Kuwait
