(Herald, 21/08/2010) Why deify Oscar? Eurico Mascarenhas, Porvorim There has been a sudden flurry of letters in Herald over an insignificant resignation; by Dr Oscar Rebello. In this age of 'consent manufacturing', it appears that attempts are being made by vested interests to paint a larger-than-life brand image of activists preferred by the political establishment. While we are grateful for his role in the struggle against the RP 2011, it is important to set the record straight. The actual hands behind the success of the movement have been conveniently forgotten. Let us not forget that the success of GBA's public rallies against RP-2011 was ensured by the Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) along with parish forums; and not by Dr Oscar. In fact, after the scrapping of RP 2011, all that the GBA has done is to make life easy for the government and protect the interests of architects, engineers and real estate lobbies, as seen in the report of the Task Force on RP 2021. Does the GBA have any significant achievements to show after June 2007, when Digambar Kamat became CM?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ISSUES BEING DEBATED: In East Africa, despite colonialism, the British afforded the Goan a sliver of a socio-political voice. Read *Into The Diaspora Wilderness* by Selma Carvalho. Soon to be available in Toronto. Pp 290. Via mail-order from [email protected] http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/
