On 2nd April while India was gearing up for the Cricket World cup finals, Goa was in the news for its Education Minister Babush Monseratte being intercepted at the Bombay Airport on his way to Dubai with foreign currency beyond the permissible limits. Only Babush Monserrate and the Customs officer who initially intercepted him will know the exact quantum that was seized.
Education Minister Babush Monseratte now says that he was unaware he could not carry that amount. Very true. How can you expect a 7th std passed to know the law. And on September 7, 1978 when he dropped out of school while in Class 8 a student was not even expected to know the difference between a rupee, dirham, dollar and for that matter what a traveler cheque was. Babush Monseratte cannot be entirely blamed. The onus is on Chief Minister Digambar Kamat for having opted for an Education Minister who lacks what he needs the most. If money was everything and education was not a prerequisite for every profession including politics all schools, colleges and universities would have been shut by now. What Goa desperately needs is a Lokayukta. If we had one in place most of the current Ministers and some MLA ‘s would have been cooling their heels in jail. What a respite it would have been for Goa and Goans. Aires Rodrigues T1 - B30, Ribandar Retreat Ribandar - Goa - 403006 Mobile: 9822684372
