Carvalho wrote: Finally, I would like to dispel one other great myth that has been perpetuated by Aires Rodgrigues, that it is a party at the expense of the Goan taxpayer. This is not true. The host country contributes greatly to the finances of this "party". Also the entire team was voluntary. There are other institutions such as Cultural organisation in India, who sponsore the dancers and folk singers. There are private doners who sponsors musicians - for instance a benevolent sponsor from Germany flew in Agnelo Fernandes to entertain us, which was a real treat. Finally even if the NRI department spent money on folk-dancers etc, it is not Chinese or Japanes folk dancers they are spending on. It is Goan men and women. So the money goes back into the Goan economy. People should get their facts right before they make public prounoucements. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Selma, The Govt of Goa does finance the Global Goan Conventions. I have a picture of a Goa Govt official handing over a cheque to the organizers of the Toronto convention. In fact, all the conventions prior to London have received cheques from the Govt of Goa. Can you please confirm if the London convention did or did not receive funds from the Goa Govt. In my opinion, the biggest hurdle facing Goans today is the Govt in Goa. It has failed both Goa and Goans. If anything, the Global conventions should be the place where the Goa Govt officials should get grilled. Instead, since the Goa Govt is sponsoring these conventions, the Goa Govt officials get feted. This defeats the purpose of having Goa Govt officials attending. Lastly, every time I go to Goa, my heart breaks. I get to see more and more kids at orphanages who are close to starving. Somehow, the good folks at the Govt of Goa have no money to feed those hungry stomachs. It makes me sad to see that the same govt finds the money to send dancers abroad. And especially so, as you have so eloquently pointed out, when Goan individuals abroad have no problems sponsoring these musicians and dancers. I hope you are able to both, understand and accept the facts. Mervyn1650Lobo
