TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Five months after they were due to pay back the government for the money spent on their World Cup junket, the four MLAs who went to Brazil are yet to make the payment. The government is also yet to collect the refund of the two cancelled travel packages of two BJP MLAs who opted out of the Rs 89 lakh trip.
Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) officials stated that despite shooting off three letters over the last five months to the MLAs after their return home from the controversial ‘junket’ to the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil, the four Goa MLAs have still not cleared their dues though SAG’s first deadline was 45 days after their return in mid-July. The second notice was sent on October 21 and the third notice was sent to them on November 3.
“We will take it up with the government next. The November 3 letter was the third letter we sent them,” Sandip Jacques, SAG director told Herald.
He also said that of the other two packages where the persons backed out, the ticket refund will be sought with permissible deductions.
Fisheries minister Avertano Furtado, Aldona MLA Glenn Ticlo, Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida and Velim MLA Benjamin Silva, and two more who were originally scheduled to travel on the Rs 89 lakh state-sponsored trip, were forced to agree to foot their own bill after public condemnation of the splurge of public money.
SAG had already made the Rs 89 lakh payment to the travel agents.
According to reports, the letters have gone from SAG joint director (accounts) M D Morajkar with the last letter, which was not acknowledged by the recipients, being written on November 3.
Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, Power Minister Milind Naik, Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado and three MLAs – Carlos Almeida, Benjamin Silva and Glenn Ticlo – were part of the original group. However, first Tawadkar backed out and then Calangute MLA Michael Lobo took his place. However, thereafter Naik and Lobo too backed down after the payments were made.
Furtado had paid an amount of 3 lakh to the SAG but still has to pay Rs 11.10 lakh. The other three have paid Rs 2 lakh each and have to pay SAG Rs 12,09,861 each. Almeida refused to comment and Ticlo was not available on the phone when a response was sought.
