VAGATOR: Even as the news of possible shifting of Sunburn to South Goa has caused a massive uproar there, people of Anjuna are sure that organisers of Sunburn will ultimately land at their doorsteps for holding the event.
“A day before they announced they are moving to South Goa, I was met and told that if South Goa does not work, Mopa was their next option but that Vagator was their best,” disclosed Dr Fenton D’Souza, gauncar of Anjuna Comunidade.
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“They wanted an assurance that we will decrease the rent (it is Rs 50 per square metre now) which is something only the AGM of the Comunidade can decide,” disclosed Dr D’Souza.
The news that Sunburn is changing the venue has not really surprised many in Anjuna. Instead, it has left some fuming and one of them being Dominic Pereira, president of Anjuna Comunidade, who said: “We have not received payment of Rs 38 lakh of the previous year and last year’s Rs 3.4 crore as they approached the Supreme Court and got the money frozen. We are happy if they have found another place, but pay us our dues.”
Sunburn, according to individuals directly involved in dealing with the organisation, made an offer asking the Comunidade to reduce last year’s fee of Rs 2.34 crore to Rs 70 lakh.
In return, the organisers promised to withdraw the case in the Supreme Court.
“The show is a success because of where it is being hosted. Then why not pay us our dues? If our land is not good, then they are welcome to go somewhere else. But they don’t, they keep announcing different places but return to us,” rues Dr D’Souza.
The announcement through media did not enthuse many in Anjuna, with Royal D’Souza mockingly saying: “As soon as the announcement was made through media, it was clear that they are up to the same game played last year. Then they had said that they were moving to Mopa and later after having applied to us for giving land, said that they were moving to Old Goa. Looks like they think they can sell water to us as wine.”
“It is sad that our Chief Minister is trying to ignore the fact we have been at the receiving end because of the festival. It is of absolutely no benefit to us. On the contrary, our relatives cannot come to visit us during the festive season, nor can we go out because of the traffic chaos,” explains D’Souza.
“The people of South Goa have shown how united they can be. We lack that unity here and that is why we are suffering. If Sunburn does go somewhere, we wish the people where they are going to, good luck,” summed up D’Souza.
Drugs are sold outside Sunburn venues and overdose cases have happened: Lobo
Calangute MLA welcomes the event; says it brings tourists, creates business for Goan stakeholders
Team Herald
PORVORIM: Calangute MLA Michael Lobo on Tuesday too batted for Sunburn and said that he always welcomed Sunburn electronic dance music (EDM) festival since it brings a lot of tourists and creates business for Goan stakeholders.
However, he agreed that drugs are sold outside Sunburn venue and there have been cases of drug overdose and deaths.
“But it is impossible to check 70,000 revellers getting into the venue,” Lobo said.
“Sunburn has been organised at Vagator for so many years. If the organisers want and if the chief minister wants, it will happen over there. Nobody takes drugs inside. However, it is true that drugs are sold outside the venue,” Lobo said.
“There have even been cases of drug overdose and deaths. Anti-Narcotic Cell (ANC), Crime Branch and local police should take action. NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau) should keep a watch on them,” Lobo informed, while speaking to reporters at the Legislative Assembly complex at Porvorim.
“Around 70,000 people attend the programme. How can you check all the individuals when they enter the venue?. It is difficult. Somebody or the other is bringing (drugs) inside. (Maybe) not to sell. It is true that it is consumed. There have been cases of overdose as well as death,” he said.
When asked why people of South Goa district do not want the Sunburn event, Lobo said, “North Goa has an entertainment industry, which South Goa does not have. But people of South Goa do not want it. They want South Goa as it is. It is a good thing. South Goa people have to decide whether they want Sunburn or not.”
Lobo said, “We have welcomed the EDM festival since the beginning because it brings a lot of tourists to our State, it brings a lot of business to our State as far as all the stakeholders are concerned and maximum stakeholders are our Goans.”
Regarding the issue of Assagao house demolition last month, the Calangute MLA said police will make the necessary arrest.
Lobo also said that an inquiry against the transferred Director General of Police (DGP) Jaspal Singh will happen in New Delhi.
