TEAM HERALD
VASCO: Chaos prevailed at a public meeting convened to elect the new Vasco Carnival Committee on Friday, when two councillors of Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) staked their claim to the post of the committee chairperson.
While former carnival committee chairperson Fiola Rego sought to be the chairperson of the Carnival Committee 2014 the second term, another Councillor Lavina D’Souza also expressed her desire to occupy the post. Lavina D’Souza was eventually elected as the chairperson.
As both candidates could not arrive at any understanding, local MLA Carlos Almeida decided to hold an election by show of hands to elect the new carnival committee chief.
A citizen present at the meeting, however, suggested that Almeida take over as chairman of the Carnival committee to avoid confusion, but the MLA turned down the offer saying that he wanted a change in the carnival committee.
While all present at the meeting opposed the election by show of hands, Councillor Nitin Chopdekar, who was appointed by Almeida to conduct the election, went ahead with the election.
Fearing that a vote could strain relations among councillors, most of the people abstained from voting. Almeida then declared D’Souza elected as new chairperson of the Carnival Committee 2014 and left the council hall.
Later, the situation returned to normalcy and the newly elected Chairperson Lavina D’Souza elected her new committee members.
to start preparations for the Vasco Carnival 2014.
