Herald takes some of the Chief Minister’s statements and comments on them so that readers know we don’t take anyone, specially our Chief Minister, at face value.
Statement/Action: Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, ruled out any possibility of shifting the vessels into the deep sea.
HERALD VIEW: This is not only a shame but an arrogant use of power. Casinos are supposed to be floating in the high seas and not in rivers. The clever ploy of declaring them inland water vessels is just that. This is a ploy and a sellout.
Statement: State government has drafted a policy framework to shift the offshore casinos from River Mandovi as promised within the time (December 2015), however, we have delayed on the issue.
HERALD VIEW: The Chief MinIster doesn’t blink an eyelid to overlook the fact casinos had to move out of Goa waters but he failed on the compromise promise of moving them out of the Mandovi within two years of getting their renewals. Another of the umpteen promises of moving them out by December 2015 has now been officially broken with the cabinet deciding to extend their life as casinos on the Mandovi to March 2016
Statement: Casino operators are ready to shift provided we make available the required infrastructure. The four spots identified by Captain of Ports – Zuari, Aguada Bay, Chapora and Sal – have no ready infrastructure at this stage.
HERALD VIEW: So who is the government? Is it run by Laxmikant Parsekar or the Casino kings? Why are they calling the shots? They should be asked to make their own infrastructure in a place where the people allow them. The government had over two years to make them do this. Instead it promised to give casino owners infrastructure with our money – of approach roads and jetties. Villages which are crying out for infrastructure haven’t been promised anything of this nature by the government.
Statement: We abide to take a decision which is pro-people and investment friendly. We are getting considerable revenue from the casino industry, we just cannot stop them.
HERALD VIEW: Who is the “we”? And what is this so called “considerable revenue”. The revenue is not even a minor percentage the casinos are really making. There is no account of their profits from all sources. With no regulatory authority to see if casinos are declaring their full income, there is no information if this business is clean or there is basis to widespread allegations that the business runs on large scale hawala operations, helping to pump in black money to be converted.
