Even after nine months of an unofficial week long trip to witness the football World Cup in June last year, Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado, Aldona legislator Glenn Ticlo, Vasco legislator Carlos Almeida and Velim legislator Benjamin Silva are still remaining to pay their due to Sports Authority of Goa despite of four reminders.
When Ticlo was questioned by herald about the repayment of the public money as it is part of its duty to the public Ticlo shot back rudely “which department are you talking about? Is Herald interested in paying my amount? They are free to do so. Futher he said that the matter is with the government I will reply to the government whatever I have to say. I don’t like to tell you. Whereas Almeida was more discreet and said he has written to SAG seeking more time to repay the balance amount which is over Rs 10 lakh.
The first reminder for repayment of amount was sent to the ruling MLAs in mid July within the 45 days of deadline, Followed by a second notice which was sent on 21st October, the third notice was sent on 3rd November and the fourth and final notice was send on 4th February. As the MLAs failed to reply to the fourth notice the SAG on 19th February wrote to the chief minister via sports secetary and sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar for futher directions in the matter and a copy of the letter was also attached to the SAG chairman who is the chief minister himself.
A senior official said “We have sent the entire file to the government, asking for directions in the matter as to what can be done to recover the money.
Furtado, Ticlo, Almeida and Silva had flown to Brazil in June for a week-long tour. They were supposed to be accompanied by the sports minister and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, both of whom opted out of the official Rs 89 lakh tour following public and media outrage at wastage of public money.
Due to the controversy, the BJP-government, to save face was forced to convert the tour into an unofficial one, where all four legislators would have to reimburse the amount spent on the entire tour. SAG had already made the Rs 89 lakh payment to the travel agents
Furtado, who paid Rs 3 lakh to the SAG, has to pay the balance Rs 11.10 lakh. The other three MLAs have paid Rs 2 lakh each and owe the SAG Rs 12,09,861 each.
GOA PRISM NEWSDESK
