With his background in `tiatr' or theatre, it surprised no one to see the Speaker of the Goa Assembly, Tomazinho Cardozo turn his chamber into a stage where significant parts of the political drama tormenting the state were enacted. For instance, former chief minister Pratapsinh Rane and his ministers planned their strategy here when breakaway Congressmen and the Opposition prevented Rane from taking his vote of confidence last month. Similarly, when the governor installed Dr Wilfred D'Souza as chief minister, the corner room in the old Adil Shah palace became the centre of intrigue to topple the new regime.

But even the most cynical of the hack pack were surprised when the Speaker donned the mantle of the judiciary last week. The Speaker's chamber, Cardozo ruled, was a court of law when he was deciding on the petitions filed to disqualify the chief minister and his breakaway group. Photographers were therefore barred from shooting the Speaker reading his order to pressreporters!

Old Age Home

Suddenly the hoary Indian National Congress in Goa has been reduced to a grouping of sad old men (and some women) even though it remains a political force in the state.

When wily Willy broke away with nine Congress MLAs and the CM's crown, the entire Youth Congress also joined the exodus. Almost a fortnight after the breakup, the Congress is still in a state of paralysis. The Pradesh Congress Committee President Shantaram Naik is now at his wits end about reviving the youth wing of the party. Reason: No Congress (wo)man who qualifies as a youth leader ready to don the mantle of YC president has stayed back.When last heard, Naik was wooing former Youth Congress president and former power minister Mauvin Godinho to lead the YC. But will the controversial politician who is 39 going on 40 agree? That remains to be seen.

Ecologically Yours

Despite the overthrow of the Pratapsinh Rane government, certain projects on the anvil in the state continue to be shepherdedthrough thanks to sincere bureaucrats.

One such venture is the cell to conserve and protect the scores of islands in the backwaters of Goa. According to the green lobby, these islands occupy 15,000 hectares of land and are home to 60,000 people. Since most of them house priceless mangrove forests and khazan lands the government is developing adequate machinery to plan their growth. It will coordinate with the Environment, Tourism, Fisheries and Port officials of the state.

However, it remains to be seen when their political masters will find time from their power play to give the green signal to get the project going.

Tailpiece

Looks like the stars of former chief minister and regional strongman Churchill Alemao are on the wane. After a string of political debacles, including an aborted attempt to join the erstwhile Pratapsinh Rane government, the Alemao clan is facing trouble on its home front.In a police complaint filed in Margao recently, the Alemaos alleged that some of the crew membersemployed in their fishing boats have made off with equipment worth one lakh rupees.

It is a routine complaint. It was only in the old days that the dreaded Alemaos never needed the police to bring such culprits to book. Oh, how the high and mighty have fallen!