Goa has had a symbiotic and mutually beneficial relationship with foreign tourists. And Goa is an international destination because of them. However, an increasing number of foreigners, let’s call them out, from Nigeria and other African countries are getting caught in drug cases. Along with the other foreign nationals who are involved in other professionals and businesses and seem to find themselves in drug-related controversies and rave parties. It’s a tough call, but should Goa now filter foreign tourists more stringently, so that friendly law-abiding foreigners do not get painted with the same brush and continue to enjoy their Goa vacations.
It is a tricky subject and one which has to be approached with much
thought. The state depends overwhelmingly on tourism now that mining has been
suspended. Nilesh Shah President TTAG was of the opinion that he did not
foresee such a move being initiated. He said “Let’s be clear first if
foreigners are conducting parties or any other business. It is in total
violation of their tourist visa. These parties are done with local cooperation
and the police are aware and look the other way. I strongly believe there has
to be zero tolerance for drugs and prostitution. We have to put our foot down
and ensure there are no loopholes when we initiate action. We should deport them
and ensure they never return”.
Speaking about the possibility of ensuring the FRO made it tougher for
some people to get a visa, he said he was not for it. He said “When you get the
bureaucracy and the police involved in this it will become a hindrance to
tourism. I will cite an example. The tourist either domestic or foreigner on as
bike is stopped by a cop and is found to not have his or her driving licence or
passport copy. They harass him and fine him. I believe action has to be
initiated against the guy who rented out the bike to them”. He said it was
important to have a list of troublemakers at the level of the embassy or the
consulate and stop them there instead of what was happening now.
Shacks are a very
important aspect of tourism in the state and Cruz Cardozo as President of the
Goa Shack Owners Association had a lot to say on the matter. He said “If it is
against the laws of the country, then throw the books at them. If we do this in
a foreign country, we would be thrown in jail or deported. In the USA if you
commit a crime once, you can never return. We should also band especially those
dealing in drugs. I am also very clear if any shack owner is found dealing in
drugs, then ensure he never ever owns a shack”.
Smita Bhandare Kamat,
Associate Professor at Dempo College Panjim has been following the news as well
as her students closely. She said “Yes, proper screening is required before
visas are issued as well as FRRO should become more vigilant. The global drug
cartels accompanied by money laundering, human trafficking and organized crime
syndicate have held the world at ransom. Inter government assistance as also
help from Interpol and UNODC will go a long way to curtail this crime. United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, works closely with global programme experts
to confront organized crimes and are geared towards all aspects of
strengthening the rule of law by working with law enforcement authorities and
other related actors in countries and across regions. Goa needs to wake up and
take some concrete corrective measures, else we and especially our younger
generation is doomed.
Many people in the
state are concerned about the state of affairs but out of fear are unwilling to
come out in the public and state what they believe is the truth. A lawyer who
wished to stay off the record said that unless and until\ the political masters
were not apprehended, nothing would happen He said “ Walk down Arpora and it is
so obvious. ( sale of drugs). Everyone knows but prefers to look the other way”.
The GM of a resort
said the move to make it tougher to perhaps get a visa could backfire on the
state. he said “ Visitors have told me of how they would take an overnight
journey and then stand in line at the consulate or the embassy and then receive
a visa days later. We have to think twice because it could put us on the
back-foot”. This kind of thinking though understandable needs a rethink so that
genuine tourists are allowed but drug pushers are filtered oput
Nupura Hautamaki a
resident of Anjuna had very definite views on the matter. She said “ The visa
on arrival facilities should definitely be rescinded for countries that seem to
have a lot of tourists that indulge in illegal activities here. But more than
that, the local police and FRRO and should actually be more stringent and keep
a track on what these so-called tourists are up to when they are here, as there
are so many that stay back illegally, work here in spite of being on tourist
visas, pay no income taxes, indulge in illegal activities, etc.
These type of people
should be arrested and deported and banned from coming back to the country, and
this will also, act as a deterrent to others from their countries”
Another straight
talker, Bharat Kamat a businessman had very clear ideas about how one could
tackle the problem. He said “ Law enforcement agencies have to crack down
brutally on such parties and act against the organisers. Courts have to ensure
quick justice and imprison them. Maybe special courts should be setup. The
foreigners involved in drug peddling should be deported after serving their
sentences and blacklisted from entering India again. All drug sellers/ peddlers
should be reported to Interpol and put on a no-fly list. Action should be swift
and stringent.”
The future of the state is perhaps enmeshed in this issue. It could have a serious effect on the kind of tourism the authorities would like to promote. Time will tell if anything is ever done.