“The right to decide”

In "The right to decide” (Editorial viewpoint, Parsiana, May 21, 2007), you have stated that "Due to the nature of their business, property developers are always suspect, often unfairly so.” Maybe this is because of the lack of transparency in their dealings, especially those involving public or trust assets.

Let us take the case of the much talked about development of the M. J. Wadia Agiary at Lalbaug. The highest judicial body of the country has certified that there was nothing illegal about this deal, and rightly so. However, does anyone talk about the terms and conditions entered into by the trustees and the developer? Do we know what the financial arrangements between the two parties were? We read in "The tower and the temple” (Parsiana, April 7, 2007) that the developer spent Rs 45 lakhs to renovate the Agiary. Was this philanthropy, or was it part of the deal? As the developer has stated, "What the right hand gives the left hand should not know.” By using the same analogy, should I presume that "what the left hand gets the right hand should not know?”

If all goes as anticipated, the community will soon be electing new trustees to the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP). These seven wise individuals will, for the next seven years, if not more, decide the fate of the huge funds and properties of our community left for our benefit by the worthies of yore. Let us therefore choose carefully, whether the candidate is a tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor, rich man or poor man. Or perhaps a doctor, decorator, developer, lawyer or layman, irrespective of the group he represents or the size of the coffers he brings to the poll battle.

Let us pray that the media plays its rightful role in helping us identify those who will uphold the traditions set by their predecessors, people with their heads on their shoulders and their hearts in the right place who will conduct themselves with honesty and integrity, and display probity and righteousness in all their decisions and dealings without any hidden agendas.

Transparency is the hallmark of good governance. Com (Retd) MEDIOMA BHADA