'I rest my case'

For the first time in nearly two weeks after the unfortunate heist at the museum of Christian art (MOCA), the committee has acquired a face. That's an achievement for Goans and heritage lovers as all of us now know at least one of them.
Never mind if the committee representative, a known celebrity, has cleverly made this grievous offense all about himself, nor that he has commenced his refute by the comment that I often prefix my name with a doctor thus giving myself a doctorate I have not earned.I can only guess that he has a hard time differentiating between Hugo Gomes, which is my name, and that of my brother Hubert Gomes, who happens to be a dentist and, like me, a concerned Goan. A nice attempt to distract and defame those that work for a cause.
Although it's far tempting to turn this into a personal refute, I shall hold the reins till this heist is brought to book.
It seems imperative for this committee representative to be concerned about my professional qualification and credentials. My apologies to the self-appointed cultural guru of Goa, if enlightening Goans about the disastrous loss to priceless heritage articles, generously donated by their ancestors, and the callous murder of a good man from Curtorim, offends and upsets him.
It astounds me that hot on the heels of the robbery this committee member has extended an invitation to all Goans to apply for permission to host events at the museum. Concerned Goans should inquire of him as to who and how the applicants will be wetted, the limitations on number of people and how security will be beefed. Will the guidelines be drawn from Dan Brown's mystery novel "Da Vinci Code" which he refers to?
In his largesse he supports having private parties, photo shoots and weddings at MOCA because museums in Europe and USA use these events as fund raisers. Even though my intentions are far from wanting this as a defense rebuttal, I can't help but think aloud that these museums-in addition to prohibiting red wine and tomato sauce-also have designated areas for parties, high-tech security systems in place as well as a platoon of highly-trained officers of defense as security personnel.
We are given to understand that the committee comprises serious persons of prestige that include scholars, historians, qualified museum trained persons, corporate honchos and so forth. This is all the more reason that we need to know why the first press note, issued days after the heist, was unsigned?
It would be appropriate that (a) this prestigious committee should have issued the press statement immediately after the unfortunate incident; and (b) it should have come out clearly that the committee comprises several scholars, museologists etc. With the personal knowledge of managing a museum, I am sure that the committee knows about accountability. If this heist had to take place at the state museum or any other archaeological museum, would not the director be suspended? Would they have ever given the keys to the guard?
It was precisely this inexplicable silence on the part of the committee which provoked an anguished response from heritage activists. In fact, had it not been for such response, and the help from the media, this committee would have never come out of its hiding.
The response by this committee member further informs that he has worked at two prestigious museums. Museum experience should not be mistaken for museum expertise. It can yield sinister results like we have just witnessed in the heist at MOCA. It is precisely because of his personal expertise and that of the committee that the unfortunate robbery at the museum could have been completely avoided.
What is the benefit of knowledge and experience if this is not applied to basic, day-to-day museum practices? It is akin to the incidence of loss of human lives in a hospital and then the medical director defending himself by saying, "I am a Noble Laureate in Medicine". Dropping names of some international museums and a list of wining and dining may give someone a celebrity status but it can in no way absolve him or her of the terrible act of negligence.
The moment any esteemed or non-esteemed member of society become part of a public committee or organization, he or she are responsible to the public and liable for public prosecution. After all, MOCA is not a family property or personal belonging or owning; it is a treasure trove of heritage that belongs to Goans in particular and humankind in general. The protectors of this invaluable heritage are responsible for every act of negligence that takes place.
Talking of international museum norms, I wonder in which norm does 'one guard' categorize, who is not armed, without security alarms functioning, and most importantly who has the keys to the treasure troves estimating crores of rupees without a single surveillance camera operational especially since the next day the museum was to be thrown open to guests at a private function?
The real world of museums unfortunately is not only about swanky fund raisers, book launches and showing off of treasures while sipping champagne and eating cleverly assembled hors d'oeuvre. It is painstaking acquisition, restoration, preservation, temperature/humidity control and most importantly security. Museum security has developed into an art which uses high technology, planning and ingenuity to find a balance between making works of art difficult to steal or damage and allowing a connection between the masterpiece and the beholder.
In his rebuttal, the committee member wants Goans to perceive my exposure of the abysmal failure of the committee as a personal vendetta of a disgruntled small time former employee of the museum. This is a clever and cunning way of deflecting attention from the criminal neglect of the museum and the heartbreaking loss of irreplaceable articles that future generations may never see.
I strongly condemn the allegations that I have indulged in personal vendetta. Right from the day of the unfortunate incident-indeed hours after it-I have been publicly pleading that someone or some committee give us an explanation. At no point of time, have I indulged in personal vendetta against a particular person or a set of persons. How could I, since to begin with-and even till today-none of us know who constitutes this committee.
I also fail to understand what the committee member is trying to score when he talks of my dubious history as an ex-employee of the museum. Those who betray the trust that people have invested in them, and like Nero fiddle while Rome burns, can't really at this point afford to throw stones at others. I may have been an employee but I did put together the collection for public viewing and have not miserably failed the public by losing this valuable collection forever because of neglect. Besides, owning two internationally recognized museums which I have curetted, I have been invited to present and lecture at 18 prestigious museums across Europe and India, to say the least.
Finally like all things, this person ends with a dramatic "let truth, wisdom and restrain prevail". Please tell us what exactly was the truth behind the miserable security systems and the sole, murdered guard? Tell us the wisdom we can garner from this incident, and more importantly, what wisdom the committee plans to employ in the safe guarding of artifacts in the future? And restrain? Does he think that Goans showed lack of restraint when they protested this horrible attack on their heritage? How would he have liked Goans to have conducted themselves? Throw a party at the museum?
This reply is an attempt to stay focused on the heist of a national treasure trove, its recovery, and accountability.
I am confident that I have fulfilled my duty of informing the public and forced a response, albeit a theatrical and slanderous one from at least one member of the committee. I have nothing more to add to this unpleasant debate except that I sincerely hope that the Goa police, with the help of the committee, recovers the precious articles and that new and fool-proof security measures are brought into place so that a fine balance between safety and accessibility is achieved. I rest my case.