PANJIM: On Thursday, Goa marked its 64th Liberation Day, commemorating its freedom from 451 years of Portuguese rule. Goa gained political freedom in 1961. In this edition of Street Voices, Herald TV spoke to people on what does Goa need to be free from today, after 63 years of Liberation?
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On 19 December 1961, Goa became free from 451 years of Portuguese rule and we got the reins of power in our hands. When the Portuguese left they did not disgrace Goa, they did not take our lands, or they did not sell our lands. Goa was given to Goans. But the direction in which we are going after 63 years, it does not appear that we have got Liberation. We are getting the benefits of what the Portuguese had done. We have got the benefits of the trees they had planted. We benefitted from their road network. But today in the name of development they are finishing Goa. People from outside have captured Goa and those helping them are Goans whom we have elected to rule us.
Mariano Ferrao, Social Activist
Is our Goa really free? Are we really liberated? Were the sacrifices made by Goan Freedom Fighters and those from outside, was it really worth it? They liberated Goa so that it remains as they gave it to us. After Liberation have we become slaves? As an activist I see that Goa is being destroyed day by day. Goa has been finished. Some times I feel like asking is there anything left of Goa to celebrate? It appears we have fallen from the frying pan into the fire. Today our own people are running a dictatorship and we can no longer call ourselves Liberated.
Anthony D’Silva, Social Activist.
Our Politicians have been elect to protect and preserve and see that their wards progress. Instead they are only allowing the destruction of their wards. We are continuously filing complaints. When illegalities come in, along with that comes garbage everywhere. When people do not stay in proper homes they are not going to look after their garbage. They are just going to dump it anywhere. These people who live on rent are doing that. There are murders, young girls are being used for commercial sex. This is happening all over Goa. Our state which is small should have been well governed and should have had a healthy environment. But it is being destroyed today in the name of personal and private profits.
Judith Almeida, Environmentalist
