FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024
New DGP has an arduous task
In these COVID-19 critical times, Goa’s new Director General of Police Mukesh Kumar Meena has an arduous task at hand. Goa was without a DGP since November 16 last year after the sudden death of the very affable Pranab Nanda.
It should be the endeavour of the new DGP to ensure that his entire police force is totally insulated from all political machinations, influences and controls as has been mandated by the Supreme Court. The Goa Police’s effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy is currently in question and there is rightly a public perception that the police have been acting as caged parrots of the politicians in power. The commitment, devotion and accountability of the police at all times has to be only to the Rule of Law which requires that the police function without any fear or favour whatsoever, to the status and position of any person while investigating a crime.
On account of the acts of omission and commission by the police, the Rule of Law in Goa has become a casualty and the escalating levels of crime in the State is a matter of grave concern. Let us hope that DGP Meena will inject the right dose to invigorate his force to uphold the law at all times.
Had the privilege over the decades to interact with every DGP who has served our state. Very sad memories still linger on of a very upright DGP R. S. Sahaye who was suddenly and very unceremoniously shunted out of Goa in 2000. An extremely heartbroken 55-year-old Sahaye returned to Delhi and soon breathed his last after a massive heart attack. I met him just before he left Goa and after a long chat with that refined officer, I could sense how bitter he was over the very shabby treatment meted out to him for refusing to toe the whims and fancies of the political masters.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Virtual Assembly
It is understood that the forthcoming monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly has been curtailed to just a one-day sitting on July 27 owing to the COVID-19 crisis. Earlier the session has been scheduled for two weeks. Given the spike in the number of positive cases in the state, the anxiety expressed by the MLAs is understandable.
It is a fact that a large number of people including MLAs and government functionaries converge at the assembly complex during a session which will heighten the COVID-19 risk. Obviously it will not be possible to discuss much in a one-day session besides passing the vote-on-account. However it must be said that having even a one-day session can also pose a risk to the MLAs and government officials. In such a situation it would have been in the fitness of things to have a “Virtual Assembly” wherein discussions are held through video conferencing. Legislators across the world are struggling to find a balance between work and safety during the pandemic and several governments have shifted to “Virtual Parliament”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held several rounds of video conferencing with the Chief Ministers of various states on the issue of COVID-19. As the assembly session in Goa, which is to be held on July 27, is still several days away, the government could think in terms of having a full two-week session by resorting to a “Virtual Assembly”.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Is tourism restart really necessary?
Amidst the ongoing pandemic that is prevalent not just in the whole country but the whole world, the hasty and lacklustre decision of the
Government of Goa to restart the tourism industry will have a negative impact on the state for many years to come.
The news agencies have informed about the huge increase in positive cases in Goa with a record in single-day spike of 95 cases as of July 2. The worst is yet to come. Why is the government headed by Pramod Sawant taking such risk? At the onset of the lockdown the Chief minister threw his hands in another man's coat, stating that his government was broke, inspite of it the people pulled through the situation over a record 102 days, with a lot of zeal. Is money the only factor!
Giving a back door entry to tourist just so that the casino owners can open their front doors has greed written all over the wall, risking the lives of the population doesn't go well with the tall claims of the chief minister that he is a doctor. What about all the negative factors because of monsoon? And the likelihood of an increase in the number of vector-borne pathogens such as Malaria, Chikungunya, Zika, Dengue fever? Is the government fully equipped to handle the situation from the financial, medical and security point of view.
A lot of people risked their lives in the early stages... and still do to keep Goans safe. We have to salute our doctors, nurses, police personnel, some of whom in their effort to protect others have tested positive. Does it mean that all the hard work put in by these gallant heroes in the early stages of the pandemic, be brushed aside as worthless? Besides why would the tourists come to Goa or go anywhere else! Shouldn’t safety be the foremost concern of everyone besides the sop set aside for a tourist
entering the state is stringent, can this government explain the
need to open the gates of hell.
Noel Desouza, Arpora
Opening up domestic tourism
I read in the Herald online edition in the UK that the Tourism Ministry is opening up domestic tourism during what is regarded a serious pandemic of Covid-19.
I know how much the tourism industry means to Goa….but surely they have to be careful not to endanger people’s health for the sake of the economy, one mistake and the tourism in Goa for the International travellers which starts in October may be in danger of resuming.
Already flights from and to India from UK are on hold and travel companies are reluctant to take booking for Goa and Asia. For the time, it could be drought prolonged season for tourism to Goa.
Ray Bradbury, UK
Democratic rights
We are all crying over spilt milk. We have always pointed out the mistakes of our Government leaders but the major problem lies within us that we all need to understand and rectify, what have we done as citizens of India which is the second largest Democracy after USA where the people have more power than the leaders because democracy gives us the empowerment to be the supreme power when it comes to administration.
My dear Goemkaranno, we have almost lost the last bliss of our Goan heritage, the leaders we have chosen have gone to such an extent to destroy the remaining beauty and have come up yet with another amendment to simplify the destruction of our environment and that is the EIA ( Environment Impact Assessment ). This move in short will be the last nail in the coffin of Goan heritage. It will give the perpetrators the freedom to destroy our environment in the name of development to build factories and industries without any challenges with the support of this act.
Coal which is a major health hazard will be exported after Goa has been converted as a hub to export it. We have been blinded and diverted towards issues of less significance so that all this will be successful talking advantage of the current situation of the pandemic.
I truly don't understand why are we silent when we the people who are the supreme power can challenge these servants who we have chosen to run the administration after taking an oath to protect the citizens and abide by the constitution of India have betrayed us. It's never too late when it comes to being in control, we are the people, we are Government so let us be the face of Democracy before they amend it and convert Indian constitution to dictatorship. Let's come together to resolve the issues that are against our democratic rights.
Savio D'Costa, Chandor
