SUNDAY, MAY 05, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Goencho Avaaz, that has spearheaded a few public causes over the past years, has now decided to test the political waters. A formal announcement about the formation of a party is expected at Panjim on Sunday.
Goencho Avaaz co-convenor Capt Viriato Fernandes, when contacted, did not deny plans of entering the political arena. He only said that they will reveal their plans on Sunday. “We are going to make a very important announcement in the interest of Goa on Sunday,” he said.
Sources said that the NGO has finalised the names of its office-bearers and its co-convenor Swapnesh Sherlekar has been appointed as president and Ninio Correira of Dabolim as general secretary of the party.
It is learnt that the decision to take a political plunge started during the agitation initiated by Goencho Avaaz to stop coal handling in the Mormugao port and coal pollution in the port town.
During one of the meetings at Siolim in November last year, some youth approached Fernandes and demanded that Goencho Avaaz make a foray into politics. Though Fernandes and other leaders turned down their request, the youth were in no mood to listen to them and appealed to them to reconsider the decision if they were really concerned about the State and when they were taking up public causes.
Goencho Avaaz has prepared a roadmap for the sustainable development of Goa and an action plan to reduce unemployment besides, focussing on other burning issues, which would be released to media on Sunday.
