Novena of Goencho Saib well organised
Most of the people in Goa and from the other parts of the World do attend the Novena and Feast of our patron Saint Francis Xavier who is lovingly called Goencho Saib.
A pat on the back of Fr Patricio Fernandes, Rector of the Basilica and his team for the wonderful arrangements done where a lot of thinking and planning must have gone into the organisation.
The other day as I was participating in the novena mass, my mind raced back down memory lane where this event was on a small scale. In those days all the masses were inside the Basilica except the one on feast day mass which was celebrated on top of an opening above the main door facing the open space where the pandal is now put.
In those days, the fair was inside the compound of the Basilica where hawkers used to display their toys on the cloth spread on the ground. Very few of these things were put up along with grams and kadio-bodio. After buying my favorite toy –a bugle and eating snacks we would make our way back home. Wishing one and all a very happy feast. May our Goencho Saib protect our Goa which is going out of our hands due to the greed of some persons.
Jerry Fernandes, Vanxim
Cancel scrutiny fee on open air venues
With the wedding season rolling out, it is learnt that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GZMA) has levied ‘scrutiny fee’ on the open air halls or lawns of hotels and resorts in the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) areas. In all probability the hotels and resorts which operate the open-air halls and lawns will pass on the ‘scrutiny fee’ to the consumer, who happens to be the common man. The question that arises is what is the purpose of the ‘scrutiny fee’?
One has heard of the ‘building scrutiny fee’ which is a fee to be levied by the competent authority for approval of building or a service plan. It is pertinent to note that the rates of wedding halls and open air lawn venues can be prohibitive and there seems to be no limit on the amount that is being charged for an event. The government should do a rethink on exempting open air weddings from this additional scrutiny fee.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Compensate kin of those dying on duty
There has been no compensation paid to the next of kin of linesman who have died as martyr while on duty in the past. The government of Goa should compensate them at the earliest without any case study. Also the next of kin should be given a government job at the earliest. This is serious since the family has lost the sole bread winner. The linesman work hard sincerely thorough their service and through professional competence in their jobs, supply steady electric power.
Also compensation should be provided to next of kin of any other such death of government servants while on duty.
Ashwin Caeiro, Cansaulim
Morality, optimism and selflessness matter
No congratulations are enough for Christiano Ronaldo for successfully urging the referee to reverse a penalty decision given in his favour, while representing Al Nassr club in Asian Champions League, as the tackle by the rival Persepolis player didn’t merit such a harsh decision!
The iconic Ronaldo has sent out a great message through his actions that despite hard competition in life, morality and remaining true to one’s conscience are the only things which matter at the end of the day.
As for the saviour heroes in Uttarakhand who had ultimately accomplished the ‘Mission Impossible’, on being asked “What do you want in return”, the rat-hole miners replied “Absolutely nothing. Labourers have saved fellow labourers. May be someday we will be trapped somewhere during work and these rescued workers will save us”!
How coolly can they utter the hard realities of life with full knowledge that they can also get similarly trapped somewhere in life along with optimism intact that their fellow brothers would also save them selflessly!
With this a message of optimism and selflessness have been transmitted by these unsung valiant philosophers of life. Neither the filthy rich glamorous matinee stars nor the overhyped cricketers, rather these hardworking community are the real heroes of the nation and society
Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkatta
Appreciate dignity of labour
Apropos the letter, ‘Man’s labour prevailed over machines’ by Gregory Fernandes (O Heraldo, December 1, 2023), there are three lessons to be learnt from the Silkyara tunnel episode. First, inadequate investigations prior to the excavation for tunnel should be avoided. The horrifying act of playing with the lives of the workers and with laws of nature must be brought to an end.
Second, the heroic rescue act by rat-hole miners established human supremacy over machines. Our workers deserve more respect from the people in general and more care and security from the government in particular. Students in schools should learn to appreciate the dignity of labour through real stories such as the rescue operation by the rat-hole miners where the skill, endurance, patience and perseverance of labour ultimately made impossible possible.
Third, the hero rat-hole miners showcased the wastage of huge human resources and potentialities in India. Thousands of rat-hole miners, manual scavengers, ragpickers and gig workers could have become great assets of India in various fields had they got necessary opportunities in their lives. It explains why India sits at the back bench (at132nd position) of the Human Development Index.
Sujit De, Kolkata
