NDA government’s undemocratic exercise
This refers to the O Heraldo September 5, 2023 editorial ‘One nation, one election: Is it feasible?’ The idea of ‘one nation, one election’ appears to be a flawed exercise. It is neither feasible nor desirable in the multi-party system that exists in the country. India’s vast diversity has given rise to numerous parties in the states, whose interests are defined by local individualities of their respective regions. In fact, the timing of this proposal, just seven months before the general elections, is no coincidence. The BJP seeks to capitalise on PM Modi’s favourable approval rating, hoping it will sway voters in its favour in state elections as well.
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By keeping the agenda of the special Parliamentary session from September 18 to 22 a secret affair, the government is being unfair to the Opposition parties, MPs, and the voters.
Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai
Curbing malpractices among dentists
According to a news report, the Goa Chief Minister, said that there are many out of state, fake dentists practicing in the coastal belt, fleecing patients , especially foreign tourists.
Sadly, he is reported to have said that the government is unable to act against such bogus practitioners unless complaints are filed. Isn’t this is a very confusing statement? Is this a tacit admission of the unwillingness or failure of the authorities to act independently, to enforce the laws of the state?
Is it possible that the authorities compile a data base of such fake dentists. Then the designated authority, can visit such fake clinics, and demand production of a recognized qualification, and registration with the Goa Dental Council. Action against two or three such cases of fake dentists would clear the state of the remaining fake dentists.
Rosario Menezes, Vasco
Another cricket great passes away
Former all-rounder Heath Streak, who passed away due to colon and liver cancer, was the backbone of Zimbabwean cricket in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. With 216 wickets in Tests and a whopping 239 in ODIs, and the runs he accumulated as a skilled batsman in both the formats, speak of his prowess and showcase his all-round ability.
Streak spearheaded Zimbabwe to the semi-finals in the 1999 Cricket World Cup and captained the team from 2000 to 2005. His departure leaves an irreplaceable void in the world of cricket. As the world grapples with the devastating effects of cancer, let Streak’s story be a reminder of the urgency to find better treatments and cures for this dreaded disease.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Significance of Janata Darbars
It was surprising to note that very few people reportedly attended the Janata Darbar held at Sankhali, on Monday. It is learnt that the government officers outnumbered the public and that most sarpanchas and panchayat members from Bicholim taluka reportedly did not turn up for the event. It must be said that if there is consistent public communication on an administrative level then it would help to bridge the gap between the government and the people. This will help in understanding peoples’ expectations better, which would ease the process of decision making.
A Janata Darbar is an opportunity to feel the pulse of the people. It is beneficial in knowing the functioning of the district officials. It helps the government to know whether the administration is addressing public grievances effectively. In turn it aids in the smooth functioning of the government. Hence public presence or lack of it at Janata Darbars in large numbers assumes significance.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Accidents and murders all over Goa
When one gets up in the morning and opens the daily newspaper with sleepy eyes, the first thing that one gets to read is about accidents, murders, or rapes. It has become a daily routine. Our police are doing a good job only when the politicians don’t get involved in the case. Who phones the politicians when accident or murder takes place? We are the ones who call politicians to get involved in the case to save us from the punishment and thus deprive our police from carrying their duties seriously. Otherwise our police are very efficient and capable to do their work. It has been proved by them by solving robbery cases within 24 hrs.
We have to blame ourselves first and simultaneously blame our home ministry which is in deep slumber. It has failed to be with the police to guide them to handle the cases in a transparent way without paying heed to the corrupt politicians.
Natividade Fernandes, Cavelossim
Why innocents are dying in road mishaps?
Three youngsters lost their lives, while two others were critically injured in a tragic accident when the one who was driving the SUV at high speed lost control and rammed into a roadside tree at Porvorim in the wee hours of Sunday.
Well, this is exactly what happens when parents blindly gift their teenage children with high-speed vehicles at a very young age and send them on a suicide mission on our roads in Goa.
The one thing I really don’t understand is that despite of seeing so many back-to-back serious self-accidents in the recent months in the state, why the cops from the traffic cell are still not bothering to monitor the speed of every two/four wheeler vehicle road user or not penalising those indulging in drunken-driving/over-speeding/driving recklessly on top priority basis instead of selectively targeting only the helmetless two-wheeler riders and issuing them challans by hiding like those road-side starving beggars cum extortionists on most of our roads in Goa.
Well, today the whole world knows that the root cause for most road accidents is also due to the free availability of alcohol every few metres in the state but no one seems to be really bothered in addressing this very serious problem in Goa. Why?
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
