Goa is not a circus for tourists to do stunts
The number of incidents of stunts carried out by tourists on moving vehicles makes one wonder whether the visitors to the State consider Goa as a ‘circus’ where they can act with impunity. In the latest incident, a video which has gone viral on Social Media which shows bursting of multi-shot fireworks that were placed on the roof of a moving car which was travelling on the Atal-Setu Bridge from Panjim to Porvorim. It is learnt that the police have registered an FIR against the driver of the Gujarat registered SUV under IPC Section 336 (endangering life or personal safety of others) and Section 279 (rash and negligent driving).
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It must be said that this new stunt on Goan roads by tourists is extremely dangerous. There is every possibility of the car catching fire thereby putting the lives of other motorists at risk. The matter should be looked into with all seriousness. It is learnt that the car is presently not in Goa. The car needs to be traced and culprits brought to book. The authorities can no longer remain a silent spectator to such stunts on vehicles and act promptly and decisively.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
England’s pathetic performance
This has reference to the statement by Mark Butcher published on the front page of O Heraldo dated November 17, 2023. Butcher, I as a fan of Cricket gauge England team’s performance in the World Cup Cricket ODI 2023 played in India has been below par, if not pathetic. The team could not even enter the semi-finals.
Conduct of the ICC has been fair and fantastic. All butlers and butchers come together to perform better in the next World Cup ODI and quote a proverb in Konkani –in my mother tongue, “Nachonk eina taka angonn vankdem” (Those who cannot dance blame the dance floor).
Antonio Filipe Clovis Pinto, Santa Cruz
Christians did not kill Jews
This is with reference to the letter ‘Israel’s brutality is unlawful’ by Sujit De (O Heraldo, Nov15, 2023). His comment that Christians killed 6 million Jews during the Holocaust is offensive & out of rank ignorance.
Christians were the second largest section of people targeted by the Nazis in the Second World War & Christians made many heroic efforts to save Jewish lives. This is to set the records straight.
Bernard Simoes, by email
Is VRS for Government employees flawed?
The exercise is a farce to pull wool over eyes in the name of efficiency of service. Action can be initiated under existing rules for deviant behaviour, habitual absenteeism, slow processing, indecision on pending files, ill health etc. The attitude of sympathy is totally misplaced forcing VRS with terminal benefits unless it is case of terminal illness. It is another matter if employees voluntarily retire for other self-improvement or seek better opportunity. It is an open secret that government employment generates huge black money revenues for new appointments. It is a win-win situation as none dare to complain about bribes. Often the interviews are a mere formality when the advertised posts are filled in advance.
Politicians have no retirement age even past 75/80 years or more. They are very productive and efficient to shoulder the burden of administration without medical certification. In fact, one sick CM was functioning and was flown abroad for treatment. He believed in absolute indispensability and even though residence was turned into a hospital and Govt spent close to Rs14 crore of public funds, a colossal waste of public resources. Again compulsory retiring after completing superannuation is erroneously designated as VRS and conferred with benefits in lieu of lost productive years. The scheme of VRS is to enrich politicians through bribes in the name of improving efficiency and cutting dead wood.
Nelson Lopes, Chinchinim
Friendship is our strength
When our innings in this world ends, we will not be judged by the wealth and property we have amassed but by our acts and deeds, that is why we are encouraged to do good works.
I have been enormously blessed with an armoury of outstanding friends worldwide. Even our detractors should not be considered our foes as they could awaken us when we err. True friends may sometimes be hard to find because they are rare and one of a kind. They lift you up when no one else has even noticed that you were down.
Making friends is great but keeping in touch with these soul-mates is a bigger challenge. Within our time constraints and with the help of social media, we must endeavour to keep in touch with them because we must care for every friend, and even more be also concerned for those on the other page.
Cultivating friendship may be an easy task but harnessing that bonding and making sure it endures is a bigger challenge. Friendship isn’t always about whom you’ve known the longest. It is about who walked into your life and said, I’m here for you and proved it. A friend in need is truly a friend in deed. While identifying and nurturing friends, age or the social strata should never be a hindrance. It is their experience and wealth of knowledge that helps and guides us.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
