Happy New Year
Happy New year to all! 2020 has been a memorable, Challenging and Unforgettable year. None of us have escaped unscathed in our personal or professional lives. We have witnessed businesses closing, layoffs taking place all around us and during all of this, our healthcare and other worriers playing such an important role in supporting our communities. As we look ahead to 2021, the experiences of this past year give us hope for better times and new opportunities. Most of us will have to reduce, re-budget, rethink and remind ourselves that though this will not go on forever, some of this adjustments will be permanent. Social distancing will not go away anytime soon, and neither will be wearing of face mask every time we step outside.
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The importance of trust and a continued commitment to each other will be what make us all shine in future.
Savio Almeida, Assolna/Texas USA
2020: A bleak year for the world
As we bid farewell to 2020 and welcome 2021, we are bound to recall the events of the past year. Coronavirus dominated our conversations throughout the whole year and also prevented everyone from leading life like previous years. 2020 was also a year when governments the world over snatched away personal liberties in the name of controlling the pandemic.
As we look forward to 2021, let’s hope the coming months have some hope for every citizen of the world. One also hopes the pandemic comes to an end, sooner rather than later.
Anish Esteves, Mumbai
Of Covid and human ingenuity
The pandemic train wrecked businesses and upended many lives but it also offered us an opportunity to reinvent skills using our innate ingenuity. For example the traditional fish vending business took on a digital avatar with traders creating dedicated Facebook and Instagram pages where pictures and prices of fresh catch were posted. People were delivered fish after placing orders online and making payments using GPay, Paytm etc.
Similarly when temple and church doors were shut, the priests started conducting pooja / mass for their flock online using Zoom, WebEx etc. Also marriages, engagements and baby showers were facilitated via the internet with family members participating from across the globe.
Covid pulled the plug on Goa’s massive entertainment industry with weddings and corporate events getting cancelled or postponed ,but event management companies moved to YouTube and Zoom to keep their clients entertained. With the use of large TV screens and 3D holographic projection facilities it seemed you were part of a live concert with the band playing right in front of you.
Many people acquired completely new skills like cooking and baking and later monetised their learning by starting catering businesses from their own kitchens. Bakers and cordon bleu chefs of lockdown affected starred hotels earned handsomely by conducting online classes for corporate kitchen staff and interested individuals. Many such online entrepreneurs have now decided to work in the digital space only, it’s a win win situation for both…the businesses and their clients/ customers. As they say, “necessity is the mother of invention”, some good came out of Covid 2020 after all.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Goa is unique!
Throughout India, for that matter, almost around the world, due to the threat of the pandemic, especially the new variant of the Covid-19 virus, governments have clamped down on year end celebrations, prohibiting gathering of more than 5 people, assembly of crowds, on the beaches parks and public places and banning big-ticket celebration in restaurants and celebration venues.
As reported, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai have banned New Year parties and celebrations, and imposed curfew at night. Bangalore has even imposed Section 144 from the afternoon of the 31st till the morning of the January 1. All this is done in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus, and protect the lives of the citizens.
But apparently, Goa is unique. As reported, we have invited everyone, all and sundry whether tested or not, to come and celebrate, reportedly without restriction, in Goa. At least 37 UK returnees have been reported tested positive, and heavens alone knows how many more hundreds or thousands, expatriate and local visitors, have escaped scrutiny and testing. Apparently, the beaches, and party venues are expected to be packed, and spectacular new venues are to be inaugurated, throwing caution to the winds.
Is Goa not worth protecting?
Rosario Menezes, Vasco
Let us reflect on the past year
The year 2020 brought much anguish due to the COVID pandemic. Many lives were lost. Many businesses were affected, also many people lost their livelihood. We also saw people protesting to safeguard their ecosystem. As we embark on a new journey in 2021, let us reflect on the past year.
Goa has been abundantly blessed with a good number of engineering colleges. Our engineers could perhaps think about generating renewable energy, rather than relying on coal. We need non-polluting industries such as the renewable energy industry, the IT industry. We need to enhance our capability to generate gainful employment for the youth.
For proper development we need to have a healthy conversation with everyone, and make thoughtful decisions. We need better roads and an efficient governance. So many lives were lost on our roads. Proper traffic signals and proper road designs would keep us safe. Many of us who travel abroad to the Gulf and Europe will easily notice planned development, hygiene, better usage of technology, and concern for the nature. We too need development which enhances the quality of our living. With an efficient justice system, a caring administration, a sound education and good healthcare facilities, may our leaders bring light to the masses.
May hope keep us joyful in these perplexing times, as we rely on God, who never leaves us alone.
Newton Mendonca, Aldona
The cannabis trail!
The act of legalising cannabis cultivation in Goa – for whatever ostensible purposes- has been shelved for the time being.
We know that cannabis was already being illegally grown in Goa, not for medicinal use. Since the same was exposed, the Politicians went into hyper mode and tried to, post haste, legalise the same. Mind you, even before the people could get an inkling of all this, the ‘file’ already existed, the Law Dept. had already vetted the same! Wow! Such industriousness! No, the vetting will have been done by private unscrupulous, lawyers commanding high fees, with the objective of making the same viable and need based. The Govt. Law Dept. did not exhibit such a behaviour in the Mhadei water diversion case! That means there are big, wealthy players and the Government is quite sympathetic to them. That they are not the ‘underworld’ dons or mafias that we normally link to the drug trade, because we all know the deadly outcome to society when drugs are available freely as in Goa.
These are businessmen respected by society and not shunned by our politicians. And how our politicians, ruling, mildly opposing and the newbies are exhibiting themselves to be shining Statesmen! Goa has a bright future: for them. They will survive because they are united.
R Fernandes, Margao
