Election fever
With elections around the corner, every minister with 1015 people come at the doorstep to oblige people. When there was severe pandemic wherein people were suffering for basic essentials many people lost their loved ones some were starving some lost their jobs people suffered a lot, but our ministers were not available for people.
Our ministers forget that because we vote them so that they can serve us they can reach out to us but when they win, they forget their people and start filling their own pockets.
We want good ministers who can serve and reach out to us. During elections ministers come and go but people are the same. Humble request for the ministers is to treat the people well. They are the ones who decide the fate of ministers.
Anita Fernandes, Verna
Parabens, Antonio Patrao
Goans would like to congratulate the son of the soil Prime Minister of Portugal Antonio Costa for pulling off a stunning victory in a recent Portugal snap elections by bagging 117 seats in the 230 seat Portugal Parliament. An absolute majority to govern Portugal for the third consecutive term. A big round of cheers from Goans all over the State to Prime Minister Antonio Costa. Portuguese had ruled Goa for 450 years and now a Goan son is governing a Socialist Party Government in Portugal for the third consecutive term.
Under Prime Minister Antonio Costa’s regime Portugal’s economy, which was down by 8.4% in 2020, rose to 4.9% in 2021,the fastest pace since 1990. The unemployment rate also fell to 5.9% in December 2021, the lowest level in nearly two decades.
These figures show that the Socialists Government led by Prime Minister Antonio Costa is doing a good job. Our best wishes to our own Goan brother Antonio Costa and simultaneously the people of Portugal for being a force to reckon with within the whole of European Union. Cheers!
Natividade Fernandes, Cavelossim
Cortalim panchayat’s special meeting
On January 31, seven members of the Cortalim Village Panchayat addressed a letter to the Block Development Officer of Mormugao expressing their no-confidence in the sarpanch and deputy sarpanch.
Swiftly the very same day i.e. on January 31, itself the Mormugao Block Development Officer issued an order convening a Special meeting of the Cortalim Panchayat on February 4 at 10.30 am to discuss the said no-confidence motion.
The Secretary of the Cortalim Village Panchayat again on the very same day intimated the 11 members of the Panchayat that the said meeting will be held on February 4, to discuss the no-confidence motion against the sarpanch and deputy sarpanch.
We have never witnessed the authorities function in such a tearing velocity with everything being decided in a day. Surprising that this has been done at such a speed despite the Model Code of Conduct being in force.
Needless to state there is a clear political angle to all this on the eve of Assembly elections and the officials have undoubtedly worked at the behest of an MLA who hails from the Mormugao Taluka and issues diktats to the Block Development Officers.
This sequence of events at the Cortalim Panchayat is alarming and does not at all augur well for democracy.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Exercise caution while using social media
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has recently pulled up the US headquartered social media giant Twitter for not complying with its orders to take down abusive content against the judiciary on its platform which amounts to contempt of court.
It was told in no uncertain terms that it will have to abide by extant laws in India or ship out pronto. Entities like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc have become a law unto themselves and are huge influencers of public opinion and arbiters of contemporary taste. Though many SM platforms were used for good during the last two waves of Covid when people posted appeals for beds, oxygen, medicines, ambulances and provisions it is of late being increasingly used as a means to amplify hate and bigotry by malcontents.
The negativism is very difficult to get a grip on, owing to the ‘virtual’ nature of the medium which guarantees tremendous anonymity to disaffected elements and mischief mongers. There is an upside and downside to SM as with everything in life, people must exercise caution while posting or reacting to anything on social media. A fire can be used to light the hearth but it can also be used to burn down the house; be aware, be safe.
Rekha Sarin, Benaulim
Stop chopping trees, save life
Trees are an essential part of the environment. They make the environment clean and fit for the existence of various species. Life on earth is not possible without trees. Trees are important to us in many ways. Trees give us life. They provide us with oxygen and clean the environment by absorbing the poisonous carbon dioxide. Trees are also the natural habitat of many animals, birds and insects. Besides this, they also play a vital role to stop natural disasters like soil erosion, floods, etc.
In the modern era, people are rapidly involved in chopping trees for different commercial purposes. Large forests are turning into barren lands which is a serious threat to the world. By each passing day, millions of trees are cut worldwide. On the other hand, factories and poisonous gases are increasing which are the cause of global warming and climate change.
The trees are our valuable asset and if we continue to exploit them, then living on the planet will be tough for posterity. We have to understand the importance of trees because their existence is our existence. Thus, we must promote afforestation and discourage activities that are harmful to the trees.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
Avoid falling prey to assurances
The present ruling Goa government, its five years in power have been marked with rampant corruption and non-fulfillment of promises made to the common people. It had taken frequent U-turns on various promises that had been made to people, throwing the State into disarray. The people are waiting to see at least some change now as the election is fast approaching.
The unfortunate demise of Manohar Parrikar brought Goa to despair. The people prefer only those with integrity, commitment and loyalty to a particular cause or ideology. The unprecedented incompetence and lack of basic skills for governance along with immaturity and apathy, have wreaked havoc with the everyday lives of hardworking Goans and continues to threaten Goa’s unique way of life, heritage, environment and livelihood. When people keep voting for politicians regardless of their tainted character, pathetic performance and with no credible expectations to change, then the political leaders probably do look upon the voters as fools.
The Goan population must not fall prey to the assurances given by political parties. People should exercise their judgment and elect candidates who would be working honestly, sincerely and remain enthusiastic enough to work in the welfare and interest of public at large.
Citizens need to be more aware and reject such politicians with dubious credentials. Majority of our voters fall for vain, unrealistic and never-to-be-fulfilled promises the politicians eloquently propagate from decorated pulpits. And this has become the bane of Indian democracy.
K G Vilop, Chorao
