Will of the people must reign supreme
People across Goa are so very rightly up in arms against projects that are against the interests of the State and detrimental to the environment. Every decision taken by the government should be after an in-depth analysis and proper application of mind. On issues that concern the society, the government should bow to the wishes and aspirations of the people by taking sensible corrective decisions instead of forcing the public to agitate on the streets. The will of the people must always reign supreme. The brave actions of the concerned and agitated citizens is now widespread. In a democracy the people should never be afraid of their Government, instead the Government should be afraid of the people.
While an already saturated Goa does not need any more such controversial projects, it should be the thrust of the government to first ensure as a top priority that Goa’s basic infrastructure is first put in place. The Government cannot ignore the fact that we are part of the largest democracy in the world and as such the wishes of the people are paramount and must never be ignored. All these fancy projects that the Government is imposing are not in the best interests of the people.
The government should instead on a priority deal with the serious issues plaguing the state. Very urgent action is warranted on potholed roads, drainage and sewage, effective garbage management, stray animal menace, enhanced healthcare services, better infrastructure and proper traffic management. The casinos besides the plague of drugs and prostitution rackets is destroying the lives of many and corroding the state’s fabric. Concrete action on all this is far more urgent and important for the people than these new contentious and needless projects. May better sense prevail on those in power.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Vote for a change
Dear Goans we are accountable for what we are facing now in Goa. So please use your minds and vote in the coming 2022 Vidhan Sabha elections. It is up to us Goans not to repeat the same mistakes again and again. Whichever party we choose we are getting the same faces as Ministers.
Dear Goans enough is enough now, it’s time to get united and send the same old faces home like last time, ministers and even CM was sent home.This is not the time to fight Gully Boys v/s Delhi Boys but get united to fight and defeat the common culprit.
And thus save Goa from further destruction. So all opposition parties please get united and achieve the common goal.
Natividade Fernandes, Cavelossim
Slaves of MLAs
After all an election is an election, it requires lot of resources by the contestants to contest this election but time and money are the major requirements. To hold this election on Dec 12, within 5 days is too hasty, this haste is just an academic point because those who are responsible to organise this election wants this to come to an end, hence it looks to me the announcement to hold this election hastily.
Is this Zilla Parishad essential and if yes what are its functions? By having this impotent body is first of all useless and moreover to hold the election for this body is waste of money. The contestants for this election told me that it gives them nothing by contesting but only an inch of an elevation of their social standing. However, as for me they gain nothing but many of them the scorn of the society if not openly then at least clandestinely because society knows in the absence of concrete powers Zilla Parishad and its members are useless.
The important gain for the elected members of Zilla Parishad especially for those who are over ambitious, opportunities to prepare the base for them to make a way to contest the future elections for the State Legislative Assembly. Even after knowing that they are the members of toothless body yet they spend their time and money and create lot of discord in the society especially with their nearest and dearest forcing a question on them: is it worth?
Many of these Zillah Parishad members are slaves of their local MLA’s who even entrust some of these Zilla members as pimps for their MLAs as openly told me by a few Zilla members.
A.Veronica Fernandes, Candolim
Refereeing standards at ISL
With four rounds of the country’s premier tournament “ISL” almost complete, the refereeing standards leave a lot to be desired and in some cases outright dismal, making us a laughing stock in the footballing world.
Our footballing standards may not be the best but atleast the officiating standards can be at par with the top football playing nations. One way of improving this is by hiring good referees from the Asian sub-continent, if not from Europe or have the VAR system in place atleast for the ISL to assist the Indian referees.
Some teams are at the receiving end of some blatant bad decisions which has changed the course of some of the matches. Team owners spend crores to hire good coaches and players to make their teams highly competitive only to be let down by incompetent referees. Are the organizers listening?
Lucas D’Souza, Verna
‘Video Assistant Referee’ in ISL
The Indian Super League (ISL) happens to be the premier football league not just in India but the whole of Asia. The league has attracted several star players of yesteryears. The young breed of Indian footballers do get an opportunity to showcase their talent and rub shoulders with some prominent names in the football world. The football dished out at the league matches is of a high standard. However the standard of officiating in the matches has left much to be desired.
One match in question was the match between North East United FC and SC East Bengal which the former won by a solitary goal. It must be said that misinterpretation of the penalty and the offside rule can mean the difference between victory and defeat for a team. That is where the importance of a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) comes into play. At most major football leagues across the world the latest technology like video replays is used to come to a decisive conclusion whenever there is doubt. As a matter of fact video replays is officially used in several other games at the international level including lawn-tennis and cricket. Given the popularity of the Indian Super League and the high stakes involved for the teams, the owners and the players, it would be desirable to introduce the VAR system in future editions of the league.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Farmers protest
Farm leaders have said that they will end their protests only after the government promises a “complete rollback” of the controversial farm laws. Farmers protesting the centre’s new farm laws have agreed to a sixth round of talks – scheduled for Wednesday – after today’s meeting yielded no breakthrough on the key issue – the repeal of the three farm laws.
The government, during the meeting, said it needs more time for internal discussion. It told the farmers that it will place the proposal on December 9. Protest leaders rejected the government’s offer to amend some contentious provisions of the new farm laws, which deregulate crop pricing, and stuck to the demand for total repeal. They also announced a nationwide strike for Tuesday. They said they would intensify their agitation and occupy toll plazas across the country on the strike day if the government didn’t abolish the laws.
Farha Sayed, Benaulim
