Charismatic Fr Conceição
With the death of Fr Conceição we lost a great evangelist who did not fear to speak the truth, however bitter it might be to some, a great fighter of Goan causes an environmental crusader, very sensitive to the needs of the poor, very humble and charitable, has left an indelible mark by improving and sometimes putting great efforts in repairing and rebuilding churches, a torch bearer of the Konkani language our mother tongue. Excelled in organising retreats and delivering awe inspiring sermons, will be fondly remembered by all. May God grant him eternal light and peace.
Agnelo Furtado, Chinchinim
Fr Conceição used to serve society
With regret I write this to express my grief over the sudden death of Fr Conceicao D’Silva. Our relationship started in 1991 in Calangute when he was attached to Calangute Church where he created a heavy impact of his awakening among the locals who were closely linked with him and in a special way he brought together the Calangute Youth for their betterment.
His greatest ambition was to serve the society and not only to the Catholic community as proved by his helpful hand for the people of different communities. Being a priest he did not confine himself within his Priesthood only but as a pastor like Fr Torres in South America and Cardinal Sin in Philippine he moved further guiding the people especially the Catholics to move in the right direction. His greatest activity for which I admire him was to the people during the election time how to be prudent in electing the right candidates and not to get fooled by them once they are elected.
His preaching from the Altar on the evils of the existing electoral system in Goa as derived from Indian Constitution and also as opposed to the electoral system existing in Goa during the Pre-Salazarist-era in Goa for the elections of Municipalities and for electing two candidates to Portuguese Parliament in Lisboa, was in right direction in guiding the people on different matters.
His involvement in social affairs by helping the people mainly the poor thru his personal efforts to get them benefits deserve compliments. His contribution in the promotion of Konkani mainly the Romi Script was laudable.
A Veronica Fernandes, Candolim
Disaster waiting to happen
The Uttarakhand glacier outburst that left 10 dead and over 170 missing was a disaster waiting to happen. Seventeen villages got totally cut off as and the glacier washed away five bridges besides damaging the Tapovan dam on Alaknanda river and sweeping away the 13.2-megawatt Rishiganga hydropower project.
The Indo-Tibetian Border Police deserve to be commended for rescuing 16 labourers trapped in a tunnel of a dam. Unfortunately, successive governments have not learned the lessons given Uttarakhand’s history of natural disasters.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
Making fish affordable
Goa has been blessed with a vast coastline and fish happens to be the staple food of Goans. Though a lot of fishing activities take place in the state, fish is, many a times, beyond the reach of the common because of it’s prohibitive price. Goans have to go without this staple diet during the fishing ban when fish becomes out of bounds. But now all this is set to change.
Union fisheries ministry has announced that Goa will be developed into the first fisheries hub of the country and the central government is investing Rs. 400 crore in the project. Goa has a vast coastline, inland waterways and saline khazan lands that can produce the largest quantity of fish in the country. It is surprising that Goa being a tourist state and fishing being one of the main activities of Goans, there is no large aquarium set up in the state which can attract tourists. Cage culture for fishing is set to develop in a big way. With the closure of mining activities in the state, Goa could look to fishing activities, quite literally as the mining pits are to be used for cage culture for fisheries. With financial assistance from the centre Goa can look forward to a major boost for the fisheries department.
However the state government needs to have control over the price of fish sold in the market which should be sold in weights so that the common man can afford this staple diet.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Dangerous situation
This has reference to ‘Floods as glacier breaks off on Uttarakhand’ (Herald, February 8, 2021). This is indeed a dangerous situation. A glacier melting in cold climate in a hill state like Uttarakhand, is something we need to think about seriously. An entire Hydel power project has been washed away besides affecting human settlements along the way. An inquiry commission would definitely be set up to probe this incident. But it is apparent that ‘Global warming’ has been responsible for this glacier melting in Uttarakhand.
You cannot sit cool while your neighbour’s house is on fire, it will ultimately engulf you, sooner or later. Needless to say, we need to wake up. The time for action is long overdue. The signs are there for all to see, the writing is in the wall. We can only choose to ignore all this at our own peril. Such incidents of glaciers melting in a particular location is bound to have a cascading effect on other locations as well. No man can live as an island. It is indeed important that each one of us take that ‘small’ step in tackling this issue of global warming. Are we waiting for yet another deadly incident before we wake up? Precaution, it is said, is better than cure!
Melville X. D’Souza, Mumbai
Debasement of democracy
There are democracies and democracies in the world. A presidential democracy where a president can do what he wants to do and gets away with it. There are one party democracies like Russia and China where democracy itself is an obscene word. There are democracies in sub-Saharan Africa where tin pot dictators change the rules of democracy at a slightest whim. India is another democracy which has been somewhat disgraced by the antics of elected representatives who changed parties for some sort of personal vikas.
Goa is due for an election in the near future. But I don’t think I shall exercise my right to vote if it is to be ultimately treated as a garbage by a victorious candidate who in due course joins another political party. The Supreme Court, the Chief Election Commissioner and above all the Parliament have a duty to respect my cast vote Please do something to discourage the party hopping representatives. There any many ways like debarring him from occupying a ministerial post or become chairman of a Govt Corporation during the period for which he was elected. Please do something to ensure that democracy in India has a lasting respect.
AC Menezes, Chinchinim
