Support mining in upcoming hearing
Ever since mining activities came to a halt since 2012, several mining dependent families were affected. All of them should make earnest efforts for resumption of mining at ‘Bicholim mineral block’. The main sources of revenue for Goa government are mining and tourism. Through revenue earned from working in the mines, several families led a peaceful existence. Ever since mining operations closed down, several other businesses were also affected as the spending capacity of people shrunk. We earnestly request our stakeholders to come together to support mining in the upcoming public hearing in the interest of several mining dependent families.
Franco Sequeira, Bicholim
Maintain heritage buildings such as MMC
After the collapse of a portion of the Urban Health Centre, at Margao, it’s time the authorities wake up from their prolonged slumber and take the necessary steps to repair and maintain the 118-year old Margao Municipality building. One can only be appalled by the indifference being shown to these old and beautiful structures that, in their present condition, are dangerous not only to those who work there, but passers-by as well.
Opposite the MMC, the old Communidade building is in an equally precarious position, and those who wait for local buses, and cobblers are at risk, should the building or parts of it collapse. Behind the building is the well maintained Lohia Maidan, so why is the main building not being preserved?
Such callous neglect of key buildings (and in the case of MMC, precious records that are stored) is unacceptable. As a state with high literacy, we should be a beacon for other states. Instead, we are behaving irresponsibly and letting our records and heritage be destroyed. This is an utter shame.
Brian de Souza, Margao
Welcome change in ‘off-side rule’
FIFA under the stewardship of veteran ex-Coach of Arsenal FC, Arsene Wenger and presently FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development in-charge, plans to implement a huge change to the existing controversial off-side rule.
At present as per the rule that is in force due to which any goal scoring player is deemed off-side, if any part of his body that can be used to score a goal is even slightly ahead of the opposite team’s defender. This decision making process is often time consuming in order to come to a fair conclusion of awarding off-side either by the asst referee or video assisted referee, thus causing immense frustration to the goal scoring player as well as to the team’s supporters.
Wenger’s new proposal states that a player will be considered to be off-side only if the entire ‘goal scoring body of the player is ahead of the defender’. This change of rule will give tremendous advantage to the players in the forward positions and in all probability there are chances of more goals being scored particularly by the speedy forwards.
Also the spectators watching the soccer games both in the stadium or on the TV screens will be witnessing more goals being scored thus generating huge excitement.
Let’s hope that the new off-side Rule that will be tried out during some games in Holland, Italy and Sweden and will meet acceptance by the football organizers and other authorities.
Antonio Diniz, Fatorda
Why is there no policing on Parra road?
Is the job of the Goa Traffic Police only to fine the locals? Why is the traffic police not monitoring the picturesque Parra road where the tourist are creating a mayhem?
A twelve year old boy was injured when a tourist jeep hit the boy who was going for his tuition on a bicycle.
If we cannot manage the tourist we should stop all tourist and go back to our old lives of working in the fields. It will reduce our medical bills and make us healthier.
Matias Lobo, Tivim
Differently-abled persons are gifted
This has reference to the article ‘The silent brilliance of Suryakant Raut’s carpentry’ (O Heraldo July 17, 2023).
I found it very interesting to read this newsreport of the impeccable craftsmanship of a hearing and speaking impaired, Suryakant Raut, who excels in carpentry. I know for sure, that such differently abled persons are gifted with certain skills because I have a couple of such differently abled brothers. One is them is a good electrician, another a good artist. And yet another, a good carpenter who has picked up the trade from my dad.
So, it’s great to know of other such hearing and speaking impaired like Suryakant. Just like Suryakant, this brother can identify the types of wood by looking at it. Moreover, he is passionate and possessive about preserving even small pieces of wood which he knows are of good quality.
Suryakant rightly laments the waning interest in traditional carpentry with the advent of modern technologies, minimal designs and changing aesthetics. However, one can see the difference in the workmanship involved in traditional carpentry & modern carpentry.
I believe that God works in his own strange ways, gifting each one of us with different skills. It is up to us to use those skills, not for our own selfish interests but for society and for the greater glory of God!
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Justice delayed is justice denied
On July 17, while we observed International Justice Day, it was time to reflect on the fact that even in a small State such as Goa there is a very huge pendency of cases. The whopping number of cases pending across various Courts in the State is a matter of concern. While new cases are adding to this pile up daily, a lot of senior citizens are in the queue, while very sadly for many justice eludes and evades in their life span. The fountain of justice must keep flowing while it dispenses the rule of law to the last person in the queue, in a timely and truthful way.
The judiciary is the common man’s last hope for justice. It cannot fail to deliver as dispensation of justice is an absolute essential service which has to be provided uninterrupted.
Justice Rajendra Menon, while retiring as the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court in 2019 had said that until and unless we are able to deliver timely justice to the citizens, the faith in the system may erode and if such a thing happens, it would be a disaster for the democratic system of this country, while expressing concern over the huge dependency of cases and long delays in their disposal.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
