Development at what cost?
It is an absolute disgrace to witness news of controversial projects during this period of crisis. Amidst COVID-19 cases showing no respite, our government seems to be taking advantage of the public’s curtailed movement, by processing multi-crore projects that pose grave environmental danger. Development is necessary, but at what cost? Should the opposed approval of these malicious intentions be an urgent priority?
Goa’s green landscape is degrading beyond recognition, with incomplete construction sites messily scattered everywhere. Despite sustainable suggestions by concerned locals, our authorities are apparently hell-bent on approving plans with questionable benefits. Will Goa’s fading beauty be preserved for future generations?
Jude Fernandes, Vasco
Store dealers taking advantage
The lockdown and the Coronavirus pandemic is going to be an ongoing process. A few dealers from groceries and vegetables stores are taking advantage of the situation and hiking the commodities prices since the public is on a panicky buying spree not knowing for how long the lockdown will continue. The Fair Price shop owners are also trying to cash into the situation somehow these sellers seem to be allergic to the POS machine as they will catch the virus since the ration card holder has to use his thumb for impression to allow him to avail the monthly quota. The Civil Supply Department should ask the consumers to carry their own sanitiser bottle or ask the Fair Price owner to keep on bottle for the consumer use to be safe. It is surprising the fair price owners are insisting that the POS machine is unsafe but how safe will it be to give the quota of rice and wheat to the consumer? While everybody is using the ATM or swiping their cards at the petrol pump or shops with no objection.
The POS has been introduced to prevent the looting and corruption of the foodgrains as there already cases of manipulation of the bills and the consumers now that these crook owners will get scot free.
The consumers should be cooperative and carry their own sanitiser bottle and mask while collecting their ration quota from the fair price shop.
Gregory E. D’Souza, Siolim
A paradigm shift in the mindset
The recent lockdown announcement by our CM has left many people stretching their heads with some questioning the efficacy of this decision while others displaying utter indifference. A few days back before the curfew I went to a vegetable vendor and was mindful of maintaining a safe distance from the person ahead of me.
However much to my dismay a lady followed by another surpasses me and crowds in-front of the vendor leaving me wondering if people really are leading such busy lives that they can’t hold back to follow simple safety measures. We are living in tumultuous times.
While lockdowns and curfews may help to ameliorate the escalating situation eventually it’s the responsible actions of our people that will curb this pandemic.
Jose Fernandes,
St. Estevam
Pavement dwellers can spread the virus
An unidentified dead person, believed to be a beggar, who later tested positive, was found lying at a public place in the commercial capital Margao. During a lockdown people are expected to remain in their homes. But then there are many migrants who do not have a roof over their head. There are several homeless migrant porters and those who do odd jobs and beggars who, over the years, have made the pavement their home. These pavement dwellers may not visit a hospital even if they have a fever and hence can become super-spreader of the coronavirus.
The death of the Covid-19 positive beggar on the street is a very serious matter. He was probably a carrier of the virus for several days before his death. There is every possibility of him transmitting the virus to people passing by as no one would think of maintaining social distancing from those lying by the roadside.
All the roadside beggars and migrants, who have made the pavement their homes in various cities, need to be rounded up by the police and taken to a shelter home after they have undergone a Covid-19 test. The heavy rains could also play a role in the spread of the virus if these roadside beggars and migrant porters turn out to be Covid-19 positive.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Fooling the people
It is the longevity of politicians whether in Goa or in the whole of India that should matter. Almost all in politics are for personal gains and not for people gains. It does not matter whether a MLA or MP sat in the last row or was a frontbencher. What was his/her contribution, if any? said Abraham Lincoln and I quote, ” You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time but you cannot fool all the people all the time .”
Alas, the politicians can fool all the people all the time than the time is close that people will revolt against the politicians who are only filling their coffers.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
Sudden curfew
Sudden curfew from July 17 to 19 and further lockdown till August 10 isn’t going to solve the problem, rude an irate citizen. Neither will banging of utensils, lighting candles and putting off lights will send the Covid-19 virus away. This is senseless chai mentality with no logic but only causing hardship to the common man for his living.
The virus is here to stay with us till such time a medical remedy is found out by research teams of doctors who are hard at work to save lives of people and humanity. But what our political leaders in power are doing is only diverting the minds of people that they do not accept the government failure in Goa, in controlling the spread of the pandemic.
All said and done, at the end of the day what some leading politicians in Goa do is look for their interests promotion at the risk of the life of the Goans.
From Green Zone to Red now Goa is showing up its face and the inability of our govt failure to take the right measures at the right time to arrest the spread of the Corona virus is sad of Goa suffering silently. Hoodwinking the Goenkars will only be a short phase to put up with. ‘Bhivupachi kaich garaj na’, Goan immunity is strong, said the dotor Chief Minister of Goa. Then why this sudden curfew and lockdown again. Many right thinking citizens question the dotor Pramod Sawant. We fear the government more than we bear the vested interested politicians who work for themselves, commented a middle aged gentleman.
Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo
Effective therapy
With reference to the news report that our Dr Edwin Gomes is under treatment for Covid- 19, my thoughts are as follows.
After recovery and after taking sufficient rest, Dr Edwin will joyfully join duty. When he meets a patient, if required, doctor is now able to say something as follows: “See, I too was a patient like yourself for the treatment of this illness. I remained joyful and overcame this illness. Now, I can feel free, rest of my life. Don’t you think living with this feeling of ‘freedom’, is better than the living without the feeling of this ‘freedom’?
I strongly feel, the patient will be happy to hear those words and it can be an effective therapy for that patient. We pray for all the doctors, nurses and all the health workers connected with Covid-19 treatment and their families, in India and all over the world, for their well-being.
Marceline Rebello, Margao
