President come again, come again
A few days leading up to Goa’s 60th day of Liberation, which was graced by the President of India, residents of Panjim were bewildered and treated to the Olympic pace of repairs and maintenance work carried out by the authorities. Yes, it actually took a Presidential visit to execute route work which otherwise ought to have been done as a matter of routine and duty.
The President’s visit has gifted the residents of Panjim and surrounding areas with very good roads earlier ridden with potholes that were magically transformed overnight and in a jiffy. Even the slumps that exited on DB Ground were cleared and cleaned. If indeed a Presidential visit can bring this level of change over night then why shouldn’t we invite the President more often ? Also in the same vain, the President should be invited to other parts of Goa so that there is equitable repairs and maintenance throughout the State of Goa. It ultimately leads to show that if desired the authoritiesd and work over night to get things done. What a great system we have.
Winnie Coutinho, Panjim
Panjim shining
Panjimites are feeling happy that at least whatever may be the reason the roads and the gutters are cleaned. Whenever I pass the road from Dona Paula to Panjim I see workers especially the sweepers removing fallen leaves continuously. The roads are cleaned to an extent I have not seen before. I must congratulate the authorities who took an interest in hiring a number of lady sweepers to clean the road and footpath. Also the supervisory staff and engineers from CCP and PWD have done a tremendous job.
The cleanup also covered two important statues, one in Miramar of Gandhi statue and other one is Dr. Jack Sequeira which was totally neglected for 13 years as per his grandson Jack whom I met. I saw him supervising the whole operation of cleaning and painting which is being done with the family request to the CCP.
I must appreciate the way the painting is done which has given a very good outlook. Hopefully our city clean will continue such measures regularly to remain clean or else we may have to wait for another VVIP dignitary to visit this state.
Stephen Dias, Dona Paula
When will Goans unite?
A large number of our Goan youngsters were unnecessarily arrested by the Goa Police (obviously at the behest of our “Bhivpachi Garaz Nha” fame CM Dr Pramod Sawant) from different locations in Panjim on Liberation Day for heading to draw President Ram Nath Kovind’s attention to the three infrastructure projects coming up in Mollem and to convince him that the projects are against Goa’s interest by holding a silent peaceful protest. They were taken at the Ponda Police station and later released after around five hours from the said police station on the same day.
Well, why were these Goan youngsters manhandled and arrested in such an inhuman manner on that fateful day? Were they hardcore militants/terrorists belonging to a dangerous organization who were roaming around in dangerous arms & ammunitions and who were waiting to disrupt the President of India attended Liberation Day function held at Campal? Then why was this action taken in such a panicky fashion against these innocent youngsters on Liberation Day? If this state is truly liberated (as being boldly claimed by all our power hungry politicians and who shamelessly expect Goans to celebrate the so-called “60th Liberation Day” throughout the year in a very big way despite of seing the ongoing destruction of Goa right under their nose) then why were these youngsters intimidated, arrested like hardcore road-side criminals and not allowed to raise their voices against the ongoing destruction and that too, in a very peaceful manner at Panjim?
Well, I personally believe that the reason why we Goans are still living like slaves then that’s because we ourselves have kept voting a bunch of known anti-Goans for years who once voted for the merger of Goa into Maharashtra during the historic opinion poll and have officially allowed these same rogues to run the affairs of this state by staying divided on caste/religious lines since the last 59 years of our so-called “Liberation”. Yes, this is a 100% fact about all true-blooded Goans and it’s true whether some people like it or not.
I therefore strongly feel that as long as Goans do not unite and stay divided, we are doomed forever as even the Gods will not be able to stop the ongoing destruction of Goa at the hands of our own elected power-hungry traders cum rogue politicians in the state or to permanently liberate ourselves from today’s Salazar type ‘goondagiri’ cum political slavery. ‘Nidlelea Goenkara, Kedhna Uttholo re tum? Goem Kabaar Zatoch’?
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Technology enabled festivities
Christmas is a time for family reunions and in 2020 the parties shall be bigger, more participative and hopefully better. Upto four generations shall be connecting over multiple time zones and countries virtually ,from the safety and comfort of their own homes whether in Europe, Americas or Australia.
The woke tech savvy generation is taking the lead in these matters by organising online Christmas parties with the usual festive activities like carol singing, mando/fado sessions, tambola, musical soirees, baking competitions, turkey carving etc.Various tools like Zoom, Google duo, Facetime, WhatsApp, Webex would be employed for online connect to bring much needed cheer and entertainment in these bleak times. Why, even marriages, birthdays and baby showers are being planned this year with family members marking their presence virtually.
For people of the older generation, Xmas and New Year are usually lonely stay-at-home affairs but thanks to the internet, grandpas, great grandpas, fathers, sons and babies can get to enjoy the festivities albeit from their respective abodes, all is not lost.
Technology is a great enabler and a great leveller, geography is now truly history.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Leopards sighting poses danger
The presence of two adult leopards and two leopard cubs in the forested areas of Savoi Verem in Ponda taluka has set off panic among villagers. It is understood that open defecation is very common among villagers in the vicinity of the hills where the sighting of the leopards and the cubs have been reported.
The hills at Savoi Verem have a lot of greenery and a perennial source of water which supports herbivorous wild animals which serve as a prey for the carnivorous animals. The sighting of the leopard family can prove dangerous for the villagers as these wild animals can even venture into the villages in search of prey. Pet animals and cattle in the villages could attract these wild animals into habitated areas. The officials of the forest department need to take appropriate action on a war footing before any untoward incident takes place by monitoring the movement of the big cats.
A great way of monitoring the movement of wild animals is by using remote-activated camera traps. These are essentially remotely activated portable cameras that are triggered by motion through infrared or motion sensors. This gives vital information of the movement of the wild animals on a regular basis. The leopard and the cubs sighted at Savoi Verem need to be trapped and released in the wild again as they pose danger to humans and cattle.
Adelmo Fernandes,
Vasco
