It’s a drastic change for the worst
I have been a regular visitor to Goa over the past many years and a frequent visitor to restaurants and pubs in North and South Goa. In my opinion, besides the environmental change seen around for the worst, there also seems to be a change for the worst in terms of the quality and quantity for food served at the various restaurants thrown open post pandemic. The entertainers performing at most places have been pathetic, with a majority of the live acts missing altogether and new acts absorbed supposedly to cut cost. If this is the quality of tourism Goa has to offer post pandemic, then I’m afraid I will have to advise all tourists to delay their visit to Goa, cause the food, the entertainment and the culture on display is anything but Goan.
Disgusting for a person who is a regular visitor and feels the change. The one thing that hasn’t changed though, is the attitude of the taxi drivers ever willing to make a fast buck with their absurd rates quoted. Goa, your hospitality, the environment, the entertainment and the transport seems to be getting worse with every passing year. To get quality tourists you need to provide quality or you will attract garbage.
Stannon Rebeiro, Goan, living in Pune
Modi attacks China, Pakistan
During his UN General Assembly address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came out with all guns blazing against Pakistan and China. Making a veiled attack on Pakistan, Modi accused it of misusing the UN platform to spread propaganda and using terror as a political tool. Modi warned Beijing against expansionism in the Indian Ocean and manipulating World Bank data to improve its rankings.
The dragon’s handling of Covid-19 also came for flak. The PM also used the stage to highlight India’s strengths as a democracy, including his journey as a politician.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
A paradigm shift needed
Through its new tourism policy the State government is attempting to shift the focus from the ubiquitous beach, bars and casinos to ecology, culture and heritage. Per the new guidelines Rs 50 lakh per annum would be allocated to designated villages which are conducive to development as ‘tourism villages’ subject to certain minimum criteria being fulfilled.
The spotlight would be on promoting rural life, art, culture in an ecological sustainable and environment friendly manner. Towards this end Goa can certainly take a leaf out of Rajasthan’s book or see how tourism is conducted in the North East. Developing quality facilities in offbeat destinations to attract high spending, long stay travellers should be emphasised upon. River cruises, jungle treks, night safaris, conducted village tours showcasing the local dances, zatras, music and crafts would surely be a big hit among responsible travellers; this would also help in improving Goa’s image. Concurrently Goa needs to rein in rising crime and errant taxi drivers to make the State a safe, viable and hassle free experience for tourists.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Fruit saplings to justify Seafarers’ jobs
We are living in a very funny World, in March 2020 the so called legislators including their leader Dr Pramod Sawant refused to approve the repatriation of Seafarers saying they will bring the virus with them to Goa but later after the Seafarers finally managed to make it back fighting tooth and nail a lot of political heavyweights and some trying to enter politics tried to take the credit. I don’t have much to say as to what happened later when the hell was left loose and thousands died due to the negligence of the same Legislators who were trying to keep the Seafarers away.
Now let me come to the most funny part where the Government never bothered to assist the Seafarers for the last one and a half year is being urged to take up the issue with other countries by the GSAI, claiming that Seafarers’ have a pay cut and are putting in extra hours than usual. I would like to elaborate on the issue by asking the president of GSAI Frank Viegas to assure the Seafarers to get a job with a salary matching what the shipping companies are paying even without guests cruising and if you cannot please don’t defame the shipping companies who have taken good care of their employees when the Government couldn’t and still are by doing everything possible to put food on the table for the Seafarers’ families by providing a job during these trying times.
If the Government interferes by demanding extra pay than what is paid we expect the Government to take care of us by providing us a job with the same pay. My last message to GSAI President to reiterate on justifying your fruit saplings distribution, if you think by distributing fruit saplings to the Seafarers’ community will take care of them I think you should be nominated for the Nobel prize because you will eliminate the World of hunger.
Savio D’costa, Chandor
Goenche Fuddari, a clarion call for youth
Goenche Fuddari, a Konkani tiatr conceptualised, written and directed by Irineu Gonsalves, his seventh presentation, gives a clarion call to the youth of Goa to come forward and join politics in order to save Goa. The tiatr is timely as the assembly elections are not far away and there is hectic political development taking place in the State. The story revolves around a group of student leaders who take upon themselves to punish a corrupt professor of the college who takes advantage of a woman employed in the premises.
The group of the student leaders only grows bigger with students of other colleges joining it. The group tastes a moral victory as the corrupt professor is suspended despite the political clout he enjoys. This event only forces the group to look at the wider problems Goa faces. This development leads to the formation of the group called Goenche Fuddari. The student leaders take oath to take on the politicians on important issues like double-tracking, saving the environment, air pollution, the controversial Bhumiputra Bill and several other issues plaguing the State. The tiatr deals with all the shortcomings of the government.
The call is particularly to the youth and the first-time voters who form about 65 per cent of the voters in the State. All in all a very entertaining tiatr and a must watch.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Viral fever cases rise with Covid-19
With Covid-19 cases continuing to be an active threat, there’s a frivolous uptick we have been seeing in the form of the flu and viral fever cases. Many doctors have also stressed that they are observing many cases of dengue, viral illness, flu and swine flu being reported right now. The illnesses can cause a fever, muscle pain, cough, cold, congestion, headache and fatigue.
The Covid and the flu are contagious illnesses which spread through respiratory droplets released by an infected person and following good measures can tame down the risks.
By mask mandates, staying home when you are sick, maintaining adequate distance and avoiding contact to limit transmission risk are to be necessarily followed. Viral illnesses are wreaking havoc in this season of weather change. Seasonal flu has gripped parts of North India, triggering confusion over a possible third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. But it has created a situation of panic this year as the symptoms of seasonal flu are very similar to Covid-19. The proper solid waste disposal and improved water storage practices, including covering containers to prevent access by egg-laying female mosquitoes are methods that are encouraged through community-based programmes.
K G Vilop, Chorao
