Act on intelligence
before violence erupts
The recent Hanukkah terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, Sydney, has prompted significant reflection on society’s response to hatred and violence. Key lessons highlighted by commentators, leaders, and community members include the importance of confronting anti-Semitism and the resilience of the community in the face of terror. Over the last couple of years, Australia, a country long considered safe to live, had recorded an increase in anti-Semitic acts. The attack highlights the need for better education about history and prejudice.
Schools and universities must be places where anti-Semitism and other forms of bias are confronted, not rationalized or ignored. The Sydney massacre provokes questions about whether Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his government had done enough to curb rising anti-Semitism. Critics point out that Australia had received numerous warning signs about rising anti-Semitism, including synagogue arson attacks and intelligence reports that were not adequately addressed with urgency. The lesson is to take threats seriously and act on intelligence before violence erupts.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
ZP polls: A chance to bring a change
We are going to the polls on Saturday, December 20, to vote for the Zilla Panchayat representatives. This is an opportunity to elect new faces, young and energetic young candidates to project our future to bring about changes for a better living.
Sadly, all these years we have observed the funds allocated to the Zillas have not been utilised as per the needs of the village upkeep except for a few potholes fillings and monsoon cleaning. However our major day to day needs have remained unattended, be they regular water supply, steady electricity and other modern amenities in keeping with change of time. This election too some of the old faces made their presence felt visiting every house, flashing a smile, joining hands and asking for votes to stay in power. We are the modern generation, educated, forward thinking. We cannot stay backward with present day technological applications, be it software, internet or social media and internet facilities not made available.
We need to encourage young energetic educated youth to be part of the public systems for the benefits of the people. This election of Zilla Panchayat is perhaps our last opportunity to put an end to what is going on in Goa: loot of land, corruption, murders, rapes of innocent people and bringing disgrace to Goa and the Goans. Let us vote for new faces, young candidates and for a chance to bring a change.
Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo
UNESCO tag for tiatr
will be crowning glory
As the tiatr marked the 154th birth anniversary of Pai Tiatrist Joao Agostinho Fernandes on Sunday, president of the Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) reportedly ascertained that UNESCO for the tiatr would significantly strengthen Goa’s traditional theatre by opening support from the Central government.
This could lead to facilities such as Pai Tiatrist hall being made available free of cost for tiatr performance thereby reducing financial burden on artistes and producers. Tiatr is significant as a vibrant cultural mirror, using satire and song to address Goan social issues, preserving Konkani language, creating livelihoods for artistes and deeply embedded in local identity and tradition.
The tiatr community views the potential UNESCO recognition as a vital step to safeguard the legacy of the art form and preserve it for future generations. It may be recalled that in August 2025, the Goa Legislative Assembly passed a resolution urging the State government to pursue the UNESCO tag for tiatr. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant reportedly assured the House that the government is serious about the effort and a State-level coordination committee would be formed.
South Goa MP Capt Viriato Fernandes is actively advocating for tiatr, to receive UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) inscription. Capt Viriato introduced a resolution in the Lok Sabha to recognise tiatr’s cultural significance and push for UNESCO status. He also called for academic research and digital archiving to preserve tiatr’s history. Tiatr is a rare theatre form in Asia that is community-focused, and free from elite influence. This theatre form has spread beyond Goa to the Gulf, Europe, and globally. More importantly the theatre form has existed for 133 years. Hence a UNESCO tag will be crowning glory.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Vote for clean candidates
With so much misgovernance in Goa, these ZP elections could have been a perfect time for all opposition parties to give a united message for Goa against the ruling BJP.
It is really unfortunate that some parties speak about saving Goa but in reality cannot compromise, control their egos, accept the reality and find a middle ground to be part of United Opposition versus the BJP.
It appears that parties which chose to go solo and split votes to favour BJP, have their own party growth interests as priority versus Goa’s interests!
Anyway, I request all those who agree with me that the current governing ideology is a failure to for Goa to please A) vote for clean candidates with particularly no ties to real estate and as far as possible B) vote in a manner that the ruling BJP party gets the clear message that we can’t be taken for granted!
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
