It all happened on Dec.3rd 2004, the feast of St. Francis Xavier at Old Goa. My family along with 2 kids went to pay our respects to the sacred relics after a brief halt at my aunt’s place in Old Goa.
The family parted ways and decided to meet at a designated spot soon after veneration. My brother had taken my ailing mother on a wheel chair. No sooner my children and I kissed the sacred relics and reached the decided venue, I saw that my brother and mother were nowhere to be seen. Walking through the fair and managing both the kids appeared to be a big task at that hour. To make matters worse, I was left with no money to travel back as I had offered till the last rupee inside the church. I boarded a KTC bus at 8 pm, but only to realise much later that it went up to only Karmali. I alighted and asked the conductor for a one rupee coin to call my family. He was kind enough to offer Rs 10, just in case if the rupee coin doesn’t get me through. Thanks to he cash, I boarded the bus to Ponda and finally reached home to my desperately waiting family members. The concern and thought of the conductor was worth more than a million dollars. Thank you Mr Suresh Naik from Tuem, the good samaritan and conductor of KTC.
Mrs. Sandhya Fernandes , Aldona
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Not anti-national
Asking the new defence minister to shift navy from Dabolim and make it a civilian airport is not anti national. Goans did not ask to close it down but only requested to shift it to neighbouring state at Karwar in Karnataka. We do can shift it if there if there is a will to shift. But our politicians, both Congress and BJP are not interested to do it since they have brought huge amount of land around Mopa airport.
Why can’t the BJP government come clean on the amount of land brought by politicians and their close relatives around Mopa. If asking to make Dabolim a civilian airport is anti-national then it is a shame to grab land for the villagers of Mopa at cheap rates.
Fernandes George Joao, Navelim
Violence-free family day
The Catholic Church celebrated 9th November 2014 as violence-free family Sunday. Today many families are affected by violence in the family and they fail to understand that the family that stays together keeps away from all sorts of violence. It is important to understand family members who are sick and handicapped and understand family members who are victims of any sort of addiction. The families need to understand that loneliness and depression leads to addictions.
There is a need to bury personal egos and accept their family members and together sort out issues.
Cajetan Peter D’Souza, Mumbai
Discipline tourists
If, according to the government of Karnataka, teaching the Vedas will bring down the crime rate in that city, may I request the Hon. Governor to also teach it to the locals intending to visit Goa in the future so they may at least desist from littering our state, not to mention being properly attired. If it succeeds, we could have copies of the Vedas made available at all entry points. The alternative would be to levy a “toll” on all non-state vehicles entering the state considering it definitely takes a toll on our already pathetic roads. Further, a charge should be levied per passenger on the lines of garbage tax being collected from local residents. This should take care of cleaning up the mess tourists leave behind in their wake.
Bosco DSouza, Verem
Misconception about Crusaders
With respect to the letter about Crusaders (ACJM), it may be noted that activities of the Crusaders are in full compliance with Roman Catholic Church doctrine. Many of its members are also active in their respective parish activities. This is the age of the laity wherein lay people are called to play an active role in building the kingdom of God on earth. Just like how a mother gives birth to a child, it’s necessary to pray for or counsel those in need so that they may be born into eternal life.
F. Drobny, Fatorda
Extend trade fair
There is great rush at India International Trade Fair (ITTF) annually. Every year the number of visitors to this fair is increasing manifold. But enhancing the entry fee and parking fee every year is not the solution to restricting the number of visitors. Instead, with the changed time and keeping the popularity of this fair in mind, the duration of this fair should be extended to one month. Since it is an informative trade fair which is open not only to entrepreneurs big and small, but to the public too, the entry should either be free or nominal.
Mahesh Kumar, New Delhi
Amusing achievements
We have witnessed man walking on moon, man-made satellite launched in space and other various discoveries. But for the first time ever a new zero-gravity “ISS Presso” coffee machine will be delivered to the International Space Station. Astronauts in space can now order a frothy cappucino in the International Space Station on the go. The machine is set to leave for the orbital station soon by the first female Italian astronaut. This exquisite invention clearly manifests scientific prowess.
Farheen Arfaz, Navelim
