Letters To The Editor

Foiled kidnapping incident

An alert father managed to frustrate an attempt made by a child-lifter to kidnap his six-year-old daughter in Vasco. The incident was reported outside a bank ATM counter near the Vasco Railway station.

The police have said that the accused is a mentally disturbed man and is likely to be referred to the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB) at Bambolim. The accused does appear to be mentally unstable as no child-lifter would attempt to kidnap a child from the possession of her father and that too in a crowded locality. Nevertheless the police need to carry out a thorough investigation by subjecting the accused to persistent questioning to find out if he is a member of a probable child-lifting gang operating in the state.

The seven-day Saptah festival begins in the Port Town from Thursday. Thousands of people will be descending onto the city during the week. The police force needs to keep a constant vigil looking for persons moving in a suspicious manner in order to prevent such incidents.

Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco

India's abject surrender 

India's abject surrender in cricket at Lord's is greatest disappointment. It defies all logic. The number one Test Team played like novices. They have no clue as where the ball was pitching and seaming! This is the worst performance by Indian cricket team after a long time. There was no fight. The old adage that we are Tigers at home and Lambs away proved correct. Being a die-core fan it hurts.

Winning a Test match by an innings in less than three days showed England complete dominance over India.

Hope some semblance of a fight will be put up by India in the remainder of the series otherwise I am afraid it will be complete whitewash by the English men.

Jerry Fernandez, Vanxim

‘Goencho Avaz’ enthralls 

On August 11 we saw the grand finale of the 6th edition of ‘Goencho Avaz’ organised by Herald and Ulhas Jewellers, with the Konkani song lovers across Goa converging at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao.

It was packed to capacity with song lovers watching the young singers on stage rendering the immortal songs of the yesteryears.

Herald and Ulhas Jewellers truly deserve appreciation and commendation for organising an event of such a great magnitude every year which offers a platform to young talented Goans singers to reveal their singing talent. As a rule the singers ought to choose the songs of yesteryears of legendary singers like Alfred Rose, Rita Rose, Chris Perry, Lorna, M Boyer, Antonette, C Alvares, Jacinto Vaz, Remy Colaco, Wilmix and others.

This, in a way, is also a fitting tribute to these great singers, composers and musicians who have left the rich repertoire of immortal music and most meaningful songs for the younger generation of today and also for posterity. It was a special evening to remember. The young participants hailing from different corners of Goa enthralled the packed audience with their rich and melodious voices earning endless applause song after song. Some of the melancholic and emotional love songs even sent the audience into tears.

While the Mando performance and the folk dance by ‘Goenchim Lharam’ was an added attraction and treat to the eyes, the icing on the cake was the duo rendered by Divina and Sonia Sirsat. The experienced musicians with their glittering gold plated wind instruments played the music reminiscent of the original compositions with perfect synchronisation. 

Agnelo de Borim was a perfect host who animated the audience with his pure Konkani anecdotes. 

Tolentino A. Colaço, Avedem-Quepem

True comrade 

with spine

He is a stalwart who stood tall with principled parliamentary values and ethics. He who refused to bow down to party diktat irrespective of his political future. 

He rose above all superstitions, rendering service to medical cause and research even after death pledging his mortal remains to science.

Indeed they don't make more like Somnathda. Red salute to the person whose gallant presence would definitely be missed for times to come.

Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkata

August 15 gives a message of love 

Today, it is very painful for me to see our beautiful country suffering extremism and communal violence. August 15 has much significance in every individual's life of Indians. It is the same day when our country got freedom from the grip of British after a lot of struggles made by our forefathers irrespective of cast, creed or religion.

It brings for us every year a lot of happiness to feel independent in our country. It also makes us feel proud of our country India and conveys a massage of love and brotherhood to entire country. So, we must live together helping each other and cooperating with each other without any discrimination and separation.

I love India. I am proud of India. Jai Hind.

MF Qasmi, Mumbai

A patient GMC doctor

With due respect to each and every doctor in GMC which is best all over, example Dr Amonkar and his team in surgery dept, Dr Madhumohan and his team in urology dept, Dr Ramnath Medicine dept, to name few who I know cause I have been visiting them for the last 5 years. These are tirelessly working day and night giving their best to patients either in OPD, OT, or in the wards. I pray to God to bless them all with good health and happiness always.

But one doctor who I came across only once and saw many times in her OPD has to be saluted, appreciated. I am requesting Health Minister Viswajit Rane to take note of Dr Tereza Fereira of Neurosurgery OPD 5, who is working on Tuesdays and Thursdays from morning to evening giving her precious time of 15 to 20 minutes for each patient patiently.

I love to meet Dr Tereza for my health problem but cannot get the token number easily as there is no separate queue for differently abled. I believe like a senior citizen her OPD 5 is always crowded.

Jerry D’Souza, 

Divar