letters to the editor

Communal forces

gaining momentum 

Communal forces are slowly but surely creeping into Goa. Their only agenda is to disturb the communal harmony which existed for ages in Goa. Goans need to be alert and awake and rise to the occasion to fight against such forces. 

A few months ago, during a large gathering in Margao, the wife of a minister in the ruling dispensation in Goa, brazenly attacked the convent schools in Goa. A real Goan will never deny the services rendered by the convent schools. In the beginning of this academic year, the Catholic community was disturbed when the Government of the day denied permission to start a Diocesan Higher Secondary College, and upgrade some of the Diocesan schools in remote areas. 

Recently, the yoga day was kept on Sunday when every Christian has to attend religious services. Fortunately in Goa, the yoga day was deferred at the last minute. Then the issue of Medium of Instruction and grants to Diocesan schools made the parents to come on roads so that justice is done to them. 

Three years after the incident, recently cases have been filed by the police against two innocent Catholic priests and twenty other Catholics from Velim. 

Now another Catholic community, the Salesian fathers wanted to start an educational institute with sports facilities for the youngsters on a leased land at Nerul but people supported by communal forces are objecting to it by saying that there was a religious structure on the leased land. So far the official land documents failed to support people’s arguments. Yet some leaders of the present dispensation support them. 

Anyway, all these incidents show that the Catholics in Goa are on receiving end in the recent past. If there is any communal element in these incidents, as in the past, irrespective of caste, creed and religious background, Goans must be awake, alert and remain united to fight against such communal forces whose only agenda is to disrupt the communal harmony in Goa.

Rui Pereira, Navelim

Clouds over the

economy

While the rain clouds over Goa are few and far between, the clouds over the economy look ominous. Oil prices have gone into a tail spin affecting the economies of oil producing nations. Oil is at a 6-year low. It takes 70 Russian roubles to buy one US dollar. The situation is far worse than it was this time last year. 

Worse still, Russian President Putin had appealed to citizens to desist from going abroad on vacations and instead explore domestic tourism to save foreign currency and boost the economy. Moreover, last year Russians had done bookings around this time when oil prices were still $ 80 to a barrel. Only thereafter prices fell drastically. This year Russians will think twice before making bookings, raising fears of a huge drop in arrivals, though nobody is willing to say so.

Going by reports and letters in newspapers, the Brits too are not too keen on returning to Goa, when there are cheaper and cleaner options south of Goa. The only silver lining is the hope that mining will restart after the rains.

The tourism department will have to work overtime to attract foreign tourists for it is the bread and butter of Goans.

Prof Robert Castellino, Calangute

Unaffordable 

onion price

Recently, the price of onions has skyrocketed. Last week the price was around Rs 60 per kg. But during the current week the same has risen. With shortage of onions in the local markets, the price is going to increase further. Under such circumstances, the so called ‘Aam Admi’ would not be able to purchase this major item for home consumption. Even hotel owners have been affected due to the sudden rise in price.

 It is believed that the price would get reduced only after fresh stock reaches the market. The state government needs to do something to provide onions at somewhat lesser rate so that citizens from all sections of society can purchase the same without any difficulty. Prompt positive steps in this direction would be appreciated by one and all.

Pravin U Sardessai, Adpai

Stop illegalities

Now a days one can see too many illegal constructions of ghumtis and crosses on the road side or in someone’s property and it goes on increasing day by day. Sometimes people are not aware of such constructions in their properties and slowly it becomes place of worship. 

When the roads are expanded by filling mud on the side, illegal activities start taking place on that site a small kiosk, a ghumati or a cross is a common thing one can observe. We all believe and trust in God but is this a way to worship by building a structure on someone’s land without taking his/her permission. This is just illegal ways of worshiping the almighty. 

Some people do it deliberately with the sole purpose to acquiring someone’s land or to create a dispute. They are also supported by some politicians to create their vote banks. This is a very sentimental and emotional issue and can create a communal attitude towards ones behavior. 

There is a saying 'Prevention is better than cure" so such kind of illegality can be well prevented in future. I request the authority not to encourage such types of activities and proper steps should be taken as early as possible when such type of things activate and should be demolished with police protection so that in future it cannot be a big worry. 

We all are God loving and trusting people everyone should follow their own religion properly and at the same time one should respect other religions as well that is humanity. 

Satyajit Prabhudessai, Benaulim

Hats off to the Herald

It really requires gut and courage to expose the people like goondas, dadas, and the politicians and Herald is the only Daily which has been doing a commendable job in bringing out the deep rooted corruption, bribery, and exposing our ministers, MLAs who are misusing the power entrusted in them. They are representative of the people who are being elected by them in order to serve them and look after their welfare and better living. .

But once elected they forget the promises they made during the election propaganda and even their party manifesto. Modern politics has become a money making racket, mind you some of them has even given up their good jobs to enter this trade for the returns are good and fast.

My request to the Herald is kindly keep up the good work as the peoples court is with you, as mentioned by you earlier, all the rouges who are moving freely after looting the people will definitely be behind bars very soon, as this money belongs to the people of Goa and am sure God cannot forgive them always, as he knows what is happening and am sure he will punish all this looters at the appropriate time.

Domnick Rodrigues, Candolim

Self-employment

a threat

Though the successive government stressed on self-employment it really does not help local people to do so. Take for example of eating joint in earlier days we had Goans running hygienic hotels serving local dishes, now one can see only Udupi and foreign chain of restaurants. I am not sure whether the health departments conduct medical tests on those who are employed in such hotels. Huge malls have displaced small local shopkeepers. Doctors having their own pharmacies and even own lenses shops. 

The forcing of marina projects in Goa and shifting of casino vessel outside Mandovi river by BJP government will deprive local fisherman of being self-employed. Even if some Goans are interested in dairy or in agriculture there is hardly any land left for locals to do so, the recent example how the Defence Minister Parrikar took away huge land at Betul and gave it to defence. 

If permission is given to rent a cab service it will further deprive locals self employed in running taxi service and bring hoard of migrant people to Goa. The most recent of on-line distribution of medicine will put the pharmacy owners in a loss as their business will be dented.

George Joao Fernandes, Navelim

Konkani and my 

cultural identity

I have lived my life outside Goa but am proud to say that I am at ease with Konkani and enjoy speaking my "mother tongue" with one Goan acquaintance in the UAE. 

It is a fact that I learnt Konkani not at school but through communicating with older Goan relatives and different Goan house help while living in New Delhi and Bombay and then again with aunts and grand-parents in Goa. 

In my view Konkani should be a mandatory second language that must be taught and tested but only upto Grade 4 or 5. It is a vital link to my cultural and ethnic identity, to my roots.

Ralph Rau, Dubai, UAE