MARGAO: It appears that the Administrator of Comunidades, South zone, has deliberately scheduled elections so as to discourage the formation of quorum thereby giving the escrivaos an opportunity to rule the roost by recommending people they want on the managing committee.
It would be important to note that of the 40 comunidades in Salcete, only 15 had the quorum and could hold the elections. For the remaining 25 comunidades, the government will appoint the managing committee.
Celestino Noronha who has been elected to the managing committees of three comunidades pointed out that it was wrong on the part of the Administrator to hold elections of eight to nine comunidades on each of the Advent Sundays in Salcete.
“Salcete is known to be Catholic dominated who are busy preparing for Christmas during the advent period and how could elections be scheduled during that time?” he asked implying that it was deliberately done to avoid formation of quorum.
In Salcete 8 comunidades elections were scheduled on December 2, December 9 and December 23 while 9 comunidades were to elect their managing committees on December 16. Interestingly, after Christmas on December 30 and January 5, 2019 only three comunidades each had their elections.
Celestino argued that larger number of comunidade elections could have been scheduled after Christmas so that quorum could be constituted.
The communidades where managing committees were not constituted will now have a managing committee constituted by the government and the government will be advised on who to be appointed by the escrivaos of the concerned communidade even though it is alleged that most of the illegalities in the communidades are committed by the escrivao.
It would be relevant to point out that at the Dicarpale comunidade last time since elections were not held a lady and her son were both appointed on the managing committee even though the Code of Comunidade does not allow family members to be part of the managing committee and at some places persons who did not have required shares were appointed on the managing committee.
Paresh Phaldessai who was the Administrator of Comunidades South when the elections schedule was prepared and the elections conducted refused to comment on the matter on grounds that he is now transferred and he has given up charge.
The new Administrator Roshelle Fernandes claimed to have no knowledge about anything as she has just taken charge.
