He also called on the police to be more proactive in view of the rising number of crimes.
Barreto, a former Cavelossim sarpanch, linked the recent thefts to the lack of streetlights and questioned what had happened to the sodium lamps that were installed to light up the constituency’s streets. He demanded that the government restore the sodium fixtures, which had been recently repaired.
“These sodium-powered streetlights have been repaired, but the tourism department has not yet switched it on. We wish they look into this matter. More light at night will strike fear into these yet-to-be-identified thieves, who are taking advantage of the rains and darkness to roam around undetected,” said Barreto.
Barreto also said the Varca-Mobor road and other parts of Benaulim were water-logged due to clogged gutters or filled with potholes, making it extremely inconvenient for the public. He added that power fluctuations were the norm in the monsoons. These issues had been raised with the government and the Congress GPCC president Luizinho Faleiro at their last meeting at the South Goa Congress headquarters in June.
Barreto also recalled that, during his tenure as sarpanch from 2005-2012, they had stopped a proposal to have a casino at the River Sal.
He said he would continue to protest and block any such proposals in the future.
While refusing to comment on the current politicking within and outside the Congress regarding Benaulim constituency, he stated that he was only concentrating on development and other issues in Cavelossim and the rest of the constituency. He added that the primary membership drive was currently underway.
Barreto was a long-standing block president before he was unceremoniously removed from the post. He was reinstated after the Congress lost the Benaulim seat in the 2012 Assembly elections. Since then, he has been the face of the Congress in Benaulim and had even met Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi when the latter visited the International Centre Goa. It is no coincidence that the Congress is currently singing the tune of new and fresh faces.
