Rivals make hay as Mickky stays away
Churchill, Valanka to reopen Benaulim office, distribute fertilizer bags
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, JUNE 21
With Benaulim MLA Mickky Pacheco on the run since the last fortnight with the Crime branch hunting him in the Nadia Torrado death case, PWD Minister and Navelim MLA Churchill Alemao along with daughter Valanka made their presence felt in Benaulim on Monday.
Though the obvious reason was to distribute free fertilizer bags to the 200-odd farmers, both Churchill and Valanka announced the revival of their office in Benaulim from August 15 and cherished the fond memories the Alemao family had with the Benaulikars in the late 80’s and 90’s.
The decision to revive the Alemao’s office in Benaulim comes at a time when Pacheco has publicly set his sight on the new Nuvem constituency.
“Benaulim and my daddy Churchill had close ties since 1989. This constituency had elected my daddy many times, we cannot forget this kind gesture from the people. Benaulim people are our people. I told daddy, who is representing Navelim, that Benaulim people are our people and we have to give the fertilizers to the farmers from Benaulim”, Valanka added.
Valanka who had nursed the ambition to contest the Lok Sabha polls from South Goa in the past said the people are welcome to their residence with any difficulties. “From August 15, we are opening our office in Benaulim. I and ZP Chairperson Maria Rebello will sit in the office to resolve the grievances of the people”, she said.
Churchill told the people that he cannot forget them for their love and affection since the 80’s. “I had won the Benaulim in 1989 with the highest voting. You are responsible for my victory. I became the first Catholic chief Minister after you elected me as your MLA. I made this history because of all of you”, he added.
“My daughter has told you of the plans to re-open the Benaulim office. She has started social work. I will approach the land lady for the office premises”, he added.
Saying there are ups and down in politics, Alemao gave an example of a village doctor,
when people abandoned their trusted doctor as they wanted fast recovery, only to realize later that the quick medicine was not give the much desired relief. “When I was representing Benaulim, I was in power for a few months. But now, the people of Navelim are fortunate to get the development works as I hold the portfolios of PWD and RDA”, he added.
Alemao said he has cleared a number of developmental projects in Benaulim village, including drainages and roads and assured to hot mix the internal roads in the village after the monsoons.
Before distributing the fertilizers – which he has already done so in his Navelim constituency, Alemao reminded that he has borne the expenses towards the fertilizers. And, he made it clear that he would continue his gesture the next season as well, indicating that the Alemao’s appears set to return in the new Benaulim constituency comprising of the villages of Benaulim, Colva, Seraulim, Varca, Orlim, Carmona and Cavelossim – the last four village which are now part of Navelim constituency represented by the PWD Minister.
