100 CRORE COVID VACCINATION!

THANK-YOU INDIANS! Minister for PWD Deepak Pauskar applauded doctors, staff nurses and employees of the Health Department for their sacrifices during the Covid-19 pandemic and assisting in delivering the first dosage of Covid vaccination to 100% of eligible population. He was speaking as chief guest at a State-level function organized by Directorate of Health Service (DHS) in coordination with Primary Health Center—Dharbandora, to focus on “100 Crore of Covid Vaccination Celebrations” in Goa on October 29, 2021. Present on the occasion were Swati Tilve (sarpanch VP Dharbandora), Dr Ira Almeida (DHS), Dr Rajendra Borkar (CMO, SFWB), Mohammad Sheikh (principal, Multi Faculty College), Shaila Naik (CDPO, ICDS, Dharbandora), Dr Sandesh Madkaikar (Health Officer, PHC, Dharbandora), Dr Utkarsh Betodkar (epidemiologist, IDSP, DHS) and Dr Sarvanand (OSD to PWD Minister). Speaking on the occasion the minister stressed that the country has reached 100 crore vaccinations and the credit for this goes to every Indian citizen.

PATCHED UP ROADS?

CHIEF MINISTER Pramod Sawant has solemnly promised that all the roads in Goa would be free of potholes by November 1, 20EW. Incidentally, Nov 1 is All Saints Day. If Pramod Sawant fails to deliver on his assurance he will be answerable even to the departed Nov 2 which is All Souls Day.
Despite the Bombay High Court ruling that good and properly maintained roads are a fundamental right of every citizen, this so very insensitive government has allowed major roads to deteriorate to pathetic conditions. The authorities don’t seem to b aware of hardships faced especially by two-wheeler riders on account of potholed roads.
To add to the misery of unkempt badly patched up roads we, the public have to navigate around stray cattle and dogs making merry on roads and pavements and even highways. When will a government realize that good, safe roads crucial for proper, unhindered flow of traffic? First give us good roads and then fine us for road indiscipline! How many more people will have to die on our roads before it dawns on the authorities that they are both responsible and accountable for the accidents on our roads?
At least let us hope that by Nov1 every road in Goa will be free from potholes!
— Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar

CASINOS VERSUS TAVERNAS!
RECENTLY, the respected High Court supported THE Goa government’s stand to restrict non-tourists, namely domiciled Goans (DG) from entering the casinos. The court considers that DG going to casinos would result in evil consequences. Two questions come up: first, do all who visit casinos gamble? Many (including tourists) go for ambience, food and entertainment and not the gaming.
Second, how can authorities track say employees like DGs working in a casino and see for themselves if they gambling for themselves or on behalf of someone else? The Advocate-General stated that if DGs are allowed in casinos then they might suffer and this would affect the economic and social development of Goa and the DGs’ families may face financial losses.
Are these reasons not applicable to those who regularly visit bars and tavernas and tobacco-users? May be the health of the patrons is of no concern to the authorities! Perhaps we should follow the wisdom of a Smart Alec, who said, “When we drink, we get drunk. When we get drunk, we don’t sin. When we don’t sin, we go to heaven. Let us all drink and go to heaven!”
Anyone willing to wager their hard earned money on this motto? Now it is left for DGs to decide whether they should save their liver or livelihood.
— Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem, Goa

CARANZALEM- MIRAMAR BEACH
IN a recent press statement former mayor of CCP Uday Madkaikar alleged that trees located along the Caranzalem-Miramar beach stretch are being poisoned with chemicals at root-level. He also said the excavator is used illegally to level sand dunes at Caranzalem and he feels there is a similar conspiracy to destroy mangroves down the beach stretch. Except for the poisoning of trees his other statement is correct!
But why was this statement not made during his tenure for these same trees were dying even then. Trees take their time to die. Regarding the poisoning I feel this shold be verified for authenticity. Press statements should appear in media after verification by laboratory analyses! The excavator/JCB driver should also be arrested red-handed while filling is done to camouflage the poisoning of trees.
— Stephen Dias, Dona Paula

CALLING TMC!
AS A Goan disgusted by the way Goa is being run by the BJP and exposed by a former governor of Goa, I’d like to know form the Trinamool Congress party head: is it morally correct for your party to enter Goa political scene at this late hour?
Are you not aware that all you will do is split Congress votes to allow the BJP back if only through back entry anew? Are you being fair tempting Goans likea this? Is it not an act of selfishness on the party of your party from West Bengal?
You are welcoming disgruntled members from other parties to join you with the hope of getting a candidate’s seat. This is against the very nature of Goan culture where we always go through the qualifying rounds to reach the finals. Note how East Bengal has managed a seat in the ISL, but Aizawl did not.
Please answer to Goans!
— R Fernandes, Margao

SALUTE SUPREME COURT!
THE Supreme Court has finally appointed a 3-member panel of cyber experts in response on pleas to probe into the alleged widespread use of Israeli spyware Pegasus software for surveillance of politicians, journalists, activists amongst others, in India. It has judged that the state cannot get a “free pass” every time the spectre of national security is raised and it cannot be the “bugbear” that the judiciary shies away from.
This is a significant verdict in the light of recent times over issue of citizens’ right to privacy. A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana has said that mere invocation of national security by the state cannot render the judiciary a “mute spectator” and has also asserted that indiscriminate spying on individuals in a democratic country cannot be allowed.
India’s Opposition parties have been demanding a discussion in Parliament, asking the Modi government to either call for a joint parliamentary committee or to request the Supreme Court to appoint a sitting judge to investigate the matter, but the government kept refusing! Now the SC has given its own verdict and appointed a 3- member panel of cyber experts to investigate the matter.
We hope the truth, the whole truth, finally comes out before the people for scrutiny and the guilty punished. Only this would redeem the beating the country’s democratic infrastructure and the freedom of speech has been taking in recent years.
Once again, I salute the Supreme Court of this country for telling off the arrogant Narendra Modi-led BJP government to do some real “kaam ki baat.”
— Jerry Fernandes Saligao

CRIME POLITICS

IT IS the NCB which is investigating the cruise ship drugs case to do with filmstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son but why has become a political issue! The investigating agency should just do its job without all the drum beating. Why is the ruling party in Maharashtra raising so many questions on the NCB’s investigation?

Many questions from the public are also pending. It takes to solve such cases but all the politicising of this one the investigating agency’s work will be hampered. Why the press conferences and the time discussing it in public?

The CIA is investigating it but why the strong opposition? What is going on in Maharashtra? The people in power are running scared! What’s the problem with being investigated? Political controversy it seems is all and more importance is given to it than the actual investigation. This only benefits the guilty.

If such evil and malpractice is to be punished gather real evidence. Here it seems as if the culprits have to be saved and so much dirty politics contribute towards zero value.

The public is very angry and expressing its anger via social media. It should not be ignored. Is the ruling party in Maharashtra running the state in a democratic manner? It doesn’t look like it if it is constantly politicising every crime in the state. The government should act like a government and not interfere in the work of the investigating agency like it has been doing at least in this matter.

Why not just let the questions and evidence just go to court instead of purveying it in press conferences? The Central Investigation Agency is from India and no from a foreign country. Surely it is committed to punishing those breaking the law whosoever they may be in in public or private or in government?

— Jayesh Rane, Mumbai