Waste of power
Power is scarce and it is costly. Yet, we find almost every day, the street lights along the Margao-Panaji highway burning sometimes even as late as 10am. And usually, they are switched on as early as 5pm. Besides being a waste of electricity, it's a drain on the public as ultimately its they who have to foot the bill. Is there no accountability for government employees? The government has to maintain a strict vigil on government staff who are responsible for switching on and off the street lights and they should be held accountable for any lapses in switching off the lights by 7am. Is that asking for too much?
Albert Colaco, Nuvem
True Champions
The West Indies Teams donation to the Mother Teresa Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata is a noble gesture. During his post-match victory speech in his interview the West Indies captain Darren Sammy disclosed about their financial problems his team was facing when they did not have sufficient funds even to buy their jerseys and yet they were kind enough to do charity. This makes them true champions. They have won the hearts of millions of fans on and off the field with this noble deed.
Wenzel D’Mello, Mapusa
Political strategies
The BJP announced a new strategy for the BJP voters in Goa. The party now wants its flag atop their houses. Some 1.2 lakh flags are already dispatched to all parts of Goa. I contacted some people in Dona Paula area for their reaction and they said that they may fix all kinds of flags on their houses, whether Congress, BJP, AAP, UGDP, Goa Suraj, or even Goa Forward if they approach, so that nobody can pinpoint which party they belong to. I met a group of volunteers from AAP near the Caranzalem petrol pump and they asked me to support their party. A cap was given to me to wear and I suggested that these kind of caps could be issued to many people with requests that they wear them when they go all over the city on their motorcycles. This is another kind of strategy to canvas or show solidarity for that particular party.
In another incident which took place at Aivao village when two parties came to their houses for their support during the Municipality election recently, one from BJP and another from Babush Panel, some women from this village told them that they know to come always before the election for votes and later they do not care for them. What was more important for them is to repair the internal road of the village as their children find it difficulty to walk as it is in very bad condition. The answer came from one of the volunteers that ‘she is talking too much’. This rude behaviour to potential voters speaks volumes about the contempt that the typical political volunteer has for voters. While asking voters to publicly demonstrate their loyalty, parties should do their bit and try to win voters with concrete actions, as that will result in true supporters who will not need to be forced to declare allegiance.
Stephen Dias, Dona Paula
