Where’s the money?
This month it will be six months for Fr Birmarque Dias' death. His body still lies in the morgue. The saddest part of it all is that some people in the name of the dead body of Fr. Bismarque, tried to reap political mileage, as well as stoop to such a low, so as to make money over his dead body. Many a activists and forum were shocked; and the original group of activists even objected when they came to know that a certain group were collecting moneys in dollars in a Goan’s account abroad, unauthorised by the family of Fr. Bismarque, through fundraising website , in the guise of conducting a private investigation and bringing justice. They even gave a press statement a couple of months back at Panaji issuing vague contradiction of evidence; nothing specific, nothing concrete. They played with the sentiments of the people. And many gullible NRI Goans donated on sympathetic and compassionate grounds. We would like to hear from this specific group who collected money, what Justice have they done so far to Fr. Bismarque's dead body? Or whether they have done justice to the funds collected?
Dr Ferdinando dos Reis Falcao, Margao
Fixed pay days
The BJP in Goa is painting the town red boasting about continuation and enhancement of old schemes while formulating new ones. It is the people money that is put to non-productive use most blatantly. Even the veracity of these entitlements is far from objective. Facts are manipulated to benefit the so called vote banks. Those undeserving beneficiaries have a dead conscience worse then those promoting them. It is a sad story that senior citizens are physically and mentally tracking banks and returning back due no credit of their dues. There is no guarantee as to when they could get their doles. These helpless needy people do not have the physical strength to make repeated trips; some of them have to be accompanied to collect money from these schemes. Everyone has a fixed pay day, is it too much to request for a fixed date for beneficiaries too? Besides these payments are in arrears over months. If the government cannot assure their dues in time then scrap the schemes or put the new ones on hold.
Nelson Lopes, Chinchinim
Outrageous demands
Everyone has seen young children throwing a tantrum when they do not get their way. As parents we are used to it. Most of the time, we have to ignore the child until they realise that they will not get what they wish all the time. In the case of the government sometimes unions and associations are like these crying children. First the taxi drivers held a strike because they did not want competition in the form of rent-a-cabs, the labour unions are regularly on strike for better pay. Now the fishermen are threatening an agitation if the government doesn’t shut down those fishermen with LED lights. How are they making such outrageous demands and expecting the government to just say okay and let them do what they want? The public must have better sense.
Suresh Kakodkar, Mapusa
