It was indeed shocking for the people of Goa and Margao in particular to know that the road from Margao’s Old Market traffic circle to the road leading to Ravindra Bhavan, Margao which was named after Bishop Francisco Xavier da Piedade Rebello four decades ago, is to be renamed as “Opinion Poll Square” with the approval of the Margao Municipal Council (MMC).
As Goa was liberated on December 19, 1961, the last Catholic Bishop from Portugal was Reverend Jose De Vieira Alvernaz. Thereafter, the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman had been governed by the Goan apostolic administrators.
The first Indian and Goan Bishop appointed to head the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman was Reverend Francisco Xavier da Piedade Rebello from Margao.
Till date, there is no genuine explanation given by the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) about their intention to rename the existing road. Is this Goem, Goemkar, Goemkarponn at heart?
Such fancy slogans can only fool the people for sometime, but surely not all the time.
Only time will show in which direction the wind will blow.
Melson F M Louis, Margao
