MARGAO
A former president of Salcete Municipality during the Portuguese regime, the portrait of Dr Jorge Barretto had occupied a prominent place in the Margao Municipal hall along with other prominent personalities over the years, before it was confined to the corridors of the civic body during the renovation of the heritage building.
That Dr Barreto's portrait went missing from the Municipal hall came to light for the first time after the civic body honoured former Chief Minister late Dr Wilfred de Souza by installing his portrait in the hall. It was only then that realisation dawned that Dr Barreto's portrait has gone missing from the municipal hall as Dr Willy's portrait was installed at the very place which once played to a huge portrait of the former Salcete Municipal president.
Says social activist Jose Marie Miranda: "When the Municipality installed Dr Willy's portrait in the Municipal hall, I immediately took up with Chief Officer Y B Tawde and Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai, why the civic body has removed Dr Barreto's portrait, who is considered the architect of planned Margao."
Jose Marie recalled that the Chief Officer had no knowledge of the whereabouts of Dr Barreto's portrait and it was only later that Chairperson Babita found the portrait dumped in the corridor right outside the Chief Officer's office.
"I was shocked to find that Dr Barreto's portrait was dumped in the corridor. With the help of Jose Marie Miranda, the Municipality roped in an artist from Borda, Agnelo Fernandes to restore the portrait to its original condition since the portrait was damaged," Babita informed.
"Though the restoration work might cost the civic body some money, it was worth taking up the job of restoring Dr Barreto's portrait. I am happy that the artist has done a fine job. We will now restore Dr Barreto's status in the Municipal hall after arranging the portraits in order and with a profile," she said.
Jose Marie pointed out that it was during Dr Barreto's tenure as Salcete Municipal president that the city got wide roads, besides the Municipal garden.
"The Padre Miranda road passing along Hospicio hospital was widened at the initiative of Dr Barreto. In fact, the Margao Municipal square comprising of the Municipal building and garden is named after Dr Jorge Barreto," Jose Marie added.
