the goan I network
PANAJI
Archbishop of Goa and Daman Filipe Neri Ferrão has urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to act with utmost urgency to bring back Goans stranded on ships and on land abroad, safely and speedily back to the State.
He has also expressed the archdiocese’s willingness to support any initiative to bring the stranded fellow Goans back, even by offering some of the church institutions like schools for possible quarantine facilities.
In his letter to Sawant on April 16, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão reminded the chief minister of his previous letter on April 14, expressing the archdiocese’s appreciation and informing about its willingness to collaborate in all the endeavours of the government to fight against the Covid-19 attack.
“I would like to draw your attention specifically to the Goans who, because of the lockdown in our country, are stranded, in the seas and on land, and who are eagerly waiting to return to Goa.”
“You will appreciate that they are working in distant lands and seas for the sake of their livelihood. Although some of them are based in other countries, they dispatch their savings to their families back in Goa, thus supporting the State economy.”
“The State, in turn, is the primary custodian of the rights of the citizens and, therefore, is expected to provide for their safety and security,” said Archbishop Ferrão.
He said the archdiocese is aware that the government is taking “appreciable steps in this regard.”
“Given the urgency of the matter, I would like to once again express our willingness to support any initiative that is being taken to bring the stranded fellow-Goans back, safely and speedily, even by offering some of our institutions (like schools, etc.) for possible quarantine facilities.” “Needless to say, it is important to act speedily, as both those who are placed in this difficulty and their respective families are growing in anxiety with every passing day. I join them in requesting you to act with the utmost urgency,” said Archbishop Ferrão.
He has deputed Fr Maverick Fernandes, Director of Caritas-Goa, the social wing of the Archdiocese, to liaise with the Chief Minister.
SEC to identify hotels, hostels for quarantine facilities
the goan I network
PANAJI
The State Executive Committee at its daily meeting on Saturday decided to identify hotels as well as hostels apart from identifying the availability of rooms with religious institutions for setting up quarantine facilities for seafarers.
The Collectors were directed to start the inspection of the hotels, which were earlier identified by the tourism department and to identify availability of similar rooms with religious organisations such as churches, temples and other religious institutions to assess their number and suitability to be used as paid quarantine facilities for the seafarers.
The education secretary has also asked to prepare a list of suitable hostel facilities available with the educational institutions in Goa, which can be used for the purpose.
Meanwhile, the health secretary has informed that the department has been able to procure 1,000 thermal guns which are expected to be supplied soon. The department has received additional 4,000
