MARGAO
As the Administration has set in motion the process to hold elections for the new managing Committees of the Comunidades for the triennium 2022-2025 in South Goa, the office of the Administrator of Comunidades, South is abuzz with hectic activity.
Shareholders, who have set their eyes on the ensuing Comunidade polls, are busy on the job to split their shares and transfer the same to others, in order to increase their vote strength. On the other hand, acting South Goa Comunidade Administrator Joao Fernandes has conducted training programme for the staff and officials of Comunidade, who will be drafted for the election work in the three-phase polling for the Comunidades in South Goa.
With the Administrator and the administration apparently rushing with the election for the Comunidade bodies in the month of December before the enforcement of the election code of conduct, some of the shareholders have been seen in the office of the Administrator in order to transfer their votes to their cronies, who will constitute new voters for the coming election.
In fact, many an eyebrow has been raised by some of the shareholders over the rationale behind allowing transfer of shares and creation of new voters when the Administrator has set in motion the election process. That’s not all. They pointed out that share transfer is a process which needs to be followed up right at the respective Comunidade bodies after it starts at the level of the Administrator.
Officials of the Administrator of Comunidades, however, pointed out that not a single objection has been received from any quarter till date over the process of transfer of shares by the shareholders.
Sources pointed out that the split in the shares and transferring the same on names of other persons is being resorted to on the eve of elections for the Comunidade bodies to create new voters so as to benefit the shareholders who have set their eyes to exercise control over the Managing Committees of the Comunidade bodies.
Administrator Joao Fernandes told The Goan though there’s no big rush of shareholders seeking to transfer their shares. “Whoever that have applied for the transfer of their shares have been entertained by the office. The process for transfer of shares is underway,” he added.
Health & safety concerns: S Goa Comunidades Forum calls for postponement of elections
MARGAO: Even as the authorities have set in motion the process to hold polls for the Comunidade bodies, the South Goa Comunidades Forum has called for holding the elections next year in public interest and in the interest of public health and safety.
In fact, the Forum submitted to the authorities that it would be prudent and necessary to extend the term of all Comunidade Managing Committees in Goa by one year, and hold elections next year i.e., December 2022 and January 2023.
“The threat of Covid-19 virus still prevails in Goa, as in the rest of the country, and continues to be a public health challenge. Comunidade elections are held by way of meetings in their respective meeting halls. In almost all cases, these halls are small, and members are required to assemble into these cramped spaces. The minimum quorum is 25 members. In such circumstances, it would be impossible to maintain social distancing guidelines,” Forum member Savio Correia said.
He pointed out that a large majority of Comunidade members are senior citizens who may be having comorbidities, etc. “If elections are permitted, many of our elderly members will refrain from exercising their democratic right, and those attending would be putting themselves at high risk of infection,” he said.
He further pointed out that almost two-thirds of the last triennium term of the current Managing Committees was lost due to the pandemic, and they were unable to complete and execute their planned projects and works. “We submit that it would be prudent and necessary to extend the term of all Comunidade Managing Committees in Goa by one year, and hold elections next year i.e. December 2022 and January 2023,” Correia added.
Another Forum member said rushing with the elections when questions are raised over the turn out of the elders will give the government the advantage of having its nominees on the managing committees for want of quorum.
