Goan Ghats settlers 'settled' victory
of Tivim Comunidade panel
Belagavi Bishop congratulates new panel
the goan network
BELAGAVI
Goan settlers in the upper ghats region of Khanapur, Belagavi and Haliyal talukas, who have made history of sorts by taking part in the Tivim Comunidade elections in Goa on Sunday, are upbeat with the victory of the ruling panel.
For the first time, these settlers who were present in large numbers for the elections played a pivotal role in getting the panel headed by Raymudo Ferrao, the panel they supported, getting elected unopposed.
These Goan settlers who have organized themselves under the banner of Ghatmathyavoilya Zonkarancho Ekvott exercised their right to vote and in the process proved their right over the comunidades in Goa, an age-old civic body in Goa that since the 16th century controls the properties of the Goan settlers who left Goa due to inquisition by the Portuguese and other reasons.
Belagavi Bishop Dr Peter Machado, who congratulated the newly-elected members of the Tivim Comunidade for the emphatic win, urged members of the Ekvott to continue the struggle to establish the rights of Goan settlers over their ancestral properties in Goa.
“Taking the victory as the stepping stone, continue striving for justice to your brethren in the upper ghats region,” Bishop Dr Machado said extending his greetings over the victory. He also urged Zonkars in the upper ghats region to join the movement that has been launched recently for the cause.
Expressing his gratitude to all the Zonkars who took part in the elections on Sunday, Ekvott president Augustine Pereira said the organization will continue its efforts relentlessly till the goal of uprooting corruption in the comunidades is achieved.
He also briefed about overall plans initiated to unite the Zonkars above ghats. “Tivim Comunidade in Goa is one among the comunidades in north and south Goa. Large number of Goan settlers reside in the upper ghats region. We are initiating sustained measures in uniting them under one banner,” he said.
Treasurer of the organization Jerome Andrade, member Santan Andrade, Cynthia Pereira and others were present.
