To the victors belongs the spoils

MARGAOrTwo educationists and a dentist on Saturday took over the reins of the three panchayat bodies of Betalbatim, Chandor and Nuvem respectively in Salcete taluka. rWhile retired headmistress Celina Furtado was elected as Sarpanch of Chandor panchayat, retired headmaster Constancio Miranda will occupy the sarpanch’s chair at Betalbatim panchayat. A dentist by profession, Dr Breezy Barretto was voted as Nuvem Sarpanch. rIncidentally, while the village panchayats of Nuvem and Betalbatim are controlled by Nuvem Sarpanch Wilfred D’Sa, Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias’ group has emerged victorious in Chandor panchayat. A report. rBetalbatim panchayat rRetired headmaster, Constancio Miranda and Minu Antonio Fernandes were on Saturday elected unopposed as the sarpanch and deputy sarpanch respectively of Betalbatim Panchayat. rThe duo were elected unopposed in the elections held on Saturday. The group, which has the backing of Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa, got a further boost when four-time panch member Minguel Pereira also extended his support to the sarpanch and his team for the village development. rAfter the election, Constancio said the new panchayat body will take up development works with the support of the local MLA Wilfred D’Sa, supremo of the panel Jose Pereira and deputy sarpanch Minu Antonio Fernandes, who worked for the success of the group, despite all odds. “Together with the MLA and all the panch members, we will work for Betalbatim’s development and will make a difference in the village,” Constancio said. rNuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa said that the new panchayat body would make all out efforts to bring in the much needed development in Betalbatim. “Despite the fact that the former MLA was a minister and was on the ruling side for over a decade, Betalbatim has suffered on the development. We will take up development with the cooperation and help of the villagers,” Wilfred said. rThe MLA and deputy sarpanch Minu Antonio Fernandes said that Zilla member Nelly Rodrigues had been instrumental in taking up development projects in Betalbatim. rNuvem panchayat rIn the election for the 11-member Nuvem panchayat body, Breezy Barretto took over the reins as the village sarpanch on Saturday. rShe and her deputy Manuel Borges were elected unopposed. rAfter her election, Breezy said she would take up the village development, including waste management with the help of the people and the local MLA Wilfred D’Sa. She said the panchayat would not only work to take the government schemes to the door steps of the people, but would ensure that the schemes reach the deserving people. “Besides garbage management, the new panchayat body will take up other issues such as roads, street lights etc,” she added. rExpressing her gratitude to the local MLA and the panch members for electing her unopposed, Breezy said that she would serve the people to the best of her abilities. rNuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa later told the media that people of Nuvem have expressed their faith and trust in him and his panel by electing 10 out of the 11 candidates in the fray. “Almost all our candidates have the social background. This was evident by the fact that our panch members were elected with huge margins,” he said. rWilfred said the panchayat would accord priority for agriculture and will try to give a big boost for agriculture in the village. “We intend to procure machines to support the people,” he said, while saying that people of Nuvem will unitedly take the village forward.