DOCTOR JACK SEQUEIRA STATUE TO BE IN PANJIM SOON ASSURES PARRIKAR

CALANGUTE: Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar on Sunday assured to install a life-sized statue of late Dr Jack de Sequeira in Panjim, to recognize the Goan leader's contribution to the identity of the State.  He was addressing a function at Calangute to fondly remember late Dr Jack de Sequeira, the man behind the historic Opinion Poll and who was instrumental in maintaining a separate Goan identity, on the 44th Opinion Poll Day on Sunday.

"I have not come here to garner votes but to pay my homage and give due respect to the great leader. Though Goa was liberated on December 19, we Goans achieved thorough liberation on January 16 through the historic Opinion Poll," said Parrikar.

Taking a dig at the State government, Parrikar said: "The way things are going at the present, the future of Goa and Goans in the years to come looks bleak."

"However, we should not blame others for the corrupt practices, but it is we who decide our destiny and what we want. The future of Goa lies in our hands," Parrikar reminded the gathering.

Parrikar promised to install a life-sized statue of late Dr Jack de Sequeira in Panjim and give due respect to the leader for his great efforts.

Other speakers also paid rich tributes to Father of Opinion Poll Dr Jack de Sequeira, who was remembered on the 44th Opinion Poll Day at Calangute on Sunday.  Former chief minister Dr Wilfred de Souza regretted that the State government is doing very little for the cause of Goa and Goans.

He congratulated former Calangute sarpanch Joseph Sequeira and the Calangute Panchayat for giving due respect to the great leader by installing a statue of the leader.

In his address, Benaulim MLA Mickky Pacheco claimed that ministers and MLAs in the State had forgotten that they were in their present position solely due to the great efforts of late Jack de Sequeira.

"Some MLAs are now trying to make room for family members and relatives in the assembly. "They are even keeping an eye on parts like Karwar, etc in the neighbouring States, as they find it difficult to accommodate their family members in a smaller Goa," quipped Pacheco.

Noted Konkani playwright and former speaker Tomazinho Cardozo was also critical of the State government for showing disrespect to Goan leaders, especially late Dr Jack de Sequeira. "Though we achieved a historic Opinion Poll to maintain our separate identity, the successive MGP governments under the leadership of late Dayanand Bandodkar and others failed to give due respect to Sequeira," said Cardozo.

"The younger generation of today should be made aware of the great efforts, due to which Goa has a separate identity." "The Congress governments have also failed to give due respect to the great leader. The Winning team captain of the Opinion Poll has failed to get his due share till today," lamented Cardozo.

Others who spoke on the occasion included former minister Dr Carmo Pegado and Carambolim Parish Priest Fr Conceicao D'Silva. Among those present at the function included Saligao ZP member Michael Lobo, Dr Lilly Sequeira, daughter of late Jack Sequeira, other family members, Calangute Sarpanch Alex Fernandes, Deputy Sarpanch Sneha Salgaonkar, former Joseph Sequeira, Laxman Porob Palyekar and Albert Fernandes as well as former deputy sarpanch Ana Marie D'Souza.

Earlier, while welcoming the gathering, Joseph Sequeira said:

"Some MLAs of today are reluctant to attend the function to pay tributes to late Dr Jack de Sequeira, whose life-sized statute we have installed to give him his due respect."